ABSTRACT
The cellular immune system is structured in order to fulfill one of its major roles, identification and elimination of foreign antigens. This is accomplished through collaboration between specifically sensitized T lymphocytes and other cells, including monocytes and macrophages. The blood vessels are the conduit through which inflammatory cells reach sites of antigenic challenge within the tissues. This chapter focuses on the various interactions between cells of monocyte lineage and endothelial cells in promoting inflammation, with particular emphasis on those interactions relevant to coagulation. One of the first events in an inflammatory process is local vasodilatation, which results in increased blood flow and delivery of inflammatory cells to the affected tissues. The agonists cause a rapid release of the vasoactive substances which is independent of protein synthesis. The resulting vasodilatation, adherence, and chemotaxis are helpful in permitting the entry of inflammatory cells into the tissues in order to attack infectious agents.
