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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
Induction and Monitoring of Adoptive Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity in Rats
Published on: October 1, 2007
Flow cytometric analysis and immunohistochemistry of delayed-type hypersensitivity responses in mice immunized with
S Tanabe1, Y Taura, S Furusawa
1Department of Veterinary Surgery, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, Japan.
Insights
Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) involves immune cells like CD4+ T cells. This study shows CD4+ cells, not CD8+ cells, significantly infiltrate tissues during DTH responses to rat hepatocytes in mice.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cellular immunology
Background:
- Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) is a critical immune response.
- Understanding the specific immune cell involvement in DTH is crucial for developing targeted therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cellular mechanisms underlying DTH responses to rat hepatocytes (HCs) in a murine model.
- To determine the roles of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in this specific DTH reaction.
Main Methods:
- Mice were immunized subcutaneously with rat HCs and challenged with rat HCs in the footpad.
- Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry were used to analyze immune cell populations (Class II, CD4, CD8) in the footpad and lymph nodes.
- Monoclonal antibodies were employed for specific cell antigen detection.
Main Results:
- Immunization with rat HCs significantly enhanced DTH responses upon challenge.
- Increased numbers of Class II, CD4+, and CD8+ cells were observed in the footpad and lymph nodes of immunized mice.
- CD4+ T cells showed more significant infiltration into the footpad compared to CD8+ T cells, indicating a predominant role.
Conclusions:
- The DTH response to rat HCs in mice is primarily mediated by the infiltration of CD4+ T cells.
- This finding highlights the specific role of CD4+ T cells in orchestrating this type of hypersensitivity reaction.
Abstract:
Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses to rat hepatocytes (HCs) in mice were investigated by flow cytometric analysis and immunohistochemistry with monoclonal antibodies directed against murine class II, CD4, and CD8 antigens. Mice were immunized subcutaneously (s.c.) with 10(6) rat HCs (referred to as s.c.-immunized mice), and control mice were injected s.c. with sterile Hanks' solution (non-immunized mice). Four days later, 10(5) rat HCs were injected into the footpad of s.c.-immunized mice and non-immunized mice. The DTH response in s.c.-immunized mice significantly increased after challenge when compared to that in non-immunized mice. The numbers of class II+, CD4+, and CD8+ cells in the footpad, and CD4+ and CD8+ cells in the inguinal lymph node of s.c.-immunized mice significantly increased during the DTH response. An increase in the number of CD4+ cells in the footpad of s.c.-immunized mice after challenge was more significant than that of non-immunized mice. The number of CD4+ cells increased more markedly in the footpad of s.c.-immunized mice as compared to that of CD8+ cells. Furthermore, immunohistochemical studies of the footpad of s.c.-immunized mice showed more severe infiltration of CD4+ cells rather than CD8+ cells at the injection site of rat HCs. These results suggest that the DTH response in the footpad of mice immunized with rat HCs is associated with severe infiltration of CD4+ cells.
