Chemokines are hormone-like signaling molecules secreted by cells to signal infection and guide the immune response. Following a decade of basic chemokine research, the pharmaceutical industry has now begun to exploit this crucial signaling pathway for the development of innovative drugs against AIDS, cancer, neural and autoimmune diseases. Here is the first reference focusing on these novel drug development opportunities. Opening with a general introduction on chemokine function and chemokine receptor biology, the second part covers the known implications of these signaling molecules in human diseases, such as cancer, neural disorders, and viral infection, including AIDS. The third part systematically surveys current drug development efforts at targeting individual chemokine receptors, as well as other chemokine interaction partners, including up-to-date reports from the pharmaceutical industry.

The 2012 International Conference on Applied Biotechnology (ICAB 2012) was held in Tianjin, China on October 18-19, 2012. It provides not only a platform for domestic and foreign researchers to exchange their ideas and experiences with the application-oriented research of biotechnology, but also an opportunity to promote the development and prosperity of the biotechnology industry. The proceedings of ICAB 2012 mainly focus on the world's latest scientific research and techniques in applied biotechnology, including Industrial Microbial Technology, Food Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Environmental Biotechnology, Marine Biotechnology, Agricultural Biotechnology, Biological Materials and Bio-energy Technology, Advances in Biotechnology, and Future Trends in Biotechnology. These proceedings are intended for scientists and researchers engaging in applied biotechnology. Professor Pingkai Ouyang is the President of the Nanjing University of Technology, China. Professor Tongcun Zhang is the Director of the Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education at the College of Bioengineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, China. Dr. Samuel Kaplan is a Professor at the Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics at the University of Texas at Houston Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA. Dr. Bill Skarnes is a Professor at Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, United Kingdom.

This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Regulation of Chemokine-Receptor Interactions and Functions" that was published in IJMS

Our knowledge and understanding of allergic diseases of the respiratory tract has improved to a point where new therapies are being developed for patient benefit. Inflammation and Allergy Drug Design explains the biologic science that underpins the pathophysiology of asthma and related disorders, as well as their mechanisms. This authoritative guide consists of 25 chapters, each detailing the cutting-edge developments in a particular field. It is divided into three parts, covering cytokines, chemokines, grow factors and mediators. This book allows immunologists, allergologists and researchers in the pharmaceutical industry to learn and appreciate the target biology in drug development. It also provides medical and pharmaceutical postgraduate students and clinicians with a basic understanding of allergic diseases in the respiratory tract.

The chemokines family of small proteins are involved in numerous b- logical processes ranging from hematopoiesis, angiogenesis, and basal l- kocyte trafficking to the extravasation and tissue infiltration of leukocytes in response to inflammatory agents, tissue damage, and bacterial or viral infection. Chemokines exert their effects through a family of seven G-protein coupled transmembrane receptors. Worldwide interest in the chemokine field surged dramatically early in 1996, with the finding that certain chemokine receptors were the elusive coreceptors, required along with CD4, for HIV infection. Today, though over 40 human chemokines have been described, the n- ber of chemokine receptors lags behind—only 17 human chemokine receptors have been identified so far. What has emerged over the years is that most chemokine receptors bind several distinct ligands, and indeed the majority of chemokines are able to bind to multiple chemokine receptors, explaining to some extent the apparent disparity in the numbers of chemokines and rec- tors. Yet in spite of the apparent redundancy in chemokine/chemokine rec- tor interactions, it is clear that in vivo, spatial, temporal, and indeed cell- and tissue-specific expression of both chemokines and their receptors are imp- tant factors in determining the precise nature of cellular infiltrates in phy- ological and pathological processes.

Keep abreast of the latest advances in this complex field with the 5th Edition of Clinical Immunology: Principles and Practice. This substantially revised edition by Drs. Robert R. Rich, Thomas A. Fleisher, William T. Shearer, Harry W. Schroeder, Jr., Anthony J. Frew, and Cornelia M. Weyand, offers authoritative guidance from some of the most respected global leaders in immunology, helping you navigate today’s latest knowledge and evidence-based practices that result in improved patient care. This trusted resource features sweeping content updates, rewritten chapters, a highly clinical perspective, and an easy-to-use organization designed to enhance your diagnosis and management skills in daily practice. Includes new chapters on the Microbiota in Immunity and Inflammation, Immune Responses to Fungi, and Genetics and Genomics of Immune Response. Features extensive revisions to many chapters, including the Major Histocompatibility Complex, Multiple Sclerosis, Diabetes and Related Autoimmune Diseases, Biologic Modifiers of Inflammation and Tumor Immunotherapy. Covers hot topics such as the role of genetics and genomics in immune response and immunologic disease, atherosclerosis, recurrent fever syndromes, aging and deficiencies of innate immunity, the role of microbiota in normal immune system development and the pathogenesis of immunologic and inflammatory diseases, and novel therapeutics. Addresses notable advances in key areas such as the importance of the microbiota to normal immune system development and to the pathogenesis of immunologic and inflammatory diseases; relationships between the innate and adaptive immune systems; progress in rapid and cost-effective genomics; cell signaling pathways and the structure of cell-surface molecules; and many more. Summarizes promising research and development anticipated over the next 5-10 years with "On the Horizon" boxes and discussion of translational research.

Neuroimmunology is a rapidly-growing branch of biomedical science that studies of all aspects of the interactions between the immune system and nervous system. It deals with, among other things, the physiological functioning of the neuroimmune system in states of both health and disease; malfunctions of the neuroimmune system in disorders (autoimmune diseases, hypersensitivities, immune deficiency), the physical, chemical and physiological characteristics of the components of the neuroimmune system in vitro, in situ, and in vivo. Despite the brain's status as an immune privileged site, an extensive bi-directional communication takes place between the nervous and the immune system in both health and disease. Immune cells and neuroimmune molecules such as cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors modulate brain function through multiple signalling pathways throughout the lifespan. Immunological, physiological and psychological stressors engage cytokines and other immune molecules as mediators of interactions with neuroendocrine, neuropeptide, and neurotransmitter systems. For example, brain cytokine levels increase following stress exposure, while treatments designed to alleviate stress reverse this effect. This book presents leading research in the field.

Chemokines play an important role in recruiting inflammatory cells into tissues in response to infection and inflammation. They also play an important role in coordinating the movement of T-cells, B-cells and dentritic cells, necessary to generate an immune response (response to injury, allergens, antigens, invading microorganisms). They selectively attract leukocytes to inflammatory foci, inducing both cell migration and activation. They are involved in various diseases, like atherosclerosis, lung and skin inflammation, multiple sclerosis, or HIV. Volume 1 of this two-volume set discusses the immunobiology of chemokines. It is divided into two parts: a) cellular targets in innate and adaptive immunity, and b) effector cell traffic-unrelated functions. Together with volume 2, which discusses the pathophysiology of chemokines, both volumes give a comprehensive overview of chemokine biology.

This volume, new to The Receptors series, focuses on several areas, including the birth, maturation, and structure of Chemokines; Neutrophil, Dendritic, and Lymphocyte trafficking; and Chemokine Receptors in diseases such as AIDs and lung cancer. In particular the book contains cutting-edge information ranging from basic molecular and cellular mechanisms to physiological and pathological roles of chemokines.