A patient with rheumatoid arthritis experiences reduced joint pain after treatment with specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs). Which mechanism explains why symptom relief occurs in this context?

💡 Explanation

SPMs enhance the resolution of inflammation by stimulating macrophage phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils and cellular debris. This reduces the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, because this clears the inciting stimulus and allows tissue repair, therefore reducing pain rather than exacerbating inflammation with neutrophil chemotaxis or complement activation.

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