Immunopharmacology of the Gastrointestinal System (Handbook of Immunopharmacology)

Diseases of the digestive system have a higher morbidity rate than any other group of disorder. There is a growing body of evidence that the immune system participates in the pathogenesis of a wide range of these diseases, including peptic ulcer disease and the gastropathy induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). For these reasons, efforts to develop novel therapies for digestive diseases are increasingly focused on the immune system. This volume reviews the immunopharmacology of the gastrointestinal tract at four distinct levels: Immunomodulation at a cellular level Cellular targers for immunomodulating drugs Specific classes of inflammatory mediators Utility and mechanisms of action of glucocorticoids in the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Content: THE HANDBOOK OF IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY , Page ii Front Matter , Page iii Copyright , Page iv Contributors , Pages ix-x Series Preface , Page xi , C.P. Page Preface , Page xiii , John L. Wallace 1 - Neuromodulation of Gastrointestinal Immune and Inflammatory Responses , Pages 1-14 , A. Dean Befus 2 - Immunomodulation of the Gastrointestinal Epithelium , Pages 15-39 , Mary H. Perdue, Derek M. McKay 3 - The Immune Modulation of Intestinal Motor Function , Pages 41-50 , Stephen M. Collins 4 - Modulation of Neutrophil Function as a Mode of Therapy for Gastrointestinal Inflammation , Pages 51-67 , Iqbal S. Sandhu, Matthew B. Grisham 5 - The Vascular Endothelium in Gastrointestinal Inflammation , Pages 69-94 , Peter R. Kvietys, D. Neil Granger 6 - Modulation of Mast Cell Function in the Gastrointestinal Tract , Pages 95-103 , Elyse Y. Bissonnette, A. Dean Befus 7 - Immunopathophysiology of the Gastrointestinal Tract: Role of Platelet Activating Factor , Pages 105-122 , Paul Kubes 8 - Cytokines , Pages 123-136 , Fabio Cominelli 9 - Immunopharmacology of Eicosanoids in the Gastrointestinal Tract , Pages 137-154 , John L. Wallace 10 - Nitric Oxide and the Gastrointestinal Tract , Pages 155-167 , Brendan J.R. Whittle 11 - Glucocorticoids and Gastrointestinal Inflammation , Pages 169-184 , Luca Parente, Kenneth G. Mugridge Glossary , Pages 185-187 Key to Illustrations , Pages 189-193 Index , Pages 195-198 The maintenance of the interior milieu and overall body integrity demands rapid and highly efficient systems for the detection of environmental changes and any potentially noxious agent, interpretation of the signals received and the elaboration of appropriate responses to avoid or otherwise deal with the challenge. Reviews the immunopharmacology of the gastrointestinal tract at four levels: immunomodulation at a cellular level, cellular targets for immunomodulating drugs, specific classes of inflammatory mediators, and utility and mechanisms of action of glucocorticoids in the treatment of diseases.