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Updated: Nov 7, 2025
Optimized Management of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Published on: January 18, 2018
Could Lipoxins Represent a New Standard in Ischemic Stroke Treatment?
Nikola Tułowiecka1, Dariusz Kotlęga2, Andrzej Bohatyrewicz3
1Department of Human Nutrition and Metabolomics, Pomeranian Medical University, Broniewskiego 24 Street, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland.
Insights
Lipoxins, derived from omega-6 fatty acids, show therapeutic potential for ischemic stroke by reducing brain damage and inflammation. These pro-resolving mediators may improve outcomes for stroke patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Inflammation Research
- Cardiovascular Science
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, are leading causes of death, often stemming from atherosclerosis and chronic inflammation.
- Unstable atherosclerotic plaque rupture can lead to ischemic stroke, a condition linked to uncontrolled inflammatory responses.
- Lipoxins, pro-resolving mediators from omega-6 fatty acids, are key in resolving inflammation and promoting tissue repair.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a literature review on the therapeutic potential of lipoxins in managing ischemic stroke.
- To synthesize current research on lipoxin's role in mitigating stroke-related damage and inflammation.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was performed using PubMed and Embase databases.
- Search terms included 'stroke and lipoxin' and 'stroke and atherosclerosis'.
- Articles published up to January 31, 2021, in full-text English were reviewed, excluding letters and conference abstracts.
Main Results:
- Animal studies demonstrated that lipoxin A4 administration improved blood-brain barrier integrity, reduced ischemic stroke damage volume, and decreased brain edema.
- Lipoxin A4 inhibited neutrophil infiltration and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α.
- The lipoxin A4 analog, BML-111, also significantly reduced stroke size and protected the cerebral cortex, potentially by decreasing blood-brain barrier permeability and enhancing anti-inflammatory cytokine production.
Conclusions:
- Lipoxins and their analogs exhibit significant therapeutic potential for reducing damage associated with ischemic stroke.
- These compounds may offer a promising strategy for improving patient prognosis following ischemic stroke.
Introduction:
Cardiovascular diseases including stroke are one of the most common causes of death. Their main cause is atherosclerosis and chronic inflammation in the body. An ischemic stroke may occur as a result of the rupture of unstable atherosclerotic plaque. Cardiovascular diseases are associated with uncontrolled inflammation. The inflammatory reaction produces chemical mediators that stimulate the resolution of inflammation. One of these mediators is lipoxins-pro-resolving mediators that are derived from the omega-6 fatty acid family, promoting inflammation relief and supporting tissue regeneration.
Aim:
The aim of the study was to review the available literature on the therapeutic potential of lipoxins in the context of ischemic stroke.
Material And Methods:
Articles published up to 31 January 2021 were included in the review. The literature was searched on the basis of PubMed and Embase in terms of the entries: 'stroke and lipoxin' and 'stroke and atherosclerosis', resulting in over 110 articles in total. Studies that were not in full-text English, letters to the editor, and conference abstracts were excluded.
Results:
In animal studies, the injection/administration of lipoxin A4 improved the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), decreased the volume of damage caused by ischemic stroke, and decreased brain edema. In addition, lipoxin A4 inhibited the infiltration of neutrophils and the production of cytokines and pro-inflammatory chemokines, such as interleukin (Il-1β, Il-6, Il-8) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The beneficial effects were also observed after introducing the administration of lipoxin A4 analog-BML-111. BML-111 significantly reduces the size of a stroke and protects the cerebral cortex, possibly by reducing the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. Moreover, more potent than lipoxin A4, it has an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increasing the amount of anti-inflammatory cytokines.
Conclusions:
Lipoxins and their analogues may find application in reducing damage caused by stroke and improving the prognosis of patients after ischemic stroke.
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