Evaluation of the skin sensitization potential of chemicals in THP-1/keratinocyte co-cultures.

Yu-Ping Cao, Peng-Cheng Ma, Wei-Da Liu, Wu-Qing Zhou, Yue Tao, Meng-Li Zhang, Ling-Jun Li, Zi-Yi Chen

Index: Immunopharmacol. Immunotoxicol. 34(2) , 196-204, (2012)

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Abstract

Many attempts have been made to develop in vitro sensitization tests that employ dendritic cells (DCs), DC-like cell lines or keratinocytes. The aim of the present investigation was to establish a co-culture of THP-1 cells and keratinocytes for evaluation of skin sensitization potential of chemicals. Co-cultures were constructed by THP-1 cells cultured in lower compartments and keratinocytes cultured in upper compartments of cell culture inserts. After 24 h exposure to sensitizers (2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene, p-phenylenediamine, formaldehyde, nickel sulfate, isoeugenol and eugenol) and non-sensitizers (sodium lauryl sulfate, benzalkonium chloride and lactic acid), the expression of CD86 and CD54 on THP-1 cells were evaluated by flow cytometry, and cell viabilities were determined. The sensitizers induced the augmentation of CD86 and CD54 expression, but the non-sensitizers had no significant effect. Compared with mono-cultures of THP-1 cells, the augmentation of CD86 and CD54 could be detected even at a non-toxic concentration of sensitizers in THP-1 cell/keratinocyte co-cultures. Moreover, isoeugenol was distinguished as a sensitizer in co-cultures, but failed to be identified in mono-cultures. These results revealed that the co-cultures of THP-1 cells and keratinocytes were successfully established and suitable for identifying sensitizers using CD86 and CD54 expression as identification markers.