As our understanding of immune mediated chronic inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) grows, it becomes more and more clear that these conditions result from the convergence of a multitude of pathogenic mechanisms whose relative individual contribution is different in different patient subsets.  Meer

The role of the cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in the immune response and in the immunopathogenesis of different inflammatory, autoimmune, and infectious disorders is now well-established.  Meer

Over the past ten years, a number of cytokines and growth factors have proven to be as effective therapeutics. While these products have certainly established recombinant biologics as a major pharmaceutical growth sector, the continued interest in this class of drugs arises from the fact that today we have a far better understanding of the human immune response, both at a cellular and molecular level.  Meer

Allergic skin diseases belong to the most common dermatoses. This book deals with fundamental (in particular immunological aspects) as well as clinical symptoms and therapeutic strategies of the allergic skin diseases.  Meer

Airways inflammation is a complex biological phenomenon resulting from the recruitment and activation of numerous cell types. Airways inflammation contributes to the pathophysiology of airways disease.  Meer

The book will provide an overview of the roles of vascular adhesion molecules in health and disease, with chapters on their cell biology, followed by chapters reviewing their importance in specific disease processes.  Meer

This volume will be of great value to all those researchers in the area of the inflam­ matory response, notably academics, clinicians and members of the pharmaceutical industry.  Meer

The knowledge of Th17 cells and other cell populations which secrete IL-17A, and/or IL-22 has expanded tremendously since the publication of the first edition “Th17 Cells: Role in Inflammation and Autoimmune Disease” in 2008.  Meer

Antimicrobial peptides have been the subject of intense research in the past decades, and are now considered as an essential part of the defense system in bacteria, plants, animals and humans.  Meer

Antimicrobial peptides have been the subject of intense research in the past decades, and are now considered as an essential part of the defense system in bacteria, plants, animals and humans.  Meer

Research into inflammatory mechanisms that may cause damage to the Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain has now been ongoing for nearly two decades. Some two dozen clinical studies have strongly suggested that conventional anti-inflammatory drugs may be useful to delay the onset or slow the progression of the disorder.  Meer

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).  Meer

Man has moved rapidly from the hunter-gatherer environment to the living conditions of industrialised countries. The hygiene hypothesis suggests that the resulting reduced exposure to micro-organisms has led to disordered regulation of the immune system, and hence to increases in certain chronic inflammatory disorders, like allergic disorders, autoimmunity, inflammatory bowel disease, atherosclerosis, depression, some cancers and perhaps Alzheimer and Parkinson.  Meer

Completing the PIR series, this volume summarizes the major advances made in the local and systemic use of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). Chapters are dedicated to the regulation of BMP-signaling pathways; biological actions of BMPs in bone, cartilage, and teeth; clinical applications; and the potential systemic use of BMPs for tissues beyond bone.  Meer

This book contains reviews by a renowned group of clinicians and scientists, which consider in great depth the potential involvement of neurogenic inflammation in the pathogenesis of migraine and inhibition of this putative mechanism as a possible mode of action of antimigraine medications.  Meer

In recent years, the area of pharmacotherapy of GI inflammation has witnessed important progress, with new drugs and therapeutic approaches being introduced.  Meer

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) ranges amongst the commonest diseases in the world. The relentless progression of the disease causes a pressing need for a better understanding of and therapies for COPD.  Meer

Several new developments in the field of neuroimmunology with focus on the brain-to-immune system communication have been the incentive for this PIR volume.  Meer

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.  Meer

Combinatorial chemistry in conjunction with High Throughput Screening (HTS) is revolutionizing the drug discovery process. Yet, we have much to learn about the integration of these powerful techniques with information from genomics, proteomics, computation and pharmacokinetics before dramatic increases in the drug discovery/development processes can be achieved.  Meer