Lipids as regulators of inflammation and tissue regeneration

Inflammation is a homeostatic defensive reprogramming in response to harmful stimuli such as pathogens or tissue insults causing cell damage or death. When tissue injury is caused by trauma, ischemia-reperfusion or chemical agents in the absence of infection, or the implantation of a sterile medical device or biomaterial, the inflammatory response is called sterile inflammation. In addition to its role in mitigating infections, inflammation is important for clearing damaged cells and initiating tissue repair. Inflammatory mechanisms are evolutionary conserved and function not only in mammals but also in lower organisms. Inflammation has to be balanced as insufficient inflammation is associated with unresolved tissue destruction, whereas chronic unresolved inflammation can lead to a variety of pathologies, including cancer and fibrosis. Modulation of the inflammatory response requires an understanding of the signaling molecules and initiators involved in the process.