Histamine In Inflammation

The year 2010 marks the centennial for the identification of histamine and the first glimpse of its many physiological functions. From these initial findings a rich tapestry of research has uncovered roles for histamine in almost every physiological process with new findings emerging every year. These diverse roles of histamine have made for fertile ground for the discovery of novel therapeutics, and these drugs have been so successful that the term “antihistamine” has entered the common lexicon. This volume is an attempt to give a snapshot in time as to the current understanding of the role of histamine in just one important therapeutic area—inflammation. The first three chapters provide some background context for the rest of the book starting out with a historical perspective by Figueroa and Shankley. Bongers et al provide an overview of the pharmacology of the four histamine receptors and the chapter by Hiroshi Ohtsu describes how histamine is synthesized as well as the insights derived from mice where this synthesis is disrupted. The next several chapters discuss disease areas where histamine is known to be involved. Chapter 4 by Thomas Taylor-Clark outlines the role of histamine in allergic rhinitis, an area were antihistamines are commonly used. This is also true for ocular allergy as discussed by Ohbayashi et al. Both of these chapters highlight aspects of these conditions that are still not well-controlled and suggest the utility of new antihistamines targeting other histamine receptors.

A comprehensive overview of the current research on inflammation and immunopharmacology, with particular attention to the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, this book discusses future trends in this area of pharmacological research. It addresses an audience with basic knowledge in the inflammatory process, immune system and pharmacology. The book meets the needs of graduate students, junior and senior researchers and is useful as a source of the most current information for those already working in these fields.

Histamine is released in allergic, inflammatory reactions. This comprehensive text fully examines the physiological, biochemical and clinical significance of this mediator with a central role in allergic reaction.

Throughout the centuries, inflammation has been considered as a disease in itself. This misconception arose from the inability to distinguish between inflammatory changes and the insults which induce them. The understanding of the distinction between the genesis of inflammation and the tissue reactions that follow is attributed to JOHN HUNTER, who, at the end of the 18th century, substantially contributed to the analysis of inflammation in objective terms. Today, however, we are still trying to find explanations for Celsus' Signs in terms of structural and functional changes occurring in the inflamed tissue. There are drugs which modulate these signs but, without a detailed knowledge of the basic physiopathological events, it is impossible to understand their mechanism of action. Notwithstanding, the effects of anti inflammatory drugs provided new knowledge of the relevance of the signs and symptoms to the sequence of biochemical and morphological changes occurring in inflammation. When we accepted the invitation to edit a Handbook on Inflammation and Anti Inflammatory Drugs, we were aware of the magnitude of the task. We knew the impossibility of covering the whole field in detail, especially taking into account the rapid accumulation of experimental knowledge which would, in all likelihood, overtake the process of publication.

Lewis Thomas has suggested that "Perhaps the inflammatory reaction should be regarded as a defense of an individual against all the rest of nature, symbolizing his individuality and announcing his existence as an entity. " Provision of these symbols and announcements is the task of various mediators of inflammation and this volume has been designed to present our current understanding of their biochemistry, cellular origins, pharmacology, and role in pathology. Unlike other volumes of collected papers, this book did not result from a specific conference or symposium at which each contributor presented his own, narrowly framed research experience. Rather, each of the chapters represents, in the form of a general review, a summary of our knowledge of the mediators and the mecha nisms by which they are released to launch the inflammatory response. Much effort has been taken to insure that the often conflicting terminology in this field is defmed in detail: many synonyms (e. g. , of the properdin system or the alternate pathway of complement activation) have been repeatedly presented, in order to avoid confusion. Although each of the contributors is actively engaged in the field of inflammation, few text figures or tables of ongoing research have been included; the overall aim was to provide a volume readily accessible to workers in other areas as well as to the general reader.

International Series of Monographs in Pure and Applied Biology, Modern Trends in Physiological Sciences, Volume 37: Chemical Mediators of the Acute Inflammatory Reaction traces the history of investigation into the acute inflammatory reaction from the early observations in invertebrates to the experiments of therapeutic significance for humans. This book focuses on mediators that are accepted as being commonly involved in the inflammatory reaction, such as histamine, kinins, serotonin, prostaglandins, and permeability factors. The topics discussed include the phagocytic system and antibody production; factors which influence phagocytosis; measurement of the acute inflammatory reaction; and combined actions of mediators. The reaction to injury and manifestation of inflammation and biochemical aspects of anti-inflammatory drug reaction are also covered. This volume is beneficial to anatomists, biochemists, physiologists, immunologists, pathologists, pharmacologists, and clinicians interested in acute inflammatory reaction.

This ​book provides a comprehensive overview on current histamine and histamine receptor research in context of human health and disease and reflect the multidisciplinary nature of the field. While the editors realize that it is almost impossible to cover the field completely within the constraints of a single HEP volume, nonetheless, all important aspects will be covered in one way or the other. An overarching introductory chapter will link the individual chapters and provide an overview on the field. This chapter will also link the book to the previous HEP volume on histamine receptors and the recent HEP volume on the pharmacology of itch. Great attention will be paid to complementation of existing literature while avoiding undue duplication. The book will cover new methods for analysis of histamine and histamine metabolites, development of methods for histamine receptor analysis, signal transduction, histamine release, regulation of immune cells by histamine, histamine metabolism and associated diseases, regulation of major organ systems by histamine and development of new drugs and experimental tools for the study of histamine receptors.