The Immunological Release of Chemical Mediators of Immediate Type Hypersensitivity from Human Lung

Abstract

This chapter discusses the immunological release of chemical mediators of immediate-type hypersensitivity from human lung. The investigation of the in vitro release of chemical mediators from human lung following antigen–antibody interaction represents a study of an inflammatory process initiated by an immunologic trigger, which can be defined, isolated, and quantitated. This experimental model permits identification not only of the participating immunoglobulins but also of the biochemical events involved in the immunologic release of the chemical mediators. The apparent diversity of the mediators released from lung tissue subsequent to antigen–antibody interaction underlines the need for the definition of common control mechanisms susceptible to specific inhibition. The chapter describes the slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis and the eosinophil chemotactic factor of anaphylaxis.