Mechanistic Insights of Resolution of Inflammation by Endogenous Lipid Mediators

Abstract

Inflammation is an essential part of the body’s healing process. Yet a long-term or chronic inflammatory response is damaging and is linked with several adult human diseases such as heart ailments, diabetes, cancer, asthma, and arthritis. The current therapeutic approach targets the pro-inflammatory mediators by using several commercially available anti-inflammatory drugs or monoclonal antibodies to combat these chronic inflammatory diseases. Although these current approaches seem to be effective, they often fail to provide a ‘total therapeutic solution’ and thereby complicating the situation and ultimately increasing the infection risk. In this context, the concepts and mechanisms of the resolution could be helpful for treating these chronic inflammatory diseases. The review is devoted to the mechanism of inflammation resolution and the working procedure of the specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators like maresins, lipoxins, resolvins, and protectins. Alongside these standard specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators, plant-based lipid mediators in the form of biflavonoids have also emerged as an alternative option, which can limit the inflammatory response by targeting 5-lipoxygenase and also by triggering the switching of leukotrienes to specialized pro-resolving mediators. Other plant-based mediators will also strengthen the approach to the resolution of chronic inflammatory diseases.