Further notes about the morphostasis concept – split files

(21) "The role of the inflammatory response is to combat tissue injury and infection."

This appeared in the opening statement of a recent article. I would like to take this point of view to task and reword it as "the role of the inflammatory response is to combat (or, better, respond to and resolve) tissue injury." Adding the infection bit is, I contend, completely redundant. ALL cells are capable of responding to the presence of (non–pathogenic) microbes and dealing with them effectively. Phagocytes do carry out the process well BUT their presence, to be able to take over the lion's share of this process, is – I contend – the consequence of a response to messages released by damaged cells. This damage may be primarily trauma or secondarily damage inflicted by pathogenic organisms as they seek to prepare body cells into a suitable state for their feasting. For bacteria, that usually – if not ALWAYS – means damaging cells (the pathogen bit) so that parts of the host's flesh has properties similar to a dead corpse. There is a major trend into shifting viewpoints so that "tissue injury" is now a prominent part of the event. BUT, authors are still very reluctant to dump "combating infection" as the/a prime mover. I challenge you to dump it: I predict that no conceptual damage will ensue.