A therapeutic strategy aimed at dampening the excessive, chronic, or inappropriate sequence of biochemical events that characterize systemic inflammation. This attenuation involves modulating key inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines and eicosanoids, to prevent the progression of low-grade, chronic inflammation that underlies many age-related and metabolic diseases. The clinical objective is to restore the body’s inflammatory response to a state of appropriate, acute reactivity and efficient resolution.
Origin
The term is derived from immunology and pathology, where an inflammatory cascade describes the complex, amplifying sequence of cellular and molecular events following an insult or injury. Attenuation refers to the pharmacological, nutritional, or hormonal intervention designed to reduce the intensity of this chronic chain reaction. This approach is central to longevity and preventative medicine, recognizing chronic inflammation as a primary driver of cellular and systemic aging.
Mechanism
Attenuation is achieved by inhibiting pro-inflammatory enzymes like COX and LOX, blocking the signaling of transcription factors such as NF-kappaB, and increasing the production of specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs). Specific nutrients, peptides, and hormones can shift the cellular environment from a pro-inflammatory state to a resolving state that actively promotes repair. This action protects endothelial function, preserves tissue integrity, and reduces the long-term metabolic burden on the immune system.
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