IMMUNOPATHOGENESIS OF HYPERSENSITIVITY PNEUMONITIS

Abstract

The hypersensitivity pneumonitides are a group of diseases that result in pulmonary inflammation as well as such systemic physiological responses as fever, dyspnea and leukocytosis. These diseases are probably immunologic and most information is consistent with the immunopathogenesis being caused by immune complex disease and cell-mediated hypersensitivity. The relative contribution of these immunologic responses to the various parameters of these diseases will require further studies. This group of diseases represents immunologic inflammation in the lung to inhaled antigen, and provides excellent models for the response of humans to inhaled antigens. Information gained in human hypersensitivity pneumonitis can be used to develop animal models, which better define the nature of these diseases in humans. Improved understanding of these diseases in humans will be concomitant with better understanding of the basic immunopathogenesis of the lung.