Resolving Pain: Preclinical Insights into the Analgesic Mechanisms of RvD1

Pain is a protective mechanism of the body that is intensified during inflammatory processes through the sensitization of nociceptive neurons. Although current drugs, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), glucocorticoids, and opioids, are effective, their side effects reinforce the search for safer alternatives. In this context, studies investigating the analgesic effects of specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs), derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids, stand out. Resolvin D1 (RvD1), derived from the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid, acts in a multimodal manner to modulate pain and inflammation by regulating immunological, neuronal, and glial responses. Thus, RvD1 is a promising molecule for resolving inflammatory and painful processes. Herein, we address the main analgesic mechanisms of RvD1 in different preclinical models.