ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses pharmacological approaches to modulating inflammatory cytokine production. Approaches to neutrophil depletion and blocking neutrophil adherence to endothelium have been reviewed elsewhere. However, proinflammatory cytokines also have adverse effects on the body. Proinflammatory cytokines appear to be involved in the manifestations of both acute and chronic diseases. Chronic production of proinflammatory cytokines is an essential part of the cachexia associated with inflammatory and neoplastic disorders. Documentation of the deleterious effects of inflammatory cytokines has kindled interest in the development of novel therapeutic strategies to modulate cytokine-induced injury. The effectiveness of treatments that act by inactivating oxidants, proteases, or inflammatory cytokines is highly dependent on getting these products to the site of inflammation. Therapeutic modalities that prevent effector cells from reaching the site of inflammation or that inhibit synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines appear to have the greatest potential to prevent tissue injury.
