Effects of crude oil and ultraviolet radiation on immunity within mouse skin

Previous studies indicate that crude oil leads to increased pigmentation and erythema (sunburn) in response to sunlight in exposed individuals. However, no information is currently available concerning whether crude oil exposure might enhance the immunosuppressive effects of solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on the skin. In order to address this question, the back skin of shaved, female C3H/HeN mice was exposed to crude oil with or without subsequent treatment with medium-wavelength (UVB) (200 J/m2) or long-wavelength (UVA) (20,000 J/m2) UVR. Immune function was assessed in treated mice by measuring their ability to mount contact hypersensitivity responses to a hapten (2,4-dinitro-1-flyorobenzene, DNGFB) applied to the site of crude oil and UVR treatment as determined by ear swelling upon subsequent challenge. Since Langerhans cells represent an important component of immunity within the skin and because suppression of contact hypersensitivity following UVR treatment is often accompanied by disappearance of Langerhans cells from the epidermis, the impact of these agents on epidermal Langerhans cell density was also analyzed. This was accomplished by enumerating IA-positive cells within the epidermis of treated skin. In these studies, crude oil alone induced inhibition of contact hypersensitivity but had no effect on epidermal Langerhans cells. In contrast, combined treatment with crude oil and UVA led to suppression of contact hypersensitivity, which was accompanied by depletion of epidermal Langerhans cells.