ABSTRACT
Inammation (in›ammare (L.): to set on œre) is a fundamental physiological process and the body’s protective reaction to injurious stimuli in the form of infection, trauma, pathogenic invasions, autoantibodies, ionizing radiation, and physical, chemical, or thermal stress. Broadly, there are two stages of inammation, acute and chronic [1]. As part of an innate immune response, acute inammation is beneœcial for the host and is mediated through the activation of the immune system. On the other hand, chronic inammation may predispose the host to various illnesses and forms the underlying basis for cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, HIV/AIDS, and gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and autoimmune disorders [2] (Figure 19.1).
