Lipoxins, resolvins and protectins: new leads for the treatment of asthma.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The pathobiology of asthma is characterized by the production of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids that play important roles in regulating airway responses. Recognition of the biosynthetic pathways and sites of action for 5-lipoxygenase-derived leukotrienes has led to the successful development of two different classes of asthma therapeutics.

OBJECTIVES:

In this review, we describe structurally distinct lipid mediators derived from arachidonic acid and ω-3 fatty acids that have anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving actions. These counter-regulatory lipid mediators are generated in the airway during asthma and defects in their production are associated with disease severity.

CONCLUSION:

These natural small molecules are rapidly inactivated, but serve as rationale templates for the design of stable analogues with protective actions that could serve as new therapeutic leads for asthma.

• Authors: Oliver Haworth, Bruce D Levy
• Journal: Expert opinion on drug discovery (Expert Opin Drug Discov) Vol. 3 Issue 10 Pg. 1209-22 (Oct 2008) ISSN: 1746-0441 [Print] England
• PMID: 23489078 (Publication Type: Journal Article)