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j. Soc. Cosmet. Chem., 40, 101-107 (March/April 1989) The role of antioxidants in skin immune reactions: The use of flow cytometry to determine alterations in la-positive epidermal cells in allergic contact dermatitis LAWRENCE A. RHEINS,* RICHARD A. MORAVEC, MICHAEL L. NORDLUND, LINDA S. TRINKLE, and JAMES J. NORDLUND, Department of Dermatology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267. Synopsis Earlier experiments from our laboratory revealed that common parasubstituted phenolic compounds such as monobenzyl ether of hydroquinone (MBEH), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and butylated hydroxyani- sole (BHA), ubiquitous compounds found in medications, cosmetics, foods, and various industrial products, can alter Ia+ Langerhans cells (epidermal macrophages) and epidermal immune responsiveness (i.e., exacerbate allergic contact dermatitis) when topically applied to the epidermis of various strains of mice. The current experiments demonstrated that a precise and sensitive instrumental approach, fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS), could be used to quantify changes more precisely in the expression of the membrane-bound Ia antigen found on epidermal antigen-presenting-Langerhans cells during contact hyper- sensitivity reactions. Further, this technique can be used to screen potential vehicle and/or medicament allergens as likely sources for allergic contact dermatitis at home and in the work place. INTRODUCTION Earlier studies from our laboratory have documented that topical applications of common antioxidants such as monobenzyl ether of hydroquinone (MBEH), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), ubiquitous compounds found in medications, cosmetics, food, and industrial rubber products, can alter the contact hypersensitivity responsiveness (CHS) (e.g., allergic contact dermatitis, ACD) in various mice strains when epicutaneously applied (1). These compounds, when topi- cally applied for a short period of time (i.e., daily for five days) to various epidermal sites, can alter the density (cells/ram 2) of Ia + (immune associated antigen)/ATPase + Langerhans cells (LC) (epidermal immune macrophages). Further, this increase or de- crease in identifiable Langerhans cells could be correlated with alterations in CHS re- sponsiveness following sensitization and challenge with common allergens/haptens (i.e., dinitrofiuorobenzene, oxazalone) (1). Other studies suggest that the mechanism responsible for the alteration of Ia + Langerhans cell density and functional CHS reactivity following topical antioxidant treatment may be mediated via arachidonic acid (AA) and/or its metabo- lites (i.e., prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes)(1,2). * Reprint requests should be sent to: Lawrence A. Rheins Ph.D., Procter & Gamble Co., Ivorydale Tech- nical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45217 101