Journal of Experimental Medicine, Vol 160, 1891-1900, Copyright © 1984 by Rockefeller University Press
Suppression of antibody responses to topically applied antigens by ultraviolet light irradiation. Induction of phototolerance
CW Spellman, WL Anderson, EJ Bernhard and TB Tomasi
C3Hf/HeN or BALB/c mice, exposed to acute ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and
skin-sensitized through the irradiated skin site with soluble protein
antigens, exhibit humoral tolerance to subsequent systemic challenge with
antigen. We have termed this phenomenon "phototolerance" (PT). With the
doses of UV radiation used, PT induction is restricted to the irradiated
skin site and is observed only if sensitization is performed via the
cutaneous route. PT is antigen specific and operates at the afferent level
of the immune response. While single PT induction regimens result in
transient humoral suppression, multiple inductions before each systemic
challenge can maintain the response at low levels. The capacity to induce
PT to a variety of soluble protein antigens may have potentially important
clinical applications.