Omega-3 pleiad: The multipoint anti-inflammatory strategy

Omega 3 (omega 3) fatty acids have been described since the 1980s as promising anti-inflammatory substances. Prostaglandin and leukotriene modulation were exhaustively explored as the main reason for omega 3 beneficial outcomes. However, during the early 2000s, after the human genome decoding advent, the nutrigenomic approaches exhibited an impressive plethora of omega 3 targets, now under the molecular point of view. Different G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) recognizing omega 3 and its derivatives appear to be responsible for blocking inflammation and insulin-sensitizing effects. A new class of omega 3-derived substances, such as maresins, resolvins, and protectins, increases omega 3 actions. Inflammasome disruption, the presence of GPR120 on immune cell surfaces, and intracellular crosstalk signaling mediated by PPAR gamma compose the last discoveries regarding the multipoint anti-inflammatory targets for this nutrient. This review shows a detailed mechanistic proposal to understand omega 3 fatty acid action over the inflammatory environment in the background of several chronic diseases.