Inflammation and disease progression.

Inflammation is a physiological response to a foreign organism such as bacteria, dust particles, and viruses. Recent studies have enlightened the role of inflammation in the progression of a variety of diseases such as cancer, atherosclerosis, asthma, and psoriasis. This article is a brief overview of the inflammatory processes involved in the progression of these common diseases. Knowledge about these mechanisms can shed light into development of newer therapeutic agents that are aimed at the eradication of these diseases.