Chapter category: Immunology
UVB Radiation and Modulation of T Cell Responses to Haptens
Immune Mechanisms of Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Edited by: Andrea CavaniISBN: 1-58706-209-7
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Chapter authors:
Thomas Schwarz, Stefan Beissert and Agatha Schwarz
Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation exerts a variety of biological effects, including premature skin ageing, induction of skin cancer and suppression of immune responses. The implications of the immunosuppressive properties of UVB radiation are severalfold since UVB-induced immunosuppression of the immune system is not only responsible for the exacerbation of infectious diseases following UVB exposure, but also contributes to the induction of skin cancer. Therefore, detailed knowledge about the mechanisms underlying UVB-mediated immunosuppression is of utmost importance. The majority of the mechanistic studies trying to elucidate the complex phenomena employed the model of sensitization against haptens. Studies utilizing this model provided clear evidence that UVB radiation does not only inhibit the induction of contact hypersensitivity but also induces hapten-specific tolerance which is due to the generation of hapten-specific suppressor/regulatory T cells. The model of hapten sensitization did not only provide important information for photoimmunology but also for immunology in general. In the following the impacts of UVB radiation on T cell responses to haptens and its implications for photoimmunology will be briefly reviewed. Ultraviolet radiation (UV) can be regarded as one of the most significant environmental factors affecting humans. In addition to its essential ecological impacts and to its indispensable effects on life of humans, animals and plants, UV radiation, in particular the middle wave length range (UVB, 290-320 nm), can also exert hazardous effects on health. These include induction of inflammation and cell death, premature skin aging, exacerbation of infectious diseases and induction of skin cancer, the malignancy with the most rapidly increasing incidence world wide.1-4 When studying the biological effects of UVB radiation it became evident that UVB radiation can also significantly compromise the immune system. Thanks to numerous studies in the field of photoimmunology over the last 30 years, it became much clearer by which pathways UVB radiation suppresses the immune system. The by far most frequently used model to address these issues is the induction of delayed (DTH) and contact hypersensitivity (CHS) to haptens, low molecular weight reactive chemical compounds which become immunogenic upon being bound to carrier proteins. The following chapter will discuss the currents status of the effects of UVB radiation on T cell responses to haptens.
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