As in so many fields of scientific endeavour following the molecular biology revo lution, our knowledge of the role of radicals not only in pathological states, but in basic physiology has developed exponentially. Indeed, our evolving concepts have, like so many political parties, been forced into dramatic "V-turns" and contortions. Within our working lives, we have had to debate whether radicals made any con tribution to any pathology, whilst now it is difficult not to entertain the view that every physiological process is pivotally controlled by exquisitely sensitive radical reactions. Inflammation is, of course, an example of pathology evolving from physiology, and in this book we have called upon both scientists and clinicians who have research interests in the complex switching mechanisms that sustain these transi tions. The book as a whole explores, from a physiological standpoint, how deter ministic radical systems sensitive to their initial conditions can interdigitate, iterate and feed back to control diverse cellular processes that create the inflammatory response. Whilst systems such as these to a mathematician would provide the basis for a chaotic response, one is forced to marvel how, for all stages of an inflammatory reaction, this system appears exquisitely controlled, making therapeutic manipula tion both possible and, to some extent, predictable.

Free radicals, and the very special free radical nitric oxide, are playing a relevant role in the pathogenesis of inflammation. This work introduces the general knowledge necessary to understand the inflammatory process and the role played by free radical and oxidative stress.

Literally thousands of papers have been published on nitric oxide over the past ten years. But there is no single monograph available that has previously attempted to summarize the important features of the roles of nitric oxide in inflammation. The voluminous literature regarding the incredible range of chemical and biological effects of nitric oxide and reactive nitrogen oxide species, RNOS, may present a tangle of confusing information to the researcher. This volume brings together experts from nitric oxide and inflammation research and presents a concise up-to-date overview as well as future aspects of this rapidly growing field.

Once the existence of free radicals was proven, an avalanche of studies on free radical-mediated biological processes ensued. The study of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS) is center stage in biological free radical investigations. Written by a biochemist, Signaling Mechanisms of Oxygen and Nitrogen Free Radicals discusses the regu

Papers: characterization of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in human airway epithelium; nitric oxide and its congeners in mitochondria; role of nitric oxide in inflammation and tissue injury during endotoxemia and hemorrhagic shock; nitric oxide and peroxynitrite production in ocular inflammation; 5 papers on pulmonary/pollutant effects; 6 papers on oxidants and signal transduction, including impact of oxidative stress on signal transduction control by phosphotyrosine phosphatases; the nature of antioxidant defense mechanisms; lipid peroxidation products and antioxidants in human disease; and lung injury and oxidoreductases.

Specifically focusing on the redox regulation of cell signaling responsible for oxidative stress and inflammatory tissue damage, this reference provides a comprehensive overview of cutting-edge research on the intracellular events mediating or preventing oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory processes induced by endogenous and xenobiotic factors-an