Acute inflammatory reactions, in contrast to chronic inflammatory reactions, are usually self-limiting and resolve. We have investigated the resolving phase of a number of immune and non-immune inflammatory reactions induced in the pleural cavity of rats. COX-2 is expressed during resolution of these models. Using carrageenan pleurisy, we showed that this enzyme has a proinflammatory role as the reaction develops but an antiinflammatory role as the lesion resolves. This antiinflammatory role is associated with production of cyclopentenone prostaglandins and the absence of PGE2. Dual COX-1/COX-2 inhibitors or COX-2 inhibitors when given at the peak of the inflammatory response delay resolution, an effect reversed by replacing CyPGs into the pleural space. PGF2alpha like the CyPGs appears to have a role in resolving this reaction. Stress proteins are also induced in a variety of acute inflammatory models during resolution. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is one such protein so too are members of the hsp70 family. An inducer of HO-1 promotes resolution whereas an inhibitor is proinflammatory. In most cases it appears to be the macrophage that is the source of proteins necessary for resolution to occur. Understanding how proinflammatory pathways switch to the antiinflammatory pathways necessary for resolution to take place may eventually allow the exploitation of endogenous antiinflammatory pathways in the treatment of chronic inflammation.