Arrest chemokines are a small group of chemokines that promote leukocyte arrest from rolling by triggering rapid integrin activation. Arrest chemokines have been described for neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, naïve lymphocytes and effector memory T cells. Most arrest chemokines are immobilized on the endothelial surface by binding to heparin sulfate proteoglycans. Whether soluble chemokines can promote integrin activation and arrest is controversial (Alon-Gerszten). Many aspects of the signaling pathway from the GPCR chemokine receptor to integrin activation are the subject of active investigation. Leukocyte adhesion deficiency III is a human disease in which chemokine-triggered integrin activation is defective because of a mutation in the cytoskeletal protein kindlin-3. About 10 different such mutations have been described. The defects seen in patients with LAD-III elucidate the importance of rapid integrin activation for host defense in humans. We welcome reports that help clarifying this crucial first step in the process of leukocyte transendothelial migration.

Written by known specialists in the field, this is a comprehensive and timely overview of a central and expanding topic. Simultaneously an introduction and a description of the latest concepts, findings and methods, the handbook provides basic knowledge on technical issues required for those intending to research in the field. It covers the functional role of involved molecules and the cellular mechanisms, and addresses selected examples for their possible application in therapy -- bridging the gap between trafficking mechanisms and novel therapeutic strategies. In addition, it includes selection of proven and timesaving methods for studying cell trafficking in vitro and in vivo. The accompanying CD-ROM makes leukocyte migration videos available to a broad audience for the first time.

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.

The role of the cytokine, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), in the immune response and in the immunopathogenesis of different inflammatory, autoimmune, and infectious disorders is now well established. The aim of this handbook is to provide an authoritative volume covering all aspects of MIF, from basic molecular biology to structure-function relationships, pathophysiology, genetics, and drug development.Recent studies continue to broaden considerably the role of MIF in both normal physiology and pathology, which range from such diverse areas as oncogenesis, cardiac physiology, and neurodevelopment. MIF's molecular mechanism of action in these contexts is becoming increasingly understood and the role of variant MIF alleles in different conditions continues to be defined. Unique structural features of the protein, such as an intrinsic catalytic activity, and the continuing elucidation of its receptor-dependent mechanism of action offer attractive opportunities for therapeutic intervention. This volume will provide a comprehensive synthesis of the state of the art of MIF science.

This reference is a volume in the Handbook of Physiology, co-published with The American Physiological Society. Growth in knowledge about the microcirculation has been explosive with the field becoming fragmented into numerous subdisciplines and subspecialties. This volume pulls all of the critical information into one volume. - Meticulously edited and reviewed. Benefit: Provides investigators a unique tool to explore the significance of their findings in the context of other aspects of the microcirculation. In this way, the updated edition has a direct role in helping to develop new pathways of research and scholarship - Highlights the explosive growth in knowledge about the microcirculation including the biology of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), endothelial cell signaling, angiogenesis, cell adhesion molecules, lymphocyte trafficking, ion channels and receptors, and propagated vasomotor responses. Benefit: Microcirculatory biology has become fragmented into numerous sub-disciplines and subspecialties, and these reference reintegrates the information in one volume

Immunology, the third volume in the four volume set, The Mouse in Biomedical Research, is a completely new addition to this series, dedicated to mouse immunology. It is based on the vast body of knowledge which has made the mouse the model of choice when studying immunity in man. Arguably more is known about the immune system in mice than any other species except man. In large part this is due to the power of genetic engineering to delineate molecular mechanisms. In this volume we present an Overview to mouse immunology, including both the innate and adaptive immune systems, followed by 15 chapters, each dealing with a specific area of immunology in the mouse. These chapters illustrate the power of genetic engineering in dissecting each component of the immune response from the development of lymphoid tissues to signal transduction pathways in activated cells.