Inflammation is a core defect of many common chronic diseases, but existing anti-inflammatory treatments are often ineffective in stopping inflammation and may actually contribute to delay resolution. In fact, inflammation is a natural process that arises and subsides, leaving tissue repaired and functioning as it was prior to injury and inflammatory response. SPMs are bioactive molecules that mediate the resolution of inflammation and maintain inflammatory responses within tightly delineated boundaries, promoting a return to homeostasis. SPMs do not block inflammation, but rather support the natural process of resolution. Understanding the processes of resolution and the role of SPMs in preserving tissue structure and function may lead to innovative therapy for inflammaging and the many common diseases of chronic inflammation.
