Inflammation Flashcards
Acute inflammation- characteristics and benefits
Characteristics: Acute inflammation is a rapid and localized response that aims to eliminate the initial cause of cell injury and initiate the repair process.
Benefits:
▪ Immune Response: Acute inflammation activates immune cells, such as neutrophils and macrophages, to combat pathogens and clear debris.
▪ Tissue Repair: Inflammation triggers the release of growth factors and
cytokines that promote tissue repair and regeneration.
▪ Barrier Function: Inflammation helps isolate and contain pathogens,
preventing their spread to other tissues.
▪ Adaptive Immunity: Acute inflammation also primes the adaptive immune response for specific pathogen recognition and memory formation
Chronic inflammation- characteristics and consequences
Characteristics: Chronic inflammation is a prolonged, systemic inflammatory response that persists over a longer period, potentially causing tissue damage.
Consequences:
▪ Tissue Damage: Chronic inflammation can lead to progressive tissue damage and fibrosis, impairing organ function.
▪ Autoimmune Diseases: Persistent inflammation may trigger autoimmune reactions, where the immune system attacks healthy tissues.
▪ Metabolic Effects: Chronic inflammation contributes to insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular risk factors.
▪ Cancer Risk: Prolonged inflammation is associated with DNA damage, cell mutations, and an increased risk of cancer development
