This is a book about the research process that led scientists to the discovery of a group of molecules that act as carriers of information among the cells of our body, which the book refers to collectively as "body messages." Among the thousands of body messages, the author selected those that are part of her own research, the cytokines, adipokines, and other proteins that regulate inflammation and metabolism. She also interviewed twenty researchers who contributed significantly to the field, asking details about their discoveries while also inquiring about their life and education. Along with scientists' personal recollections, the book reconstructs the discovery process based on published reports of the original experimental findings. Though the book's main theme is the process of discovery, it devotes considerable space to the biology of body messages and the consequence of their identification for medical practice.-- Provided by publisher.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

The medium is the message, the message is the change -- Doing research: ways to study body messages -- Evolution of message discovery: the interleukin-1 family -- Achieving balance: pro and anti inflammatory mediators -- Traps and diversions: cytokine decoys -- Between inflammation and metabolism: the acute-phase response -- The fat revolution: adipokines.

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