Immunoregulatory mechanisms involved in elicitation of allergic contact hypersensitivity

Although the pathophysiology of contact hypersensitivity (CHS) might appear to be well understood, this only applies to the sensitization phase. Little is known about the elicitation phase, and fundamental differences exist between CHS and other forms of delayed-type hypersensitivity responses. Here, Stephan Grabbe and Thomas Schwarz summarize the role of different cellular components and soluble mediators in the inflammatory tissue response during CHS elicitation.