The Generation of Inflammatory Responses

Publisher Summary Inflammation is an essential host response to the invasion of tissues by pathogens, and plays a profound role in health and disease. The presence of bacteria in mammalian tissues elicits an inflammatory, response, which involves a complex series of reactions, including increased blood vessel permeability, exudation of fluids, and migration of leucocytes into the inflammatory focus, which results in phagocytosis and killing of the micro-organisms. The response is very rapid and is initially mediated by innate immune reactions, which do not usually require an adaptive response. In most instances inflammatory response leads to the elimination of the microorganisms without producing clinically detectable signs of inflammation. In severe infections, however, inflammatory reactions may contribute to pathological processes that culminate in multiple organ failure, shock and death. One of the critical roles of innate immunity is to recognize the microbial invaders. This is the basic concept underlying innate immunity. Given the impressive recent development in the understanding of the mechanisms of innate immunity, in this chapter attention is focused on molecules such as LBP, CD14 and Toll-like receptors, which play a central role in innate immunity.