7. Immunologic lung disease

J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008 Feb;121(2 Suppl):S393-7; quiz S418. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2007.07.039.

Abstract

The lung is an extremely complex organ and participates in initial responses to inhaled antigens, infectious agents, and irritants or as a response to exposure through the oral, parenteral, or transdermal routes. There can be constriction of the airways or involvement or even destruction of the lung parenchyma, depending on the condition. This review focuses on selected aspects of the pulmonary innate and adaptive immune responses; the new condition World Trade Center cough, which can cause an asthma-like presentation and resemble reactive airways dysfunction syndrome; and the diagnosis and treatment of various immunologic lung conditions. Innate immune responses occur in the acute respiratory distress syndrome and in transfusion-related acute lung injury. Adaptive immune responses involve specialized mucosal and systemic immune responses, lymphocytes, and antibodies and can result in CD4+ TH1 and TH2 phenotypes, such as TH1 for tuberculosis and TH2 for asthma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / complications
  • Cough / complications
  • Cough / etiology
  • Granuloma / complications
  • Granuloma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immune System Diseases* / etiology
  • Immune System Diseases* / immunology
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Lung Diseases* / etiology
  • Lung Diseases* / immunology
  • Pneumonia / etiology
  • Pneumonia / pathology
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / complications
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / complications
  • September 11 Terrorist Attacks
  • Th1 Cells / pathology
  • Th2 Cells / pathology
  • Transfusion Reaction