Cross-Reactivity of Palladium in a Murine Model of Metal-Induced Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Metal allergy is usually diagnosed by patch testing, however, the results do not necessarily reflect the clinical symptoms because of cross-reactivity between different metals. In this study, we established the novel mouse model of cross-reactive metal allergy, and aimed to elucidate the immune response in terms of T-cell receptor repertoire. This model was classified into two groups: the sensitization to nickel and challenge with palladium group, and the sensitization to chromium and challenge with palladium group. This model developed spongiotic edema with intra- and peri-epithelial infiltration of CD4 T cells in the inflamed skin that resembles human contact dermatitis. Using T cell receptor analysis, we detected a high proportion of T cells bearing and in the Ni- and Cr-sensitized Pd-challenged mice. Furthermore, mucosal-associated invariant T cells and invariant natural killer T cells were also detected. Our results indicated that T cells bearing and induced the development of palladium-cross reactive allergy, and that mucosal-associated invariant T and invariant natural killer T cells were also involved in the cross-reactivity between different metals.