Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; ) is an ω-3 fatty acid that is abundant in the brain and the retina and is known to be important in early development. Maresin 2 (MaR2) is a 13R,14S-dihydroxy DHA formed by recombinant human macrophage 12-lipoxygenase and soluble epoxide hydrolase co-incubated with DHA. At 1 ng/mouse, MaR2 was shown to reduce neutrophil infiltration by 40% in a mouse model of peritonitis, and at 10 pM, MaR2 can enhance human macrophage phagocytosis of zymosan A by 90%. Analytical and biological comparisons of synthetic MaR2 with endogenously derived MaR2 have confirmed its identity as matching the natural product.
