Most of the contributions concentrate largely on dramatic new findings linking asthma and the inflammatory process, but the hope is to encourage more research into the role of inflammation in other diseases as well (lung cancer and lung infections are not covered here). The chapters cover some of th
On June 28-29, 1990 in Noordwijk, The Netherlands, the International Association of Inflammation societies (IAIS) organized their first symposium on Drugs in Inflammation. The symposium was an official satellite of the Ixth International Congress of Pharmacology (IUPHAR). This volume contains the proceedings from this satellite meeting. The IAIS was constituted in 1988 when representatives of the Inflammation Research Association (IRA), European Workshop on Inflammation (EWI) and British Inflammation Research Association (BIRAs) met at White Haven, Pennsylvania during the Fourth International Conference of the IRA and the group decided that improved communication between inflammation societies could be achieved by establishment of a society. The IAIS would encourage and foster collaboration between the many inflammation societies throughout the world and assist in the establishment of new societies whenever possible. The satellite was a major success thanks to the efforts of the planning Wim van den Berg, the local organizer, Mike Bray, the programme chairman, Rodger McMillan, Greg Harper, Mike Parnham and Kay Brune. In addition, the chairman and presenters ensured the scientific content of the meeting was of a very high standard. Most importantly, the 100 participants from 15 countries made the sessions lively and interactive. The IAIS will hopefully organize additional symposiums in the future. Alan J. Lewis, Ph.D.
This volume provides a comprehensive survey of the rationale, techniques and contemporary understanding of those drugs which have significant immunomodulatory activity. Major features of the volume an overview of current understanding of the biochemistry of lymphocyte activation, an extensive description of the methodology required for study of lymphocytes and their products; coverage of the interaction between lymphocytes and selected hormones; a synopsis of the current understanding of drugs designed to modify lymphocyte function; and an assessment of the prospects for selecting drugs which might modify the immune response. By presenting immunology as a discipline amenable to investigation by pharmacologists, and in view of the current detailed understanding of molecular mechanisms in immunology, immunotherapy is promised increased attention. This volume summarizes the extent to which such expectations have been fulfilled and allows an assessment of the prospects for progress in lymphocyte pharmacology.