Clinical & Experimental Cardiology
Open Access

Abstract

Anti-inflammatory and Atheroprotective Properties of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Alexander V Sorokin, Zhi-Hong Yang and Alan T Remaley

Atherosclerosis prevention and treatment remain of great concern in the field of cardiovascular medicine. Altering inflammatory component of atherogenesis has been hypothesized to be beneficial, and thus searching for new antiinflammatory compounds for cardiovascular disease is warranted. Recent discovery of new lipid mediators, which are generated from essential omega-3 fatty acids, represent a promising new area of investigation. These bioactive compounds, termed specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs), have immunomodulatory and potent resolution effects. Moreover, cyclooxygenases inhibitors, such as acetylsalicylic acid, besides blocking eicosanoids production also trigger the biosynthesis of specific epimers of these SPMs. However, it has not been determined whether aspirin interacts synergistically with omega-3 fatty acids to affect atherosclerosis. The described anti-inflammatory and atheroprotective mechanisms of omega-3 fatty acids and aspirin could help in improving the treatment not just for cardiovascular but some of other inflammatory conditions.