Lipoxins: regulators of resolution.
Persistent inflammation underlies many prevalent diseases including atherosclerosis and diabetes. There is a growing appreciation that inflammation and its active resolution may be modulated by endogenously produced lipids. Pre-eminent amongst these mediators are lipoxin [LX]A4 and LXB4. The LXs are eicosanoids and display both anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving bioactions. In effective host defence lipid mediator biosynthesis is characterised by a switch from pro-inflammatory prostaglandin and leukotriene (LT) generation from arachidonic acid (AA) to LX production coincident with a return to tissue homeostasis. There is accumulating evidence that LXs are potential therapeutic agents for inflammatory disorders leading to tissue damage and organ fibrosis.
Diabetes Research Centre, Conway Institute and School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Aidan
A
Ryan
Catherine
C
Godson
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D044045:Lipoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009393:Nephritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D044045:Lipoxins