Allergic Reactions and Immune Factors
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Immunology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 54
Special Issue Editor
2. School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: dermatovenerology; allergy; skin inflammation; microbiome; psychoneuroimmunology; multidisciplinary; mucocutaneous diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The immune system is crucial for defending the body against pathogens or various harmful substances from the environment as well as other negative factors such as cancer cells. Thus, innate immunity, as a rapid, non-specific first line of defense against pathogens, provides immediate protection without memory (e.g., physical and chemical barriers) and involves cells such as macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells that engulf and destroy invaders. Adaptive immunity, a slower and highly specific response, involves memory, allows for faster and more effective responses after re-exposure to the same antigen, and involves B and T cells.
In addition to the aforementioned immune responses, the immune system can trigger hypersensitivity reactions classified into four types (according to the Gell and Coombs classification). Thus, type I hypersensitivity is an immediate hypersensitivity that involves an IgE-mediated immune response to typically harmless environmental antigens. Upon re-exposure to an allergen (such as pollen, dust mites, drugs, food, or insect venom), a reaction occurs via previously sensitized mast cells and basophils that rapidly degranulate and release mediators such as histamine, leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and other inflammatory mediators, leading to various clinical manifestations such as allergic rhinitis, urticaria, allergic asthma, food allergies, angioedema, atopic dermatitis, or even anaphylaxis.
In type II hypersensitivity reactions, a reaction occurs that is mediated by antibodies against cells and tissues (IgG or IgM antibodies bind to antigens on the surface of cells and tissues), which leads to their destruction through complement activation or cell-dependent cytotoxicity (manifestations include autoimmune hemolytic anemia, blood transfusion reactions, Goodpasture syndrome, etc.).
In type III hypersensitivity reactions, after the formation of circulating antigen-antibody complexes that deposit in tissues, there is recruitment of neutrophils and release of inflammatory mediators, leading to tissue damage and manifestations such as serum sickness, necrotizing vasculitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, glomerulonephritis, and more.
Finally, in type IV hypersensitivity reactions, a delayed-onset T-cell-mediated reaction, antigen-presenting cells activate sensitized T lymphocytes, which release cytokines that recruit and activate macrophages and cytotoxic T cells, manifesting as, for instance, allergic contact dermatitis and granulomatous diseases.
Knowledge of all these types of hypersensitivity reactions is essential for clinical practice and the understanding of various conditions and diseases. In this Special Issue, we will present the current knowledge on allergic reactions and immunological factors, including studies of the molecules involved in the various conditions listed, which are potentially important in the treatment of various conditions. Therefore, studies (clinical trials) and research data on etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnostics, and therapy for various conditions that involve allergic and immune mechanisms are welcome, including allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, food allergies, angioedema, urticaria, atopic dermatitis, anaphylaxis, drug allergy, Hymenoptera venom allergy, mast cell disorders, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, blood transfusion reactions, Goodpasture syndrome, serum sickness, necrotizing vasculitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, glomerulonephritis, allergic contact dermatitis, granulomatous diseases, and more. Also welcome are studies and data on the treatment of allergic and other diseases which may include the use of advanced immune therapies, biologics, allergen immunotherapy, and other types of immune-mediated therapy, etc. In addition, various other conditions that involve immune cells and mechanisms are welcome.
I look forward to your contributions in the form of original research articles or reviews.
Prof. Dr. Liborija Lugovic-Mihic
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- allergic reactions
- immunity
- immunological factors
- hypersensitivity
- antibody
- cytokine
- immune response
- etiology
- pathogenesis
- clinical manifestations
- diagnostic
- therapy
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