Immune Response to Simple Chemicals

Abstract

Immunity to infectious organisms is constructed of both innate immunity and acquired immunity. Dendritic cells (DC) including Langerhans cells (LC) as a member and belonging to innate immune system play a crucial role in regulating the acquired the immune response, via their expression of several co-stimulatory molecules and production of cytokines. It is clear that the immune system responds not only to infectious organisms but also to simple chemicals. The allergic contact hypersensitivity reaction is a good example of the immune response to simple chemicals. In contrast to the immunity to microorganisms, however, the role of the innate immune system to simple chemicals still remains unclear. This paper summarizes the response of DC to simple chemicals and demonstrates the mechanism by which they respond to chemicals such as haptens by augmenting their expression of costimulatory molecule and increasing cytokine production. Finally, the biological significance of allergic contact sensitization is also discussed.