Publisher's Synopsis
Inflammation can be defined as a generalized, nonspecific but beneficial response of tissues to injury. The essential, protective role of inflammation can easily be seen in the life-threatening genetic diseases in which key elements of the inflammatory reaction are missing or defective. The drive to understand the underlying control processes and underlying mechanisms derives, however, more from the pathological perspective than from elucidating defense of the host to injury, and has prompted an enormous effort on the part of the pharmaceutical industry to develop efficient antagonists and inhibitors of the molecules involved in these reactions; the inflammatory mediators. This volume is intended by the authors to provide information on groups of mediators of inflammation in general, and where possible to stimulate interest and comments on the possibilities for participation of these communication molecules, mediators, in the complex but fascinating process of inflammation.
