Contact Hypersensitivity to Simple Chemical Compounds: the Role of Intermediate Products in the Process of Sensitization

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Abstract
Conjugates formed by combination of protein with simple chemicals are the competent antigens for the induction of immediate type allergy and for the formation of specific humoral antibodies. However, it has not been possible to demonstrate contact sensitivity in animals sensitized by any method with protein conjugates carefully freed of unreacted chemical sensitizer. Experiments in pigs have shown that delayed type allergy for dinitrochlorobenzene and nickel can easily be produced by sensitizing these animals with dinitrochlorobenzene-amino-acid conjugate and nickel-alanine complex respectively. It is supposed that conjugates of simple chemicals with low-molecular amino acids and/or peptides are the allergens that produce contact sensitivity, while the conjugates with high-molecular (protein) compounds that remain in the skin interact with sensitized white cells. The subsequent proteolysis then completes the chain of events leading to contact dermatitis.

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