Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Heparin and its Derivatives Inhibition of Complement and of Lymphocyte Migration

Inflammation is initiated through immune recognition by T lymphocytes or antibodies, or by non-immune tissue injury. The effector functions thus triggered, activation and extravasation of leucocytes and humoral cascade systems, lead to the reactions we collectively call inflammation. The physiological functions of this powerful response are to combat microbial invasion, to eliminate damaged tissue and eventually to repair damaged tissue; the self-limiting control mechanisms normally lead to health. Pathological inflammation, acute or chronic, is often the result of inadequate control within the immune system leading to allergies (hyper-reactivity) or autoimmune diseases. Inflammation also contributes to morbidity in persistant infections (e.g. leprosy, tuberculosis), persistant tissue injury (overstrain, atherosclerosis) or acute tissue injury (trauma, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), shock/adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)). Graft rejection represents a special case of unwanted inflammation.