<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThere are four types of hypersensitivity reaction mediated by immunological mechanisms that cause tissue damage. Types I-III are antibody-mediated and are distinguished by the different types of antigens recognized and the different classes of antibody involved. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n- Type I<\/strong> responses are mediated by IgE, which induces mast-cell activation, whereas types II and III are mediated by IgG, which can engage Fc-receptor and complement-mediated effector mechanisms to varying degrees, depending on the subclass of IgG and the nature of the antigen involved. <\/span><\/li>
- Type II<\/strong> responses are directed against cell-surface or matrix antigens.<\/span><\/li>
- Type III<\/strong> responses are directed against soluble antigens, and the tissue damage involved is caused by responses triggered by immune complexes. <\/span><\/li>
- Type IV<\/strong> hypersensitivity reactions are T cell-mediated and can be subdivided into three groups. In the first group, tissue damage is caused by the activation of macro-phages by TH1 cells, which results in an inflammatory response. In the second, damage is caused by the activation by TH2 cells of inflammatory responses in which eosinophils predominate; in the third, damage is caused directly by cytotoxic T cells (CTL).<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n