Monocytes represent one of the major types of white blood cells in man which prevent infection by ingesting and killing invading pathogens and by releasing factors which stimulate and regulate lymphocytes. Monocytes "purify" the blood, removing immune complexes, mediating inflammatory responses, and initiating tissue repair. Human Monocytes represents an up-to-date, definitive account of this important cell. It covers the cells biochemical, immunological, and inflammatory functionsand its role in many diseases, including asthma, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and AIDS.

This book, like other monographs of the Cellular Organelles series, is not a comprehensive review, but an introduction to the study of cytoskeleton. Accordingly, we describe only the main facts and concepts related to cyto skeleton. Needless to say, selection and interpretation was influenced by the personal interests and opinions of the authors, although we attempted to be as fair as possible. We wished to familiarize the reader not only with well established facts, but with current unsolved problems. Therefore, the words "possibly," "maybe," "not known," and "not clear" are much more frequent in this text than in many others. In accordance with the style of the series, relatively short lists of addi tional readings are given at the end of each chapter; these lists contain mostly the recent reviews and a few original papers describing certain phenomena in detail. Few references are cited in the text; these citations are given to help the reader find the source of certain new data and theories, which are not discussed at length in the reviews. In contrast, many well-established facts and widely known theories are not cited.

This book covers cell-cell channels at all levels of biological organization. The purpose of this book is to document that cells are not physically separated and fully autonomous units of biological life as stated by the currently valid Cell Theory. If not the cell then some lower level unit must fulfill this role. The book deals also with the identity of this elusive unit of biological life.

Methods for Studying Mononuclear Phagocytes is a practical guide to the study of mononuclear phagocytes that brings together various well-established and useful methods for examining these cells. The technical protocols have been made detailed, specific, practical, and inclusive of the necessary mystique for immediate and direct application in the laboratory. The book is divided into 11 parts arranged according to the sequence of steps that would generally be followed to study a given population of mononuclear phagocytes: (I) methods for obtaining and culturing populations of human and animal mononuclear phagocytes; (II) methods for separating populations of leukocytes to enrich or deplete their content of mononuclear phagocytes; (II) criteria and techniques for identifying mononuclear phagocytes; (IV) methods for quantifying the number of mononuclear phagocytes; (V) techniques for studying the morphology of mononuclear phagocytes; (VI) methods for quantifying the biochemical constituents of mononuclear phagocytes; (VII) methods of quantifying phagocytosis, pinocytosis, and chemotaxis; (VIII) methods for quantifying the secretory products of mononuclear phagocytes; (IX) procedures for quantifying the destruction of tumor cells and of microorganisms by mononuclear phagocytes; (X) methods for studying the cell biology of mononuclear phagocytes; and (XI) techniques for studying mononuclear phagocytes in vivo, including procedures for estimating their kinetics, accumulation, identification, and microbicidal properties.