Not all eicosanoids are bad.
Although considerable attention has been focused on elucidating the factors that drive inflammation, it is becoming clear that this "acceleration" state is offset by an internal "handbrake". A recent study has uncovered an essential component of this handbrake system, revealing that lipoxins trigger suppressors of cytokine signalling to dampen inflammatory responses to infection. This work bolsters the growing interest in understanding how inflammation is controlled from within and draws further attention to novel targets for drug development based on mimicking the actions of endogenous anti-inflammatory and pro-resolution signals.
Morris
Thea
T
Centre for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Division of Medicine, 5 University Street, University College London, London WC1E 6JJ, UK.
Rajakariar
Ravindra
R
Stables
Melanie
M
Gilroy
Derek W
DW
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D044045:Lipoxins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D044045:Lipoxins; C040527:lipoxin A4