Do you like to understand the biology underlying body processes such as inflammation? Then here’s a brief description of three major pro-inflammatory hormone groups and their fundamental roles.
- Prostaglandins are compounds within most tissues and organs. They stimulate nerve cells, signalling pain to the brain which then forces you to stop what you’re doing — “Drop the hot pan!” They swell the blood vessels at the injured site, opening space in the capillary walls for the white blood cells to enter. The blood and plasma rushing out of those enlarged vessels causes the swelling, tenderness, and redness. Prostaglandins also cause constriction as well as dilation of smooth muscle cells. And, they are responsible for the pain of menstrual cramps.
- Cytokines are immune system modulators. Cells produce them throughout the body. Cytokines communicate with your brain, sounding the alarm when they detect an intruder. A subclass of cytokines (leukotrienes or interleukins) checks the immune response before it destroys outlying healthy cells and tissue. Importantly, they call off the inflammatory response. If you have overactive leukotrienes, your body can lose control of the process. White blood cells then begin to digest healthy tissue, causing excessive damage and scarring. This is a common symptom in many autoimmune disorders.
- Histamines are the chemicals responsible for the itchy nose, watery eyes, or rash that often accompany an allergic reaction. Their job is to help you rid yourself of whatever toxin is causing the problem (by sneezing, coughing, crying and scratching). They bring more blood and lymphatic fluid to the site of the invasion, which transport your white blood cells to the site and toxins away from it. The amount of histamine released determines how intense the allergy response will be.
In many of us, this delicate interplay of hormones is easily disrupted. This leads to chronic inflammation that can wreak havoc on our health.
Last Updated: July 20, 2025
