Immunological mechanisms in pulmonary diseases

Although the subject of this symposium, IgE and Mechanisms in Immediate Hypersensitivity, is applicable to most of the common atopic respiratory diseases, there are many other respiratory diseases that are not necessarily IgE mediated. In this talk I shall briefly touch on the immunological mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of some of these diseases including allergic alveolitis (hypersensitivity pneumonitis), the eosinophilic pneumonias and pulmonary fibrosis associated with certain connective tissue, inorganic dust, and occupational diseases.