Novel n-3 Docosapentaneoic Acid-Derived Pro-resolving Mediators Are Vasculoprotective and Mediate the Actions of Statins in Controlling Inflammation.

Inflammation is a fundamentally protective process that guards the host from invading pathogens and is central in the repair and regeneration of damaged tissue. However, when uncontrolled, the overzealous response leads to tissue damage and malaise. Indeed, this process is now appreciated to be at the center of many chronic inflammatory diseases including vascular disease and arthritis. Studies investigating the mechanisms through which acute inflammation is actively turned off allowing tissues to regain function demonstrated that the essential fatty acids, arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are enzymatically converted to bioactive mediators. These autacoids carry distinct structures and biological actions, actively reprogramming the inflammatory reaction to promote its termination by counter-regulating the production of pro-inflammatory mediators and regulate leukocyte trafficking as well as phenotype. Recently we found that n-3 docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), which was until then only regarded as a biosynthetic intermediate in the formation of DHA from EPA, is also converted to structurally distinct bioactive mediators that reprogram the host immune response. In the present review we will discuss the evidence underpinning the biological actions of these novel n-3 DPA-derived autacoids in particular as they pertain to the vascular system.