Contemporary concepts of anaphylaxis pathogenesis
https://doi.org/10.23946/2500-0764-2026-11-2-28-37
Abstract
Anaphylaxis is an acute life-threatening condition characterized by rapid onset of systemic disturbances and a high risk of adverse outcomes. Classically, the pathogenesis of anaphylaxis has been attributed to IgE-mediated activation of mast cells and basophils with subsequent release of inflammatory mediators leading to vasodilation, increased vascular permeability, and bronchospasm. However, in recent years, a new understanding of the multifactorial nature of this syndrome has emerged, incorporating systemic, cellular, and molecular mechanisms that extend beyond the traditional allergological paradigm. The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of contemporary concepts of anaphylaxis pathogenesis with an emphasis on the integration of immune, vascular, neurogenic, and metabolic mechanisms. The paper analyzes key pathophysiological pathways, including IgE- and non-IgE-mediated mast cell activation, complementand contact-dependent cascades, neuroimmune interactions, endothelial dysfunction, as well as the role of mitochondrial dysregulation and oxidative stress. Particular attention is given to the phenotypic heterogeneity of anaphylaxis and its association with the development of arterial hypotension, vascular leakage, and shock. The presented data substantiate the need to revise classical views on the pathogenesis of anaphylaxis and provide a foundation for further fundamental research and the development of targeted diagnostic and therapeutic approaches
About the Author
Yu. V. BykovRussian Federation
Dr. Yuri V. Bykov, Cand. Sci. (Medicine), Associate Professor of the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine with a course of additional professional education
Mira St., 310, Stavropol, 355020
References
1. Aleshina RM, Leykina VV. Immunological and pathophysiological aspects of the pathogenesis of anaphylaxis. Problems of environmental and medical genetics and clinical immunology. 2021;1(163):23–36. (In Russ.). Available at: https://лгму.рус/upload/medialibrary/9e1/l9q9eg2sim68xs2cxqga6t5c6ck5q7ch/1_163.pdf. Accessed: 12 April 2026.
2. Esakova NV, Pampura AN. Current aspects of pathogenesis, diagnostics and treatment of idiopathic anaphylaxis. Russian journal of allergy. 2018;6(15):26–32. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.36691/RJA97
3. Cardona V, Ansotegui IJ, Ebisawa M, El-Gamal Y, Fernandez Rivas M, Fineman S, et al. World allergy organization anaphylaxis guidance 2020. World Allergy Organ J. 2020;13(10):100472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.waojou.2020.100472
4. Turner PJ, Campbell DE, Motosue MSM, Campbell RL. Global Trends in Anaphylaxis Epidemiology and Clinical Implications. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2020;8(4):1169–1176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2019.11.027
5. Bitarova DR, Bitarova RR. Anaphilactic shock: classification, etiology, pathogenesis, principles of first aid. Scientific leader. 2023;3(101):42–44. (In Russ.) Available at: https://scilead.ru/article/3880-anafilakticheskij-shok-klassifikatsiya-etiolo Accessed: July 6, 2025.
6. Cianferoni A. Non-IgE-mediated anaphylaxis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021;147(4):1123–1131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2021.02.012
7. Nagata Y, Suzuki R. FcεRI: A Master Regulator of Mast Cell Functions. Cells. 2022;11(4):622. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11040622
8. Li Y, Leung PSC, Gershwin ME, Song J. New Mechanistic Advances in FcεRI-Mast Cell-Mediated Allergic Signaling. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2022;63(3):431–446. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12016-022-08955-9
9. Nguyen SMT, Rupprecht CP, Haque A, Pattanaik D, Yusin J, Krishnaswamy G. Mechanisms Governing Anaphylaxis: Inflammatory Cells, Mediators, Endothelial Gap Junctions and Beyond. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(15):7785. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22157785
10. Stevens WW, Kraft M, Eisenbarth SC. Recent insights into the mechanisms of anaphylaxis. Curr Opin Immunol. 2023;81:102288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coi.2023.102288
11. Galvan-Blasco P, Gil-Serrano J, Sala-Cunill A. New Biomarkers in Anaphylaxis (Beyond Tryptase). Curr Treat Options Allergy. 2022;9(4):303–322. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40521-022-00326-1
12. Vitte J, Vibhushan S, Bratti M, Montero-Hernandez JE, Blank U. Allergy, Anaphylaxis, and Nonallergic Hypersensitivity: IgE, Mast Cells, and Beyond. Med Princ Pract. 2022;31(6):501–515. https://doi.org/10.1159/000527481
13. Nuñez-Borque E, Fernandez-Bravo S, Yuste-Montalvo A, Esteban V. Pathophysiological, Cellular, and Molecular Events of the Vascular System in Anaphylaxis. Front Immunol. 2022;13:836222. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.836222
14. Korhonen H, Fisslthaler B, Moers A, Wirth A, Habermehl D, Wieland T, et al. Anaphylactic shock depends on endothelial Gq/G11. J Exp Med. 2009;206(2):411–420. https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20082150
15. Callesen KT, Yuste-Montalvo A, Poulsen LK, Jensen BM, Esteban V. In Vitro Investigation of Vascular Permeability in Endothelial Cells from Human Artery, Vein and Lung Microvessels at Steady-State and Anaphylactic Conditions. Biomedicines. 2021;9(4):439. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9040439
16. Yuste-Montalvo A, Fernandez-Bravo S, Oliva T, Pastor-Vargas C, Betancor D, Goikoetxea MJ, et al. Proteomic and Biological Analysis of an In Vitro Human Endothelial System in Response to Drug Anaphylaxis. Front Immunol. 2021;12:692569. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.692569
17. Vadas P, Gold M, Perelman B, Liss GM, Lack G, Blyth T, et al. Plateletactivating factor, PAF acetylhydrolase, and severe anaphylaxis. N Engl J Med. 2008;358(1):28–35. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa070030
18. Vadas P, Perelman B, Liss G. Platelet-activating factor, histamine, and tryptase levels in human anaphylaxis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2013;131(1):144–149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2012.08.016
19. Arias K, Baig M, Colangelo M, Chu D, Walker T, Goncharova S, et al. Concurrent blockade of platelet-activating factor and histamine prevents life-threatening peanut-induced anaphylactic reactions. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009;124(2):307–314.e1-2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2009.03.012
20. Upton JEM, Hoang JA, Leon-Ponte M, Finkelstein Y, Du YJ, Adeli K, et al. Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase is a biomarker of severe anaphylaxis in children. Allergy. 2022;77(9):2665–2676. https://doi.org/10.1111/all.15308
21. Gill P, Jindal NL, Jagdis A, Vadas P. Platelets in the immune response: Revisiting platelet-activating factor in anaphylaxis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2015;135(6):1424–1432. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2015.04.019
22. McNeil BD. MRGPRX2 and Adverse Drug Reactions. Front Immunol. 2021;12:676354. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.676354
23. Bruhns P, Chollet-Martin S. Mechanisms of human drug-induced anaphylaxis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021;147(4):1133–1142. https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2021.02.013
24. Ali H. Revisiting the role of MRGPRX2 on hypersensitivity reactions to neuromuscular blocking drugs. Curr Opin Immunol. 2021;72:65–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coi.2021.03.011
25. Mackay GA, Fernandopulle NA, Ding J, McComish J, Soeding PF. Antibody or Anybody? Considering the Role of MRGPRX2 in Acute Drug-Induced Anaphylaxis and as a Therapeutic Target. Front Immunol. 2021;12:688930. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.688930
26. Dézsi L, Mészáros T, Kozma G, H-Velkei M, Oláh CZs, Szabó M, et al. A naturally hypersensitive porcine model may help understand the mechanism of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine-induced rare (pseudo) allergic reactions: complement activation as a possible contributing factor. Geroscience. 2022;44(2):597–618. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-021-00495-y
27. Ibrahim M, Ramadan E, Elsadek NE, Emam SE, Shimizu T, Ando H, et al. Polyethylene glycol (PEG): The nature, immunogenicity, and role in the hypersensitivity of PEGylated products. J Control Release. 2022;351:215-230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.09.031
28. Sala-Cunill A, Björkqvist J, Senter R, Guilarte M, Cardona V, Labrador M, et al. Plasma contact system activation drives anaphylaxis in severe mast cell-mediated allergic reactions. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2015;135(4):1031–1043.e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2014.07.057
29. Ghebrehiwet B, Joseph K, Kaplan AP. The bradykinin-forming cascade in anaphylaxis and ACE-inhibitor induced angioedema/airway obstruction. Front Allergy. 2024;5:1302605.https://doi.org/10.3389/falgy.2024.1302605
30. Xu H, Shi X, Li X, Zou J, Zhou C, Liu W, et al. Neurotransmitter and neuropeptide regulation of mast cell function: a systematic review. J Neuroinflammation. 2020;17(1):356. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-020-02029-3
31. Konstantinou GN, Konstantinou GN, Koulias C, Petalas K, Makris M. Further Understanding of Neuro-Immune Interactions in Allergy: Implications in Pathophysiology and Role in Disease Progression. J Asthma Allergy. 2022;15:1273–1291. https://doi.org/10.2147/JAA.S282039
32. Nagamine M, Kaitani A, Izawa K, Ando T, Yoshikawa A, Nakamura M, et al. Neuronal substance P-driven MRGPRX2-dependent mast cell degranulation products differentially promote vascular permeability. Front Immunol. 2024;15:1477072. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1477072
33. Thapaliya M, Chompunud Na Ayudhya C, Amponnawarat A, Roy S, Ali H. Mast Cell-Specific MRGPRX2: a Key Modulator of Neuro-Immune Interaction in Allergic Diseases. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2021;21(1):3. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-020-00979-5
34. Azimi E, Reddy VB, Seadi Pereira PJS, Talbot S, Woolf CJ, Lerner EA. Substance P activates Mas-related G protein-coupled receptors to induce itch. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2017;140(2):447–453.e3. https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2016.12.980
35. Bosmans G, Appeltans I, Stakenborg N, Gomez-Pinilla PJ, Florens MV, Aguilera-Lizarraga J, et al. Vagus nerve stimulation dampens intestinal inflammation in a murine model of experimental food allergy. Allergy. 2019;74(9):1748–1759. https://doi.org/10.1111/all.13790
36. Piotin A, Oulehri W, Charles AL, Tacquard C, Collange O, Mertes PM, et al. Oxidative Stress and Mitochondria Are Involved in Anaphylaxis and Mast Cell Degranulation: A Systematic Review. Antioxidants (Basel). 2024;13(8):920. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13080920
37. Chelombitko MA, Chernyak BV, Fedorov AV, Zinovkin RA, Razin E, Paruchuru LB. The Role Played by Mitochondria in FcεRI-Dependent Mast Cell Activation. Front Immunol. 2020;11:584210. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.584210
38. Zhang B, Alysandratos KD, Angelidou A, Asadi S, Sismanopoulos N, Delivanis DA, et al. Human mast cell degranulation and preformed TNF secretion require mitochondrial translocation to exocytosis sites: relevance to atopic dermatitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2011;127(6):1522–1531.e8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2011.02.005
39. Oulehri W, Collange O, Tacquard C, Bellou A, Graff J, Charles AL, et al. Impaired Myocardial Mitochondrial Function in an Experimental Model of Anaphylactic Shock. Biology (Basel). 2022;11(5):730. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11050730
40. Qu K, Yan F, Qin X, Zhang K, He W, Dong M, et al. Mitochondrial dysfunction in vascular endothelial cells and its role in atherosclerosis. Front Physiol. 2022;13:1084604. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.1084604
41. Tiemeier GL, Wang G, Dumas SJ, Sol WMPJ, Avramut MC, Karakach T, et al. Closing the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore in hiPSC-Derived Endothelial Cells Induces Glycocalyx Formation and Functional Maturation. Stem Cell Reports. 2019;13(5):803-816. https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2019.10.005
42. Pavlyuchenkova AN, Chelombitko MA, Fedorov AV, Kuznetsova MK, Zinovkin RA, Razin E. The Distinct Effects of the Mitochondria-Targeted STAT3 Inhibitors Mitocur-1 and Mitocur-3 on Mast Cell and Mitochondrial Functions. Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24(2):1471. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24021471
43. Sala-Cunill A, Guilarte M, Cardona V. Phenotypes, endotypes and biomarkers in anaphylaxis: current insights. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2018;18(5):370–376. https://doi.org/10.1097/ACI.0000000000000472
44. Jimenez-Rodriguez TW, Garcia-Neuer M, Alenazy LA, Castells M. Anaphylaxis in the 21st century: phenotypes, endotypes, and biomarkers. J Asthma Allergy. 2018;11:121–142. https://doi.org/10.2147/JAA.S159411.
Review
For citations:
Bykov Yu.V. Contemporary concepts of anaphylaxis pathogenesis. Fundamental and Clinical Medicine. 2026;11(2):28-37. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.23946/2500-0764-2026-11-2-28-37
JATS XML





























