Inflammation

Inflammation is a protective immune response to injury, infection, or harmful stimuli. It recruits immune cells and molecules to affected tissue, producing changes such as redness, heat, swelling, pain, or impaired function.

Inflammatory mediators: Signaling molecules that initiate or regulate inflammation, including cytokines, prostaglandins, and histamine. These signals coordinate vessel changes, immune-cell recruitment, and pain during inflammation.
Innate immunity: The rapid, broadly targeted immune defense present from birth. Inflammation is a central response of innate immunity to danger.
Acute inflammation: A rapid, short-term inflammatory response to infection or tissue injury. It is the typical local form of inflammation and often resolves after the threat is controlled.
C-reactive protein: A blood protein produced by the liver whose concentration often rises during inflammation. Its blood level is commonly measured as a nonspecific marker of systemic inflammation.
Wound healing: The biological process by which damaged tissue is repaired and restored. Inflammation clears debris and helps prepare injured tissue for repair.
Vasodilation: Widening of blood vessels caused by relaxation of vascular smooth muscle. Increased local blood flow contributes to inflammation’s redness and warmth.
Pattern recognition receptor: A receptor that detects molecular patterns associated with microbes or cellular damage. These receptors help initiate inflammation when cells detect infection or injury.
Chronic inflammation: Prolonged inflammation that can persist for months or years and damage tissue. Unlike a brief response, it can continue after the initiating threat has passed.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate: A blood test measuring how quickly red blood cells settle in a tube over one hour. Inflammation can raise this nonspecific laboratory measure.
Fever: A regulated rise in body temperature, commonly triggered by infection or inflammation. Inflammatory signals can reset the brain’s temperature regulation and produce fever.

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