title: [Immunopathogenesis of extrinsic allergic alveolitis].
abstract: Inhalation of a variety of organic dusts may cause the onset of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) finally leading to irreversible pulmonary fibrosis in some individuals. So far, the pathogenesis of HP remains partially unclear. Besides patient-related factors this is probably attributable to the complex composition of the causative dusts: in addition to specific antigens that may induce type III and type IV reactions they contain a variety of additional components like particles and toxins with the ability to promote several antigen-independent reactions. During an acute episode of HP a marked alveolitis dominated by polymorphonuclear cells develops. As we showed these polymorphonuclear cells are in an activated state and may therefore cause pronounced damage in the lung interstitium. Based on these and other findings we believe that polymorphonuclear cells are of predominant importance for the pathogenesis of HP.
authors.affiliation: Pneumologische Abteilung, Klinikum Grosshadern.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vogelmeier
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazur
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pethran
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Beinert
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buhl
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000542:Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D004391:Dust; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D016207:Cytokines; D004391:Dust; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic