An involvement of the immune system is suspected in various cardiovascular diseases. Recent advances in the fields of molecular biology, genetics, cell biology, and immunology have made it possible to identify several pathomechanisms. However, still more questions arise with regard to the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of immunologically mediated cardiovascular diseases. In this book, leading scientists and clinicians from different areas of cardiology present the state-of-the-art knowledge on the involve ment of the immune system in myocardial and vascular diseases. In the field of myocarditis, both the virological and the immunological findings are presented, and the interactions between the virus and the immune system are discussed. Since the cellular immune system and its mediators play an important role in the inflammation by bacteria that cause endocarditis and septic shock, studies investigating the underlying pathomechanisms are de scribed. Another major topic in this volume is the involvement of the immune system in arteriosclerosis and coronary heart disease, which represents an important problem in clinical cardiology. The final chapter addresses the question of therapeutic options, presenting new approaches for a specific and effective therapy based on the current knowledge of immunologically mediated cardiovascular diseases.

Cardiovascular immunology is a newly emerging research area, investigating the crosstalk between the cardiovascular and the immune system. This crosstalk is evident through (1) crucial immunological capacities and functions of cardiovascular cell types, including cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, pericytes and cardiac resident macrophages, (2) the impact of aberrant immune function on the development of cardiovascular disease such as atherosclerosis, direct and indirect immune-mediated heart disease and vasculitis, and (3) the crucial role of the immune system in cardiac repair and regeneration. The Immunology of Cardiovascular Homeostasis and Pathology covers all these aspects of cardiovascular immunology, starting with homeostatic immunological functions of traditional cardiovascular cell types, and moving then to the role of the immune system in cardiovascular pathology and to recent research into targeting the immune system to boost cardiac healing and regeneration.

Inflammation, once considered a physiological response to foreign pathogens, is now recognized as a crucial pathological player in the initiation and progression of several chronic diseases, including diabetes, obesity, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and many others. Considering that cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death in the United States and worldwide, the identification of critical inflammatory processes is of utmost importance to devising new immune-based therapeutics that can be added to existing regimens. This book provides detailed information on aspects of inflammation and the manner in which immune activation pathways affect the progression of cardiovascular diseases and the repair/regeneration mechanisms of underlying diseased tissues. Key Features Outlines the role that inflammation plays in cardiovascular diseases Describes a paradox – neutralization of cytokines that contribute to cardiovascular disease does not show benefit Summarizes research on a variety of processes and mechanisms contributing to cardiovascular pathology Contributions from an international team of leading cardiologists and cardiovascular immunologists Related Titles Roy, S., et al., eds. Chronic Inflammation: Molecular Pathophysiology, Nutritional and Therapeutic Interventions (ISBN 978-1-138-19955-2) Kong, A-N. T., ed. Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Cancer: Dietary Approaches for Cancer Prevention (ISBN 978-1-138-19984-2) Dick, A., et al. Practical Manual of Intraocular Inflammation (ISBN 978-0-367-38720-4)

Current heart failure therapeutics affects symptoms without appreciably reducing the mortality rate of 50% in five years -- suggesting a failure in treating the underlying mechanism. This book proposes a new mechanism for heart failure; immune mediated cardiac remodelling for cardiac dysfunction. The outstanding editor team of two internationally recognized immunologists -- Ronald Watson, who has studied heart disease in immune dysfunction for a decade and has a patent for an immunotherapy of heart disease by immune regulation, and Douglas Larson, whose experience in cardiac transplantation immunology has provided the foundation for research into novel therapeutics for heart failure and hypertension – makes Immune Dysfunction and Immunotherapy in Heart Disease the definitive reference to the state of the science in this area. The four parts of the book address: Immune Dysfunction Leading to Heart Disease: Induction by Physiological Changes Immune Dysfunction Promoting CVD: Induction by Transplantation Drugs Immune Dysfunction Leading to Heart Dysfunction: Induction or Prevention by Cardiotherapeutic Drugs Immune Dysfunction Leading to Heart Disease: Induction by Pathogens Both researchers and practitioners will find this authoritative volume an excellent source of information on novel immune targeted therapeutics.

The Janeway's Immunobiology CD-ROM, Immunobiology Interactive, is included with each book, and can be purchased separately. It contains animations and videos with voiceover narration, as well as the figures from the text for presentation purposes.