Patent ID: 6103482
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method for evaluating the sensitizing and/or irritant and/or allergenic potential of a candidate substrate, comprising (a) mixing a culture comprising purified keratinocytes with a culture comprising purified Langerhans cell precursors and culturing the resultant mixture of cells in a suitable nutrient medium for such period of time as to effect differentiation of said Langerhans cell precursors, (b) next contacting said candidate substrate with said cultured cells for such incubation period of time as to modify the level of expression of a marker of the sensitizing and/or irritant and/or allergenic potentials of said candidate substrate, (c) then measuring the variation of such marker of the sensitizing and/or irritant and/or allergenic potential of said candidate substrate, and (d) evaluating the results of said measurement (c) in comparison with a predetermined control which control comprises a co-culture of keratinocytes and Langerhans cell precursors cultured under identical conditions, except said cells are not contacted with said candidate substrate; and correlating a difference in the level of expression of said marker or the sensitizing and/or irritant and/or allergenic potential of said candidate substrate to a positive determination that said candidate substrate affects sensitization, irritation and/or allergenicity.