The Gell and Coombs classification of hypersensitivity is the most widely used, and distinguishes four types of immune response that result in bystander tissue damage.
Immunologic aspects of hypersensitivity reactionsType I hypersensitivity occurs as a result of exposure to an antigen. The antigens are proteins with a molecular weight ranging from 10 to 40 kDa. The response to the antigen occurs in two stages: the sensitization and the effect stage. In the "sensitization" stage, the host experiences an asymptomatic contact with the antigen. Subsequently, in the "effect" period, the pre-sensitized host is re-introduced to the antigen, which then leads to a type I anaphylactic or atopic immune response.
Type II hypersensitivity reaction refers to an antibody-mediated immune reaction in which antibodies (IgG or IgM) are directed against cellular or extracellular matrix antigens with the resultant cellular destruction, functional loss, or damage to tissues. The antigens may be for example glycoproteins on the cell membrane of erythrocytes that are key molecules that determine blood types. Depending on the chemical nature of the antigens, blood types have different levels of hypersensitivity; for instance, A and B are more antigenic than other antigens.
The pathophysiology of type II hypersensitivity reactions can be broadly classified into three types:
The process involves a series of immune-mediated events that might take different forms.
In type III hypersensitivity reaction, an abnormal immune response is mediated by the formation of antigen-antibody aggregates called "immune complexes". They can precipitate in various tissues such as skin, joints, vessels, or glomeruli, and trigger the classical complement pathway. Complement activation leads to the recruitment of inflammatory cells (monocytes and neutrophils) that release lysosomal enzymes and free radicals at the site of immune complexes, causing tissue damage.
The most common diseases involving a type III hypersensitivity reaction are serum sickness, post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, farmers' lung (hypersensitivity pneumonitis), and rheumatoid arthritis.
The principal feature that separates type III reactions from other hypersensitivity reactions is that in type III reaction, the antigen-antibody complexes are pre-formed in the circulation before their deposition in tissues.
Type IV hypersensitivity reactions are, to some extent, normal physiological events that help fight infections, and dysfunction in this system can predispose to multiple opportunistic infections. Adverse events can also occur due to these reactions when an undesirable interaction between the immune system and an allergen happens.
A type IV hypersensitivity reaction is mediated by T cells that provoke an inflammatory reaction against exogenous or endogenous antigens. In certain situations, other cells, such as monocytes, eosinophils, and neutrophils, can be involved. After antigen exposure, an initial local immune and inflammatory response occurs that attracts leukocytes. The antigen engulfed by the macrophages and monocytes is presented to T cells, which then becomes sensitized and activated. These cells then release cytokines and chemokines, which can cause tissue damage and may result in illnesses.
Delayed hypersensitivity plays a crucial role in our body's ability to fight various intracellular pathogens such as mycobacteria and fungi. They also play a principal role in tumor immunity and transplant rejection. Since patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have a progressive decline in the number of CD4 cells, they also have a defective type four hypersensitivity reaction.
The treatment of immediate hypersensitivity reactions includes the management of anaphylaxis with intramuscular adrenaline (epinephrine), oxygen, intravenous (IV) antihistamine, support blood pressure with IV fluids, avoid latex gloves and equipment in patients who are allergic, and surgical procedures such as tracheotomy if there is severe laryngeal edema.
Treatment of type 4 HR involves the treatment of the eliciting cause.
Andreozzi, Laura; Giannetti, Arianna; Cipriani, Francesca; Caffarelli, Carlo; Mastrorilli, Carla; Ricci, Giampaolo (2019). "Hypersensitivity reactions to food and drug additives: problem or myth?". Acta Bio-Medica. 90 (3–S): 80–90. doi:10.23750/abm.v90i3-S.8168. ISSN 2531-6745. PMC 6502174. PMID 30830065. https://www.mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/8168
Gargano, Domenico; Appanna, Ramapraba; Santonicola, Antonella; De Bartolomeis, Fabio; Stellato, Cristiana; Cianferoni, Antonella; Casolaro, Vincenzo; Iovino, Paola (2021). "Food Allergy and Intolerance: A Narrative Review on Nutritional Concerns". Nutrients. 13 (5): 1638. doi:10.3390/nu13051638. ISSN 2072-6643. PMC 8152468. PMID 34068047. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8152468
Dispenza, Melanie C. (2019). "Classification of hypersensitivity reactions" (PDF). Allergy and Asthma Proceedings. 40 (6): 470–473. doi:10.2500/aap.2019.40.4274. ISSN 1539-6304. PMID 31690397. S2CID 207891282. https://allergolyon.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/0.4-Classification-of-hypersensitivity-reactions-2019.pdf
Tian, Bao-Ping; Zhou, Hong-Bin; Xia, Li-Xia; Shen, Hua-Hao; Ying, Songmin (2014). "Balance of apoptotic cell death and survival in allergic diseases". Microbes and Infection. 16 (10): 811–821. doi:10.1016/j.micinf.2014.07.004. ISSN 1769-714X. PMID 25111826. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1286457914000914
Silverstein, Arthur M. "Philip George Houthem Gell. 20 October 1914 – 3 May 2001 Elected FRS 1969". Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society. 49: 163–178. doi:10.1098/rsbm.2003.0010. ISSN 0080-4606. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbm.2003.0010
Descotes, J.; Choquet-Kastylevsky, G. (2001-02-02). "Gell and Coombs's classification: is it still valid?". Toxicology. 158 (1–2): 43–49. doi:10.1016/s0300-483x(00)00400-5. ISSN 0300-483X. PMID 11164991. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0300483X00004005
Rajan, T. V. (2003). "The Gell-Coombs classification of hypersensitivity reactions: a re-interpretation". Trends in Immunology. 24 (7): 376–379. doi:10.1016/s1471-4906(03)00142-x. ISSN 1471-4906. PMID 12860528. https://www.cell.com/trends/immunology/fulltext/S1471-4906(03)00142-X?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS147149060300142X%3Fshowall%3Dtrue
Usman, Norina; Annamaraju, Pavan (2021), "Type III Hypersensitivity Reaction", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 32644548, retrieved 2021-07-05 This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559122/
Marwa, Khaled; Kondamudi, Noah P. (2021), "Type IV Hypersensitivity Reaction", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 32965899, retrieved 2021-07-05 This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562228/
Justiz Vaillant, Angel A.; Vashisht, Rishik; Zito, Patrick M. (2021), "Immediate Hypersensitivity Reactions", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 30020687, retrieved 2021-07-05 This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513315/
"Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine, IE Edition, 20th Ed: Medicine—Clinical Medicine". Journal of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes of South Africa. 13 (2): 75. July 2008. doi:10.1080/22201009.2008.10872174. ISSN 1608-9677. S2CID 220276722. https://doi.org/10.1080%2F22201009.2008.10872174
Black, C. A. (1999). "Delayed type hypersensitivity: Current theories with an historic perspective". Dermatology Online Journal. 5 (1): 7. doi:10.5070/D32FW0G1XX. PMID 10673450. http://escholarship.org/uc/item/2fw0g1xx
Delayed Hypersensitivity Reactions at eMedicine https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/136118-overview
Kumar, Vinay; Abbas, Abul K.; Aster, Jon C., eds. (2014). "Hypersensitivity: Immunologicaly Mediated Tissue Injury". Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease (9th ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences. pp. 200–11. ISBN 978-0-323-29635-9. 978-0-323-29635-9
Black, C. A. (1999). "Delayed type hypersensitivity: Current theories with an historic perspective". Dermatology Online Journal. 5 (1): 7. doi:10.5070/D32FW0G1XX. PMID 10673450. http://escholarship.org/uc/item/2fw0g1xx
Delayed Hypersensitivity Reactions at eMedicine https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/136118-overview
Abbas, Abul K. (6 May 2021). Cellular and Molecular Immunology. Elsevier. p. 444. ISBN 978-0-323-75748-5. 978-0-323-75748-5
Le, Tau. First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 2013, p. 203-204
Mitchell, Richard Sheppard; Kumar, Vinay; Abbas, Abul K.; Fausto, Nelson (2007). "Table 5-1". Robbins Basic Pathology (8th ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders. ISBN 978-1-4160-2973-1. 978-1-4160-2973-1
Justiz Vaillant, Angel A.; Vashisht, Rishik; Zito, Patrick M. (2021), "Immediate Hypersensitivity Reactions", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 30020687, retrieved 2021-07-05 This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513315/
Abbas, Malak; Moussa, Mohamed; Akel, Hassan (2021), "Type I Hypersensitivity Reaction", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 32809396, retrieved 2021-07-04 This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560561/
Abbas, Malak; Moussa, Mohamed; Akel, Hassan (2021), "Type I Hypersensitivity Reaction", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 32809396, retrieved 2021-07-04 This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560561/
Justiz Vaillant, Angel A.; Vashisht, Rishik; Zito, Patrick M. (2021), "Immediate Hypersensitivity Reactions", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 30020687, retrieved 2021-07-05 This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513315/
Justiz Vaillant, Angel A.; Vashisht, Rishik; Zito, Patrick M. (2021), "Immediate Hypersensitivity Reactions", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 30020687, retrieved 2021-07-05 This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513315/
Justiz Vaillant, Angel A.; Vashisht, Rishik; Zito, Patrick M. (2021), "Immediate Hypersensitivity Reactions", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 30020687, retrieved 2021-07-05 This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513315/
Justiz Vaillant, Angel A.; Vashisht, Rishik; Zito, Patrick M. (2021), "Immediate Hypersensitivity Reactions", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 30020687, retrieved 2021-07-05 This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513315/
Bajwa, Shammas F.; Mohammed, Reem Hamdy A. (2021), "Type II Hypersensitivity Reaction", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 33085411, retrieved 2021-07-05 This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563264/
Usman, Norina; Annamaraju, Pavan (2021), "Type III Hypersensitivity Reaction", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 32644548, retrieved 2021-07-05 This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559122/
Usman, Norina; Annamaraju, Pavan (2021), "Type III Hypersensitivity Reaction", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 32644548, retrieved 2021-07-05 This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559122/
Usman, Norina; Annamaraju, Pavan (2021), "Type III Hypersensitivity Reaction", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 32644548, retrieved 2021-07-05 This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559122/
Marwa, Khaled; Kondamudi, Noah P. (2021), "Type IV Hypersensitivity Reaction", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 32965899, retrieved 2021-07-05 This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562228/
E SILVA, M. ROCHA; LEME, J. GARCIA (1972), "Mediators of the Inflammatory Reaction", Chemical Mediators of the Acute Inflammatory Reaction, Elsevier, pp. 101–197, ISBN 978-0-08-017040-4, retrieved 2025-06-18 978-0-08-017040-4
Marwa, Khaled; Kondamudi, Noah P. (2021), "Type IV Hypersensitivity Reaction", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 32965899, retrieved 2021-07-05 This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562228/
Marwa, Khaled; Kondamudi, Noah P. (2021), "Type IV Hypersensitivity Reaction", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 32965899, retrieved 2021-07-05 This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562228/
Marwa, Khaled; Kondamudi, Noah P. (2021), "Type IV Hypersensitivity Reaction", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 32965899, retrieved 2021-07-05 This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562228/
Adomako, Kwasi (2020-12-31). "Mɔfɔ-sentatek ne sohyiɔ-pragmatek mpɛnsɛmpɛnsɛnmu fa radio ne TV so mmɛ bi ho: "akɔmfo bɔne sɛ kuro mmɔ a,.."". Ghana Journal of Linguistics. 9 (2): 65–87. doi:10.4314/gjl.v9i2.4. ISSN 2026-6596. https://doi.org/10.4314/gjl.v9i2.4
Justiz Vaillant, Angel A.; Vashisht, Rishik; Zito, Patrick M. (2021), "Immediate Hypersensitivity Reactions", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 30020687, retrieved 2021-07-05 This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513315/
Justiz Vaillant, Angel A.; Vashisht, Rishik; Zito, Patrick M. (2021), "Immediate Hypersensitivity Reactions", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 30020687, retrieved 2021-07-05 This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513315/
Justiz Vaillant, Angel A.; Zulfiqar, Hassam; Ramphul, Kamleshun (2021), "Delayed Hypersensitivity Reactions", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 30085565, retrieved 2021-07-05 This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519023/