Ebook: Mediators of Inflammation

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 mechaƯ 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.;1. The Mediators of Inflammation -- 2. Mechanisms Common to Several Mediator Systems -- 3. Centrality of Phagocytes -- 4. References -- 1 Mechanisms of Mediator Release from Inflammatory cells -- 1. Introduction -- 2. General Characteristics of Mediator Release from Cells -- 3. Platelets -- 4. Mast Cells -- 5. Basophils -- 6. Neutrophils -- 7. Macrophages -- 8. Mediator Release as a Secretory Phenomenon -- 9. References -- 2 Lysosomal Hydrolases and Inflammatory Materials -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Lysosomes -- 3. Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes, Lysosomes, and Inflammation -- 4. Lysosomal Enzymes as Inflammatory Mediators -- 5. Nonenzymatic Inflammatory Mediators -- 6. Leukocyte-Derived Substances and Inflammatory Mediator Systems -- 7. Antibacterial Substances -- 8. Conclusions -- 9. References -- 3 The Plasma Kinin-Forming System -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Biological Activities of Components and Their Inhibition -- 3. Preparation and Physicochemical Characterization of Components -- 4. Methods of Assay -- 5. Components of the Kinin System in White Blood Cells -- 6. Role of the Kinin-Forming System in Inflammation -- 7. References -- 4 The Complement and Properdin Systems -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Nomenclature -- 3. Chemistry -- 4. Reaction Mechanisms -- 5. Biological Activities -- 6. References -- 5 Histamine and Serotonin -- 1. Histamine -- 2. Serotonin -- 3. References -- 6 Prostaglandins -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Chemistry -- 3. Physiological Actions -- 4. Prostaglandins as Possible Modulators of Inflammation -- 5. Summary -- 6. References -- 7 Slow Reacting Substances -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Slow Reacting Substance (SRS) -- 3. Slow Reacting Substance of Anaphylaxis (SRS-A) -- 4. Concluding Comments -- 5. References.