While inflammation serves as part of the bodys natural defense system and is crucial to survival, the theory that

inflammation can contribute to many illnesses including cancer and heart diseasehas been steadily gaining ground in past years. (a) Explain inflammation as the bodys second line of defense against injury and invasion. (b) Describe the process by which excessive inflammation may cause the development of cancerous cells and tumors. Inflammation is the immune systems response to tissue damage. Blood vessels dilate, leading to an increase in the flow of blood to the damaged tissue and its vicinity. This causes swelling and heat at the injury site. In the event of an injury, white blood cells, which actively search for invaders, surround the damaged area in order to protect the body from viruses, bacteria, and other microbes. The white blood cells also send chemical signals to summon more specialized cells. Mast cells in connective tissues produce and release histamine, a clear fluid, to allow blood vessels to dilate and open up to facilitate blood flow to the injury site in a process known as vasodilation. Macrophages and other cells release additional chemicals such as prostaglandins to facilitate blood flow. The dilation of blood vessels helps to deliver antimicrobial proteins and clotting elements to the damaged tissue and initiates the process of blood clotting and cell growth. This produces new tissue to repair the damaged tissue. New blood vessels provide nutrients for the repair work. Blood clotting also helps inhibit the spread of microbes to other parts of the body. Small proteins, called chemokines, direct phagocytes toward the injury site. These phagocytes engulf residual damaged tissues or microbes. While the inflammatory response is crucial to survival, it can cause autoimmune diseases if the process malfunctions. Malfunctions in the inflammatory response can also cause the production of an excessive number of new cells and blood vessels, resulting in a tumor. People who suffer from chronic inflammation are known to have a higher risk for cancer. While scientists agree that inflammation plays a part in cancer, triggers for it are unclear. Possible triggers for inflammation include chemical carcinogens and free radicals, viruses, bacteria, or other microbes. Inflammation serves to promote the growth of cells and blood vessels to repair damaged tissue and provide nutrients to the wounded area. However, scientists believe that tumors are regarded as wounds by the bodys immune system and inflammatory cells converge around the mass as they would a typical wound and encourage cell growth, thereby facilitating the development of the tumor. Scientists have also found signs that inflammation may interfere with normal cell death and produce free radicals that damage DNA, thereby contributing to cells becoming cancerous in the first place. Theories that inflammation may cause or facilitate cancer are supported by evidence indicating that large numbers of inflammatory cells and their chemical messengers are found in tumors and that genes involved in inflammation are often active as well.