The acute inflammatory response is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it plays a key
role in initial host defense, particularly against many infections. On the other hand, its aim is
imprecise, and as a consequence, when it is drawn into battle, it can cause collateral
damage in tissues. In situations where the inciting stimulus is sterile, the cost-benefit ratio
may be high; because of this, sterile inflammation underlies the pathogenesis of a number of
diseases. Although there have been major advances in our understanding of how microbes …