Inflammation: Help and Hindrance

When I was first studying biology, inflammation was mentioned as part of the body’s generalized immune response.  That is, before our white blood cells have a chance to form appropriate antibodies or killer T-cells, our immune system responds to damage or foreign substances with inflammation and defensive proteins.

         Now we have learned that inflammation seems to be involved in a number of diseases in ways we never anticipated. 

         Last Thursday, I posted about a possible connection between inflammation in certain brain cells and autism. 

         Within recent years, inflammation has turned up as a possible cause of heart disease and stroke.  There are various ideas about how this comes about, from damaged blood vessel linings, to intensified immune response due to old age.

         Inflammation is connected with allergic reactions and with auto-immunity.  And there's more...

         Interesting.  I’ll have more to say about this next time.