Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Allergic Reactions

Allergic Reactions

Allergic Drug Reactions

Allergic Drug Reactions

Allergic reactions related to drugs are hypersensitivity responses driven by the immune system and bear no connection to the drug's therapeutic action. While drugs in isolation do not trigger an immune response, they can interact with endogenous proteins to form antigens. These antigens stimulate lymphocytes to produce antibodies. IgE-type antibodies attach themselves to mast cells. Upon subsequent exposure to the same stimulus, the antigen-antibody interaction is initiated, unleashing numerous...

Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity

Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity

An antigen is any substance the immune system identifies as foreign and potentially harmful to the body, prompting an immune response. Antigens have two functional properties: immunogenicity and reactivity. Immunogenicity is the ability of an antigen to stimulate a specific immune response. At the same time, reactivity describes the antigen's ability to react with the cells and antibodies produced in response to it.
Complete Antigens
Complete antigens possess both immunogenicity and reactivity.

Drug Toxicity: Allergic Reactions

Drug Toxicity: Allergic Reactions

Drug-related allergies are immune-mediated responses triggered by the administration of pharmacological agents. These hypersensitivity reactions are classified based on the immune mechanisms involved. The four primary types—Type I, II, III, and IV—are mediated by different immunological pathways and exhibit distinct clinical manifestations.Type I Hypersensitivity/ IgE-Mediated Reactions: Immunoglobulin E (IgE) immediately mediates Type I hypersensitivity reactions. Upon initial exposure to a...

Hypersensitivity Reactions: Delayed Hypersensitivity Reactions

Hypersensitivity Reactions: Delayed Hypersensitivity Reactions

Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity (DTH), or Type IV hypersensitivity, is a cell-mediated immune response. It occurs when T cells, rather than antibodies, mediate a reaction to specific antigens. It is characterized by a delayed onset (1-2 days) and involves the recruitment of macrophages to the inflammation site.The initiation of a DTH response begins with the sensitization of T cells. During this phase, which lasts at least 1-2 weeks, antigen-specific T cells are activated, clonally expanded, and...

Hypersensitivity Reactions: Immune-Complex Reactions

Hypersensitivity Reactions: Immune-Complex Reactions

Type III hypersensitivity reactions occur when antigen–antibody complexes form and activate the complement system. Normally, these complexes help the clearance of antigens by phagocytes and red blood cells. However, when large numbers of immune complexes are present, they can deposit in tissues—particularly in the walls of blood vessels—leading to inflammation and tissue injury. These deposits trigger complement activation and neutrophil recruitment, resulting in serum sickness, a systemic...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

A taxon-specific measurement of disruption in a multi-modal study of microbiomes and metabolomes reveals system-wide dysbiosis preceding HIV-1 infection.

Nature communications·2025

Same author

Frailty-Related Factors among Women Living with and without HIV Aged 40 Years and Older. The Women's Interagency HIV Study.

The Journal of frailty & aging·2024

Same author

Simple Power and Sample Size Estimation for Non-Randomized Longitudinal Difference in Differences Studies.

Journal of biometrics & biostatistics·2019

Same author

Longitudinal evaluation of markers of inflammation in HIV-positive and HIV-negative Rwandan women.

HIV medicine·2018

Same author

Bone quality assessed using quantitative ultrasound at the distal radius does not differ in antiretroviral therapy-naïve HIV-positive and HIV-negative Rwandan women.

HIV medicine·2016

Same author

Risk Factors for the Development of BK Virus Nephropathy in Renal Transplant Recipients.

Transplantation proceedings·2015

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2026

A Component-resolved Diagnostic Approach for a Study on Grass Pollen Allergens in Chinese Southerners with Allergic Rhinitis and/or Asthma

A Component-resolved Diagnostic Approach for a Study on Grass Pollen Allergens in Chinese Southerners with Allergic Rhinitis and/or Asthma

Published on: June 4, 2017

Immunologic parameters of multiple chemical sensitivity.

C S Mitchell¹, A Donnay, D R Hoover

¹Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.

Occupational Medicine (Philadelphia, Pa.)

|July 21, 2000

Summary

Investigating immune system involvement in multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) reveals complex interactions. While some evidence supports an immunologic basis for MCS, theoretical doubts and study limitations warrant further research into immune system function and testing.

More Related Videos

Assessment of Respiratory Function in Conscious Mice by Double-chamber Plethysmography

Assessment of Respiratory Function in Conscious Mice by Double-chamber Plethysmography

Published on: July 10, 2018

Contact Hypersensitivity as a Murine Model of Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Contact Hypersensitivity as a Murine Model of Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Published on: September 26, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 11, 2026

A Component-resolved Diagnostic Approach for a Study on Grass Pollen Allergens in Chinese Southerners with Allergic Rhinitis and/or Asthma

A Component-resolved Diagnostic Approach for a Study on Grass Pollen Allergens in Chinese Southerners with Allergic Rhinitis and/or Asthma

Published on: June 4, 2017

Assessment of Respiratory Function in Conscious Mice by Double-chamber Plethysmography

Assessment of Respiratory Function in Conscious Mice by Double-chamber Plethysmography

Published on: July 10, 2018

Contact Hypersensitivity as a Murine Model of Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Contact Hypersensitivity as a Murine Model of Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Published on: September 26, 2022

Area of Science:

Immunology
Environmental Health
Toxicology

Background:

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is a condition characterized by a wide range of symptoms attributed to chemical exposures.
The potential role of immunologic abnormalities in MCS has been proposed due to the systemic nature of symptoms and known immune system interactions.
Existing research presents both supporting evidence and significant limitations, including theoretical doubts and methodological constraints in human studies.

Purpose of the Study:

To critically evaluate the evidence supporting an immunologic mechanism for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).
To discuss the relevance of immune system structure and function to MCS.
To review the utility and limitations of immunologic testing in the context of MCS research.

Main Methods:

Literature review and critical analysis of existing studies on immunologic abnormalities and MCS.
Discussion of theoretical frameworks linking the immune system to MCS.
Examination of the methodologies and validation of immunologic tests used in MCS research.

Main Results:

The systemic nature of MCS symptoms and known immune system interactions provide partial support for an immunologic mechanism.
Theoretical considerations and methodological constraints in current human studies raise questions about a direct immunologic cause for MCS.
Recent efforts have focused on validating immunologic tests used in MCS research, with ongoing opportunities for further investigation.

Conclusions:

The immunologic basis of MCS remains complex and not fully established.
Further research is needed to clarify the role of the immune system and to improve the reliability of diagnostic testing for MCS.
A comprehensive understanding requires addressing both theoretical aspects and methodological challenges in studying MCS.