Abstract

Periodontal diseases are comprised of a group of inflammatory conditions that result in the destruction of the supporting structures of the dentition. Emphasis has traditionally been placed on the deleterious actions of lipid mediators, such as prostanoids and leukotrienes, in propagating the inflammatory response and enhancing tissue destruction. Recently, the emerging understanding of the molecular basis of inflammation has elucidated that return of tissue homeostasis, triggered as part of a normal inflammatory response i.e. resolution of inflammation is an active, agonist-mediated, well-orchestrated phenomenon. The naturally-occurring pro-resolution lipid mediators, lipoxins, resolvins, protectins, maresins etc. have been identified as a novel genus of potent and stereoselective players that counter-regulate excessive acute inflammation and stimulate molecular and cellular events that define resolution. In this Review, we provide an update and overview of newly identified mediators that play pivotal roles in resolution and focus on the emerging appreciation of the endogenous pathways and mediators that control timely resolution which can be exploited as novel drug targets to extend the pharamaceutical armamentarium to combat chronic inflammation, thus controlling periodontal inflammation and the associated systemic inflammatory effects on the body, in general.

Keywords: Drug targets, Inflammation, Lipid mediator, Lipoxin, Resolution, Resolvin.