title: The Gell-Coombs classification of hypersensitivity reactions: a re-interpretation.
abstract: Gell and Coombs classified hypersensitivity reactions into four 'types'. I suggest that the premise that these reactions represent 'hypersensitivity' manifestations is limiting and that they represent four major strategies that the body uses to combat infectious agents. I further propose that there is a fifth strategy that was not envisioned in the Gell and Coombs classification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Room L-1037, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-3105, USA. rajan@neuron.uchc.edu <rajan@neuron.uchc.edu>
authors.forename: T V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Rajan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D015551:Autoimmunity; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology; D018448:Models, Immunological