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IMSP Autumn Conference Nov. 29th to Dec. 1st 2002 in Greifswald
Different hypersensitivities –pathophysiology and
therapeutical approaches
Lecture by Prof. Dr. C. Schütt, Head of the Department of Immunology at the Institute
of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University of Greifswald
In the first lecture of the weekend Prof. Schütt gave a short summary of the organs
and cells of the immune system and their special functions. She explained how the
different cells normally work together. After this introduction she spoke about
pathogenic immune reactions which are called hypersensitivities. There are four
types of hypersensitivities that have very different effects on the human body.
Type 1 is mediated by IgE and its influence on mast cells. A person suffering from
allergies produces much more IgE then a healthy person. The IgE binds on receptors
located on mast cells and granulocytes. Contact with allergenes such as dust mites,
hay, furry animals etc. causes a crosslinking of the IgE receptors and mast cell
degranulation. This leads to different inflammatory effects on the whole body. Asthma
bronchiale for the most part belongs to this type of allergy. Therapies are avoidance
of contact to the allergen and most important desensitization. Children who grow up
with animals and other allergenes are less likely to develop an allergy thanks to early
desensitization.
Type 2 is the cytotoxic type and can be found in autoimmune diseases and drug
allergies. It is difficult to find a therapy for this type and up to now there is no
appropriate treatment.
Type 3 is the type of soluble immune complexes like allergic alveolitis. In this case
desenzitization is contraindicated.
Type 4 is T-cell mediated and causes non-specific inflammatory reactions. It is found
at some autoimmune diseases like multiple Sklerose and juvenile Diabetes mellitus.
To close the lecture Prof. Schütt gave us an outlook to “castles in the air” of immune
science. Perhaps one day it will possible to get a specific tolerance induction for
every patient.
(Simone Stäcker, 5th semester)
http://www.medizin.uni-greifswald.de/imsp