Limitations of the Inflammatory Response

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Interesting question! Let's take a closer look through discussion and examples.

1. Do you feel there are any major limitations of the inflammatory response?

The immune response (a.k.a. innate immunity; humoral immunity; cellular immunity; immunity; inflammatory response; acquired (adaptive) immunity) is how your body recognizes and defends itself against bacteria, viruses, and substances that appear foreign and harmful to the body. The immune system protects the body from potentially harmful substances by recognizing and responding to so-called antigens. Antigens are large molecules (usually proteins) on the surface of cells, viruses, fungi, or bacteria. Non-living substances such as toxins, chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles (such as a splinter) can be antigens. Substances that contain these antigens are recognized and destroyed by the immune system. Even your own body cells have proteins that are antigens. These include a group of antigens called HLA antigens. Your immune system learns to see these antigens as normal and does not usually react against them. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000821.htm

Specifically, the inflammatory response (inflammation) occurs when tissues are injured by bacteria, trauma, toxins, heat, or any other causes. Chemicals including histamine, bradykinin, serotonin, and others are released by damaged tissue. These chemicals cause blood vessels to leak fluid into the tissues, causing swelling. This helps isolate the foreign substance from further contact with body tissues. The chemicals also attract white blood cells that "eat" microorganisms and dead or damaged cells. The process in which these white blood cells surround, engulf, and destroy foreign substances is called phagocytosis, and the cells are called phagocytes. Phagocytes eventually die. Pus is formed from a collection of ...