Following accidental trauma, an inflammatory response is induced involving hormonal, metabolic, and immunological mediators. This posttraumatic immune response is a physiological process required for tissue repair and regulation of the healing process. An overwhelming response after major trauma causing a disbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators resulting in complications like an increased susceptibility to infection, sepsis, and the Multiorgan Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS).

Following major trauma, a local release of mediators such as, for example, kinins, acid metabolites, and histamine increases the capillary permeability resulting in tissue edema and local infiltration of immunocompetent cells. Intrinsic leukocytes and affected endothelial cells produce and release pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines acting locally as well as on remote cells in different organs like liver and lung.

Priming and activation of leukocytes in peripheral blood trigger the systemic immune response eventually leading to inflammatory complications. On the other hand, anergy of leukocytes may lead to infectious complications. Therefore, profound knowledge of this response is a major interest in order to anticipate and control potential complications like infection, sepsis, and the Multiorgan Dysfunction Syndrome.

The special issue will publish clinical and experimental research work dealing with characterization, modulation, and diagnosis of the above mentioned inflammation-mediated trauma response with special focus on the role of inflammatory mediators. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Influence of hypothermia on the posttraumatic immune response
• Acute lung injury
• Modulation of the immune response after trauma and envenomation
• Stratification of the immune response by inflammatory mediators
• Novel markers of the posttraumatic immune response

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/mi/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/ according to the following timetable: