Resolving inflammation by TAM receptor activation

The control of inflammation is strictly regulated to ensure the adequate intensity and duration of an inflammatory response, enabling the removal of the trigger factors and the restoration of the integrity of the tissues and their functions. This process is coordinated by anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving mediators that regulate the cellular and molecular events necessary to restore homeostasis, and defects in this control are associated with the development of chronic and autoimmune diseases. The TAM family of receptor tyrosine kinases—Tyro3, Axl, and MerTK—plays an essential role in efferocytosis, a key process for the resolution of inflammation. However, new studies have demonstrated that TAM receptor activation not only reduces the synthesis of pro-inflammatory mediators by different cell types in response to some stimuli but also stimulates the production of anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving molecules that control the inflammation. This review provides a comprehensive view of TAM receptor family members as important players in controlling inflammatory responses through anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving actions.