Induction of Inflammation

Immune-complexes can become mischief-makers if their appearance is temporally not limited, i.e. followed by elimination of antigen and/or allow the (auto-)antigen go to its rest. In such case, they induce inflammation. By its own, inflammation is a localized protective tissue response elicited by injury, destruction or immune-complex deposition, which serves to destroy, dilute, or wall off (sequester) both the injurious agent and the injured tissue. It is characterized in the acute form by the classical signs of pain (dolor), heat (calor), redness (rubor), swelling (tumor), and loss of function (functio laesa). Histologically it involves serial steps, including dilatation of arterioles, capillaries, and venules, with increased permeability and blood flow; exudation of fluids, including plasma proteins; and leukocytic migration into the inflammatory focus. Immune-complex induced inflammation may remain localised (successful containment) or become systemic thus encompassing the whole body, e.g. with local immune-complex deposits i.e. as with vasculitis, arthritis or with debilitating febrile consequences. TNF-like ligand 1A (TL1A) and its interaction with death receptor 3 (DR3) is critically involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases - immune complexes, among other factors, triggering recruitment.

For clinical purpose, measurement of innate immunity's
C reactive protein (CRP) is a reliable indicator of systemic inflammation in a patient presenting clinical evidence.

A blood vessel is shown with its upper wall uncovered: Inflammatory cells - shown here polymorphonuclear granulocytes - leave the vessel and infiltrate the surrounding tissue, where they discharge enzymes to kill extravascular infectious agents

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