Inflammation

Understanding the role of inflammation as a function of clinical disease is required for the design of treatment modalities and the development of therapeutics. Inflammation is an essential component critical for everyday health and immune homeostasis, without which the body cannot discern regular biological turnover and events from outside harmful interference. The processes involved in the inflammatory response are examined, with emphasis on defining the cellular players and chemical mediators involved. A historical definition of inflammation is provided, followed by descriptive elements of inflammatory danger signals. Cellular players involved in the inflammatory reactions are then introduced, followed by a discussion of innate and adaptive mediators. While the primary focus is to understand innate inflammation, consequences of hypersensitive inflammation are also briefly discussed. The information provides an overview of the complex processes of inflammation that form the underlying basis for unique organ-specific pathologies.