Biochemistry Lipid mediators put an end to inflammation
is the Director of the Center for than merely antagonising inflammatory Professor Charles N Serhan mechanisms. Experimental Therapeutics and Reperfusion Injury (CETRI) in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at BWH ACTIVE RESOLUTION MEDIATORS and Harvard Medical School, Boston. In his current research he leads a Prof Serhan’s research has discovered multidisciplinary team of experts whose goal is to reveal the mechanisms potent anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving of resolution of acute inflammation and tissue injury in the body. compounds made by the body that he calls specialised pro-resolving mediators (SPM). One group of SPM comes from the lipids that that we eat – namely from essential omega-3 fatty acids. Within this group, we nflammation is an essential part of our effective treatments for diseases with can distinguish between resolvins, protectins defence against infections, cancer and aberrant on-going inflammation such as and maresins. SPMs have been measured other attacks to our body’s normal Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular disease at bioactive levels in body fluids like human function. Ideally, any inflammatory or arthritis. tears and blood, as well as tissues like the process should be self-limiting so that brain, lymph nodes, spleen and fat. the body returns to its previous healthy For a long time, there was only a vague idea Istate. But how does this happen? Prof about the passive mechanisms that stop the Interestingly, aspirin can enhance the Serhan's research aims to elucidate the inflammatory response. This has changed in formation of specific SPM: aspirin-triggered mechanisms underlying the resolution recent years thanks to researchers like Prof resolvins and protectins have been described. of inflammation with a view to drug Serhan who have taken a closer look. As it This is a further detail for understanding the development. turns out, the resolution of inflammation is mechanism of action for this widely-used drug an active process that involves much more and may indicate possible new uses. WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE STORM? Historically, a lot of focus of immunological research has been on the build-up of an inflammatory reaction and its effects on Prof Serhan’s research has unveiled an the body or harmful intruders like bacteria. unexpected complexity to the resolution Little emphasis had been given to the events afterwards. What happens when phase of the inflammatory response, making all the action is no longer needed? It is important to understand how immune clear that we need much more clinical reactions resolve in order to develop research into this niche of immunology
Lipid mediator c ass s itchin eturn to cute eso ution homeostasis Inf ammation PGE D LTB L Specialised pro-resolving mediators SPM resolvin