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

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 omega-3 fatty acids that have anti-inflammatory and proresolving 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.