Nature Insight Inflammation

Inflammation is the body’s immediate response to damage to its tissues and cells by pathogens, noxious stimuli such as chemicals, or physical injury. Acute inflammation is a short-term response that usually results in healing, with leukocytes infiltrating the damaged region, removing the stimulus and repairing the tissue. Chronic inflammation, by contrast, is a prolonged, dysregulated and maladaptive response that involves active inflammation, tissue destruction and attempts at tissue repair. The processes by which acute inflammation is initiated and develops are well defined, but much less is known about the causes of chronic inflammation and the associated molecular and cellular pathways. This Insight highlights recent advances in our knowledge of the exogenous and endogenous inducers of chronic inflammation, as well as the inflammatory mediators and cells that are involved.

Credit: Courtesy of R. J. Green/SPL