Co-chaired by Curtis C. Harris, NCI and Toren Finkel, NHLBI

Main Auditorium, Natcher Conference Center

The infectious and non-infectious generation of chronic injury and irritation initiates an inflammatory response. ‘Go' signals—such as bioactive peptides from neurons, cytokines or receptor molecules that sense microbes—lead to the recruitment of mast cells and leukocytes to the damage site. A subsequent ‘respiratory burst'—an increased uptake of oxygen that leads to the release of free radicals from leukocytes, including activated macrophages—can damage otherwise healthy neighborhood epithelial and stromal cells. Chronic inflammation is associated with the predisposition to a multitude of diseases. This symposium will span mechanistic, translational, clinical and population studies of selected inflammation-associated diseases.

Program:

Introduction
Curtis C. Harris, NCI

Inflammation and Aging: Clinical and Population Studies
Tamara Harris, NIA

Inflammation and Cardiovascular Disease: Oxidant Signals and Stress
Toren Finkel, NHLBI

Role of Cyclooxygenases in Allergic and Non-allergic Lung Inflammation and Disease
Darryl Zeldin, NIEHS

Inflammation and Cancer: Radical Causes of Cancer
Curtis C. Harris, NCI

Closing Remarks
Toren Finkel, NHLBI