Pro-resolving actions of SPM in adipose tissue biology

White adipose tissue plays an important endocrine role in balancing metabolic homeostasis. During conditions of nutrient excess, as occurs in obesity, there is an expansion of adipose tissue mass associated with a state of “low-grade” inflammation in this tissue. This chronic, unresolved inflammation of adipose tissue is deleterious and leads to many pathological sequelae associated with obesity including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Recently, a novel genus of anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving lipid mediators endogenously generated from membrane phospholipid-derived polyunsaturated fatty acids has been identified during the resolution phase of acute inflammation. These molecules have been termed specialized pro-resolving mediators and act not only as “stop-signals” of inflammatory response but also as facilitators of timely resolution of inflammation. In this review, we provide a comprehensive description of the role of these specialized pro-resolving mediators as endogenous counter-regulators of the persistent inflammatory status present in white adipose tissue of obese individuals. In addition, we discuss the potentiality of these molecules as a novel therapy for the prevention of metabolic co-morbidities associated with obesity.