Introduction
This Ebook is edited by Sandra Hodge, a recognized expert in the
field of macrophage dysfunction in chronic lung disease. The book
consists of 8 chapters which provide a full coverage of macrophage
function in both healthy and chronically diseased lungs, starting
with the regulation of macrophage homoestasis to altered macrophage
recognition and clearance of pathogens and apoptotic cells in the
lung before moving on to macrophage targeted treatment options for
chronic lung diseases. The important problem of oxidative and carbonyl
stress in the lung and its impact on macrophage function is discussed.
Additional chapters deal with the role of disordered macrophage
function in cancer progression and the role of chronic alcohol ingestion
of macrophage function. Importantly, the book integrates both respiratory
cell biology and clinical medicine. The concept of failed macrophage
function with regard to chronic lung disease has recently been the
topic of intensive research. Key advances in our knowledge of the
cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in defective macrophage
function have paved the way for the development of novel diagnostic
and therapeutic strategies for diseases such as chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease and asthma. For this reason the book can be recommended
without reservation to a wide spectrum of readers including students,
respiratory cell biologists and respiratory clinicians. |