This volume of Progress in Inflammation Research is a unique compilation of work performed by a wide spectrum of investigators from different medical disciplines. It is fascinating that dietary alterations of fatty acid intake can result in a range of salutory changes in a great variety of medical conditions. Most of the good scien- tific work which has led to these observations has been performed over just the last two decades. This is of course not a very long time in the context of the history of the human species. Recently performed analysis of fat intake from paleolithic times has...

Stroke is a leading cause of death in developed countries. However, current therapeutic strategies for stroke have been largely unsuccessful. One possible explanation is that research and pharmacological management have focused on very early events in brain ischemia. New research has shown that brain ischemia and trauma elicit strong inflammatory reactions driven by both external and brain cells. The recognition of inflammation as a fundamental response to brain ischemia provides novel opportunities for new anti-inflammatory therapies. For the first time, an international body of researchers...

The TGF-13 superfamily is a large and expanding multigene family which in verte- brates includes the TGF-13 proteins themselves, the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), the growth and differentiation factors (GDF), the activins/inhibins (INH), Mullerian inhibitory substance (MIS), glial derived neurotropic factor (GDNF) and more recently macrophage inhibitory cytokine 1 (MIC-1). They are characterised by conserved structural elements and a broad commonality of function. Major structural elements All members of the TGF-13 superfamily contain as their major structural hallmark a conserved...

What are the different muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes and how are they distributed in the airways and molecular signalling mechanisms? What is their function in neurogenic and non-neurogenic control of the airways and in inflammatory mechanisms? How is their gene expression regulated? The great importance of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors for the pathophysiology and treatment of chronic inflammatory obstructive airways diseases calls for a comprehensive and integrated overview of the current knowledge to address such questions, to discuss the role of these receptor subtypes in...

Since the discovery of the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) more than 15 years ago, there has been an unpredicted explosion of both basic scientific discoveries and clinical reports on their use from institutions all over the world. The potent effica- cy of BMPs in almost all crucial developmental events as well as during regenera- tion of various organs such as bone, kidney, brain, liver, heart etc., has positioned BMPs at the center of scientific interest. Many of these aspects are covered in this new PIR volume. Their role in development, biology, signal transduction, kidney...

The purpose of this volume in the Progress in Inflammation Research series is to provide the biomedical and clinical researcher with a state-of-the-art insight in the role of cytokines in joint inflammation and joint destruction. This is of relevance for better understanding of key processes in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). Apart from the impact of old and novel cytokines on joint tissues, the various chapters address the issue of targeted therapy with biological response modifiers and future interventions with carefully designed inhibitors. Spe- cial...

This volume describes recent research in the field of metalloproteinases (a family of enzymes that can catalyze tissue degradation), in particular their participation in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, reviewing the latest developments in metalloproteinase inhibitor design and the current status of clinical candidates. This volume is intended not only for those active in research into metalloproteinases but also for those with an interest in inflammatory diseases. Thus it addresses both academic and industrial researchers.

Apoptosis is a form of cell death that occurs in a controlled manner and is generally noninflammatory in nature. Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, implies a cell death that is part of a normal physiological process of pruning of unneeded cells. However, many disease conditions utilize apoptosis for pathological ends, resulting in inappropriate cell death and tissue destruction. This book starts with an introduction that reviews the general characteristics of apoptosis, its regulation and its role in physiology and disease. Next, the book focuses on three areas as they relate to...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common and most severe form of inflammatory arthritis. The pathogenesis of RA has been the subject of intense research for several decades. The prevailing hypotheses have changed over the years, and have attempted to incorporate the most recent data. Although T cells represent an important component of the cells which infiltrate the joint synovium, their contribution at a late stage of the disease remains a matter of debate. The goal of this book is to outline the major arguments and data suggesting that T cells may, or may not, be central players in the...