Introduction
Dendritic cells and epidermal Langerhans cells are blood and tissue mononuclear cells that function as the primary antigen presenting cells of the human immune system［1-5］.Depletion and dysfunction of these cells have been demonstrated in early stages of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome（AIDS）［6-10］.Recently，dendritic cells have been shown to be heavily infected（up to 25%）with human immunodeficiency virus（HIV）in patients with AIDS［9，10］.Thus，dendritic cells serve as a major reservoir for HIV，and dendritic cell abnormalities contribute significantly to the immune dysfunction seen in AIDS.
aDivision of Immunotherapy，Department of Medicine，California Pacific Medical Center；and b Department of Dermatology，University of California School of Medicine，San Francisco，CA，USA
Received 3 June 1992；revision received 4 August 1992；accepted 15 January 1993
Immunology Letters，36（1993）1-6
0165-24781931$6.00 © 1993 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.All rights reserved
IMLET 01927(https://www.daowen.com)
此文发表于1993年“Immunology Letter”36∶1-6.
Key words：Dinitrochlorobenzene；HIV；AIDS；Dendritic cell；Langerhans cell；Antigen presenting cell
Correspondence to：Raphael B.Stricker，M.D.，California Pacific Medical Center，California Campus，P.O.Box 7999，San Francisco，CA 94120，USA.
1-Chloro-2，4-dinitrobenzene（DNCB）is an organic compound that is used in color photography.Like other contact sensitizing agents，DNCB is a potent modulator of dendritic cell function in vitro，and it has been used to stimulate cellular immune function in vivo［1，11，12］.Because topical application of this compound has a systemic effect on the cells that form the major reservoir for HIV［1］，we organized a pilot study to examine the safety and immunologic efficacy of topical DNCB use in HIV infection.
