- Researchers identified fat derived molecules called epoxy oxylipins that help switch off inflammation by limiting harmful immune cell changes in humans.
- A drug that blocks the enzyme that breaks down these molecules increased their levels, reduced intermediate monocytes and helped pain settle faster in a controlled study.
- This points to a potential new treatment approach for chronic inflammatory conditions, but larger trials are needed before it reaches routine care.
Inflammation is a normal part of healing.
The problem is when it does not switch off properly.
Ongoing inflammation can damage tissues and is linked to many long term conditions, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
A team led by researchers at University College London investigated how the body naturally resolves inflammation. They focused on epoxy oxylipins, small fat derived molecules that had shown promise in animal studies but were not well mapped in humans.
To study this in a controlled way, healthy volunteers received a tiny injection of UV killed E coli into the forearm to trigger a short lived inflammatory response.
Participants were then given either a placebo or a drug called GSK2256294, which blocks soluble epoxide hydrolase, the enzyme that normally breaks down epoxy oxylipins.
Some participants received the drug before inflammation began and others received it after symptoms started.
In both approaches, blocking the enzyme increased epoxy oxylipin levels and was linked to faster resolution of pain.
It also sharply reduced levels of intermediate monocytes in blood and tissue.
These immune cells are thought to contribute to chronic inflammation when they expand too much.
Interestingly, the treatment did not produce a clear change in visible redness or swelling.
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The researchers also highlighted one specific epoxy oxylipin, 12,13 EpOME, which appeared to work by switching off a signalling pathway called p38 MAPK that drives monocyte changes.
The take home message is not that a new treatment is ready, but that a clear biological pathway has been demonstrated in humans.
The next step is clinical trials in people living with inflammatory diseases to see whether boosting this natural braking system can safely reduce flares and long term damage.
