Summary

Inflammation is an essential defense mechanism, as well as an important pathologic process. It is responsible for symptoms and tissue injury in a number of rheumatic and other diseases. The control of inflammatory process is a major aim in therapy. Inflammation is highly complex and involves many mediators and cell types. Mediators coordinate cellular infiltration and proliferation, the modification of tissues and even tissue destruction. Currently, a large number of biological agents are envolved in the pathogenesis of inflammation and the knowledge of the important biochemical mediators in any specific inflammatory process may lead to the development of new and more effective therapeutic agents.