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This book examines the role of antioxidants and of the immune system in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia and recurrent miscarriage. Whilst many papers have discussed the role of antioxidants in pre-eclampsia and, that of the immune system, hitherto publication has not considered the two simultaneously. The role of the immune system in recurrent miscarriage has been the subject of many papers but whether antioxidants play a part in miscarriage has been less well studied. In many ways the problems encountered in the two disorders are similar, and this book brings them together.

This important new book focuses on the involvement of cytokines in specific areas of inflammatory diseases, such as granulomatous responses, lung disease, hepatic dysfunction and the acute phase, arthritis and accompanying bone remodeling, neurogenic inflammation, and shock. The roles of GM-CSF, IL-6, IL-2, TGFb EGF, and LIF are discussed, as well as the medical treatments that affect cytokine activity. The results of approaches important to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, such as the search for endogenous biological response modifiers that control cytokine function or production, attempts to synthesize heterocyclic compounds in the organic chemistry lab, and research regarding second messenger pathways involved in IL-1 and TNF production are examined. This book will provide anyone in cytokine research, especially clinical investigators, pharmaceutical industry researchers, and academic research scientists, with important information on how cytokine research might be used.

International Review of Experimental Pathology, Volume 34: Cytokine-Induced Pathology Part B: Inflammatory Cytokines, Receptors, and Disease presents experimental findings obtained from the most recently studied cytokines and growth factors. The book is organized into three sections. Section I contains studies on pathology induced by inflammatory cytokines. Topics covered include the biological effects of interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF), interleukin-8, transforming growth factor-β, and leukemia inhibitory factor on experimental animals; TNF-induced pathophysiologic alterations; and the biological activity of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). The papers in Section II examine cytokine receptors, including their structure and signal transduction; interferon-γ (IFN-γ) activity; and immunoregulatory role of TNF-α. Section III is devoted to cytokine receptors, including studies on TNF properties relevant to tissue injury and its role in T cell-mediated immunopathological reactions in vivo; the role of cytokines in experimental pulmonary fibrosis induced in mice; and the role of cytokines in bacterial meningitis.

Pro-inflammatory cytokines coordinate immune, physiological, metabolic and behavioral responses that are collectively termed the acute phase reaction. In addition to their role in immunoregulation of inflammatory processes, pro-inflammatory cytokines represent the major communication link between peripheral immunity and the central nervous system. Studies in animals have demonstrated that acute activation of pro-inflammatory cytokine signaling in the brain in response to peripheral immune activation is associated with deficits in hippocampal-dependent memory. This book presents and discusses human and animal models studies of the role of cytokines in learning and memory.

Cytokine Cellular Biology focuses on cell biology techniques for studying cytokines, cytokine receptors, and cytokine driven processes. Assays for human B cell responses, leucocyte migration, haematopoietic growth factors, macrophage activation by cytokines, RIA, IRMA, and ELISA assays, and quantitative biological assays for cytokines are all covered in detail. There are also updated chapters on studying cytokine regulation of endothelial cells; the measurement of proliferative, cytostatic, and cytolytic activity of cytokines; and the development of antibodies to cytokines. In addition there is a new chapter on the use of flow ctyometry and intracellular fluorescent staining. Written by experts in the field, Cytokine Molecular Biology and Cytokine Cellular Biology form a comprehensive and essential guide to cytokine research.

In Septic Shock Methods and Protocols, an interdisciplinary panel of expert investigators describe proven methods for investigating the often deadly mechanisms of septic shock. Drawing on insights from a wide variety of fields-ranging from molecular and cellular biology to the physiological measurement of whole animals-these experienced laboratorians detail the most important techniques for studying sepsis involving endotoxins, toxins derived from gram-positive organisms, cytokines, nitric oxide and other reactive nitrogen intermediates, and the use of primary cell cultures. They also treat a number of significant techniques that are not well described in the literature, including the Limulus endotoxin assay, the bioassay of TNF, the purification of bacterial endotoxin and superantigens, and the culture of primary human cells. Multidisciplinary and state-of-the-art, Septic Shock Methods and Protocols offers both experimental and clinical investigators a gold-standard collection of key methods for illuminating the basic pathophysiological processes that occur following infection. Its readily reproducible methods will allow both newcomers and those with more experience to apply today's powerful techniques successfully in their work.