The prevalence of
cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death in the US, is predicted to increase due to the shift in age of the general population and increase in CVD risk factors such as
obesity and diabetes. New
therapies are required to decrease the prevalence of CVD risk factors (
obesity and diabetes) as well as reduce
atherothrombosis, the major cause of CVD related mortality.
Oxylipins, bioactive metabolites derived from the oxygenation of
polyunsaturated fatty acids, play a role in the progression of CVD risk factors and
thrombosis.
Aspirin, a
cyclooxygenase-1 inhibitor, decreases atherothrombotic associated mortality by 25%. These potent effects of
aspirin have shown the utility of modulating
oxylipin signaling pathways to decrease CVD mortality. The role of many
oxylipins in the progression of CVD, however, is still uncertain or controversial. An increased understanding of the role
oxylipins play in CVD risk factors and
thrombosis could lead to new
therapies to decrease the prevalence of CVD and its associated mortality.