Inflammation – Mediators

In addition to the classic signs, there are mediators of the inflammatory process. Some of these are chemical in nature such as histamines and serotonin. Others are hormonal, cortisol being one example. Still others are immune system cytokines, both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory types. The good news is that inflammation is a healthy and protective immune response to injury, illness, or infection. protective response involving immune cells, blood vessels, and molecular mediators—designed to resolve the initial cause of cell injury, clear out necrotic cells and tissues damaged from the original injury as well as from the inflammatory process, and to initiate tissue repair. When the healing is complete, however, inflammation should shut down! The body’s endocrine system has, as one of its responsibilities, attempting to keep all inflammation within the bounds of desirability. Unfortunately, it does not always succeed.