Understanding Inflammation: Definition and Causes Inflammation is defined as tissue damage that triggers a series of vascular and cellular events aimed at cleaning up debris, pathogens, and initiating repair. Various factors can cause inflammation including physical trauma, chemical exposure, infections from microorganisms like bacteria or viruses, and environmental elements such as sunlight. Understanding the causes helps in recognizing how the body responds to injury.
Initiating Inflammatory Response Through Bacterial Endotoxins The inflammatory response begins with gram-negative bacteria releasing endotoxins that damage surrounding tissues. These toxins activate immune responses through antigens present on bacterial surfaces; these antigens must be immunogenic (stimulating immune cell proliferation) and reactive (prompting antibody production). An example includes incomplete antigens like urushiol from poison ivy which become complete upon binding to skin proteins.
Role of Mast Cells in Amplifying Inflammation Mast cells play a crucial role in inflammation by responding to damaged tissues or activated receptors due to endotoxin presence. When stimulated by these signals, mast cells release preformed granules containing mediators essential for furthering the inflammatory process. This cascade leads not only to increased blood flow but also recruits additional immune components necessary for effective healing.