Cytokines And Inflammation

The acute inflammatory response is the body's first system of alarm signals that are directed toward containment and elimination of microbial invaders. Uncontrolled inflammation has emerged as a pathophysiologic basis for many widely occurring diseases in the general population. This book provides an introduction to the cell types, chemical mediators, and general mechanisms of the host's first response to invasion.

Within the past few years, it has become recognized that the immune system communicates to the brain. Substances released from activated immune cells (cytokines) stimulate peripheral nerves, thereby signaling the brain and spinal cord that infection/inflammation has occurred. Additionally, peripheral infection/inflammation leads to de novo synthesis and release of cytokines within the brain and spinal cord. Thus, cytokines effect neural activation both peripherally and centrally. Through this communication pathway, cytokines such as interleukin-1, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor markedly alter brain function, physiology and behavior. One important but underrecognized aspect of this communication is the dramatic impact that immune activation has on pain modulation. The purpose of this book is to examine, for the first time, immune-to-brain communication from the viewpoint of its effect on pain processing. It is aimed both at the basic scientist and health care providers, in order to clarify the major role that substances released by immune cells play in pain modulation. This book contains chapters contributed by all of the major laboratories focused on understanding how cytokines modulate pain. These chapters provide a unique vantage point from which to examine this question, as the summarized work ranges from evolutionary approaches across diverse species, to the basics of the immune response, to the effect of cytokines on peripheral and central nervous system sites, to therapeutic potential in humans.

The affect of xenobiotics on host resistance in general and specific immune functions has become the focus of much current research. This book synthesises current information on how chemicals (xenobiotics) can affect the immune system to cuse dysfunction, focusing on the process of inflammation. It provides a much needed, single-source reference for researchers investigation the mechanisms responsible for altered host resistance following exposture to xenobiotics. Emphasis is placed on the roles of cytokines and growth factors in the inflammatory process and how such processes are altered and modulated by xenobiotics. This volume contains information pertinent to those exploring cell growth, angiogenesis, hematopoetic differentiation, and recruitment to and proliferation of cells in various tissue sites. This volume brings together experts in inflammation, cytokines, cell growth, immunology and toxicology to provide a highly yseful volume modulated by chemicals. Divided into three sections, the book offers an organ system approach to understanding inflammation and xenobiotics.

Every aspect of immune function and host defense is dependent upon a proper supply and balance of nutrients. Severe malnutrition can cause significant alteration in immune response, but even subclinical deficits may be associated with an impaired immune response, and an increased risk of infection. Infectious diseases have accounted for more off-duty days during major wars than combat wounds or nonbattle injuries. Combined stressors may reduce the normal ability of soldiers to resist pathogens, increase their susceptibility to biological warfare agents, and reduce the effectiveness of vaccines intended to protect them. There is also a concern with the inappropriate use of dietary supplements. This book, one of a series, examines the impact of various types of stressors and the role of specific dietary nutrients in maintaining immune function of military personnel in the field. It reviews the impact of compromised nutrition status on immune function; the interaction of health, exercise, and stress (both physical and psychological) in immune function; and the role of nutritional supplements and newer biotechnology methods reported to enhance immune function. The first part of the book contains the committee's workshop summary and evaluation of ongoing research by Army scientists on immune status in special forces troops, responses to the Army's questions, conclusions, and recommendations. The rest of the book contains papers contributed by workshop speakers, grouped under such broad topics as an introduction to what is known about immune function, the assessment of immune function, the effect of nutrition, and the relation between the many and varied stresses encountered by military personnel and their effect on health.

This important new book focuses on the involvement of cytokines in specific areas of inflammatory diseases, such as granulomatous responses, lung disease, hepatic dysfunction and the acute phase, arthritis and accompanying bone remodeling, neurogenic inflammation, and shock. The roles of GM-CSF, IL-6, IL-2, TGFb EGF, and LIF are discussed, as well as the medical treatments that affect cytokine activity. The results of approaches important to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, such as the search for endogenous biological response modifiers that control cytokine function or production, attempts to synthesize heterocyclic compounds in the organic chemistry lab, and research regarding second messenger pathways involved in IL-1 and TNF production are examined. This book will provide anyone in cytokine research, especially clinical investigators, pharmaceutical industry researchers, and academic research scientists, with important information on how cytokine research might be used.

This book guides the reader through the latest research on the cytokine network, covering signaling pathways, control of the immune response, and potential therapeutics. Different cytokines stimulate diverse responses in various phases of inflammation and immunity, including the innate immune response, the generation of effector T cells, and the development of antibodies by the humoral immune system. It is now clear that the pathophysiology of many infectious, autoimmune, allergic, and malignant diseases can be largely explained by which cytokines are induced and subsequently regulate the cellular responses. In clinical medicine, cytokines are involved in a wide spectrum of diseases. This book describes in three parts the properties and roles of 15 key cytokines under physiological and pathological conditions. Part I presents nine cytokines associated with inflammatory disorders, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and the recently identified new helper T (Th) subset: Th17 cells. Part II gives details of three cytokines associated with allergic disorders, including Th2 responses and recently identified types of innate cells. Part III describes three cytokines that are associated with immunological tolerance and anti-inflammation, including regulatory T (Treg) cells, IL-10-producing Treg (Tr1) cells, and inducible IL-35-producing Treg (iTr35) cells. Cytokines are considered to be important as therapeutic targets for specific agonists or antagonists in numerous immune and inflammatory diseases. The ultimate goal of this book is to facilitate the development of therapeutic treatments for such diseases which has been limited by an insufficient understanding of the biology of cytokines and the complicated network that they create.

It is only during the last decade that the functions of sinusoidal endothelial cells, Kupffer cells, hepatic stellate cells, pit cells and other intrahepatic lymphocytes have been better understood. The development of methods for isolation and co-culturing various types of liver cells has established that they communicate and cooperate via secretion of various intercellular mediators. This monograph summarizes multiple data that suggest the important role of cellular cross-talk for the functions of both normal and diseased liver. Special features of the book include concise presentation of the majority of detailed data in 19 tables. Original schemes allow for the clear illustration of complicated intercellular relationships. This is the first ever presentation of the newly emerging field of liver biology, which is important for hepatic function in health and disease and opens new avenues for therapeutic interventions.

This book gives a comprehensive overview on current clinical and basic research issues related to Parkinson’s disease and its related disorders. The book is the result of the 16th International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Related disorders congress 2005. Its contents are suitable for neurologists, psychiatrists, neurosurgeons, basic researchers, geneticians and patients as well as their relatives.