4-Tertiary butyl phenol exposure sensitizes human melanocytes to dendritic cell-mediated killing: relevance to vitiligo

J Invest Dermatol. 2005 Apr;124(4):798-806. doi: 10.1111/j.0022-202X.2005.23653.x.

Abstract

The trigger initiating an autoimmune response against melanocytes in vitiligo remains unclear. Patients frequently experience stress to the skin prior to depigmentation. 4-tertiary butyl phenol (4-TBP) was used as a model compound to study the effects of stress on melanocytes. Heat shock protein (HSP)70 generated and secreted in response to 4-TBP was quantified. The protective potential of stress proteins generated following 4-TBP exposure was examined. It was studied whether HSP70 favors dendritic cell (DC) effector functions as well. Melanocytes were more sensitive to 4-TBP than fibroblasts, and HSP70 generated in response to 4-TBP exposure was partially released into the medium by immortalized vitiligo melanocyte cell line PIG3V. Stress protein HSP70 in turn induced membrane tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) expression and activation of DC effector functions towards stressed melanocytes. Melanocytes exposed to 4-TBP demonstrated elevated TRAIL death receptor expression. DC effector functions were partially inhibited by blocking antibodies to TRAIL. TRAIL expression and infiltration by CD11c+ cells was abundant in perilesional vitiligo skin. Stressed melanocytes may mediate DC activation through release of HSP70, and DC effector functions appear to play a previously unappreciated role in progressive vitiligo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae / genetics
  • Antibodies / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Cell Death / immunology
  • Cell Line, Transformed
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Dendritic Cells / cytology
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Gene Expression
  • HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / genetics
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / genetics
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Irritants / pharmacology*
  • Melanocytes / cytology
  • Melanocytes / drug effects*
  • Melanocytes / immunology
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / immunology
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Molecular Chaperones
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
  • Phenols / pharmacology*
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / metabolism
  • Skin / cytology
  • Skin / immunology
  • Skin Pigmentation / immunology
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism
  • Vitiligo / immunology
  • Vitiligo / pathology*

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • HSPB1 protein, human
  • Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Irritants
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Molecular Chaperones
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Phenols
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
  • TNFSF10 protein, human
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • butylphen