The physiological significance of proliferative and alterative processes

This article is a brief review of publications dedicated to a problem of basic regularities of proliferative and alternative processes in health and disease and their physiological, general biological and special meaning. Historical background shows the evolution of scientists' viewpoints regarding essentials and reasons of diseases. The publication spotlights systematization of proliferative and alternative reactions in different pathophysiological processes. It is underlined that the development of morbid conditions can start not only with structural-functional changes, but also with failure of physiological processes of regulation. A principle of universality and balance of cell and humeral responses is taken as a basis of humoral-cell proliferation, which is provided, on one side by their conservatism and on the other side by their flexibility. Modern investigations confirm that various physiological reactions of proliferation in organism are allelically determined more frequently, and their disturbances may have epigenetic character. The main physiological meaning of proliferative and destructive processes remains their protective-adaptive role in organism, and their study and diagnostics keep an important section in recognition of various pathophysiological states.