Abstract
In mammalian cells, eicosanoid biosynthesis is usually initiated by the activation of phospholipase A2 and the release of arachidonic acid from membrane phospholipids in response to the interaction of a stimulus with a receptor on the cell surface. Arachidonic acid is subsequently transformed by the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX) to prostaglandins (PGs) and thromboxane (TX). The COX pathway is of particular clinical relevance because it is the major target for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are commonly used for relieving inflammation, pain and fever. In 1991, it was disclosed that COX exists in two distinct isozymes (COX-1 and COX-2), one of which, COX-2, is primarily responsible for inflammation but apparently not for gastrointestinal integrity or platelet aggregation. For this reason, in recent years, novel compounds that are selective for this isozyme, the so-called selective COX-2 inhibitors or COXIBs, which retain anti-inflammatory activity but minimize the risk of gastrointestinal toxicity and bleeding, have been developed. This review article provides an overview and an update on the progress achieved in the area of COX-2 and PG biosynthesis and describes the role of COX-2 in health and disease. It also discusses some unresolved issues related to the use of selective COX-2 inhibitors as a safe and promising therapeutic option not only for the treatment of inflammatory states but also for cancer.
Keywords: eicosanoids, prostaglandins, cyclooxygenase-2, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, gastrointestinal tract
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Cyclooxygenase-2 Biology
Volume: 9 Issue: 27
Author(s): Joan Claria
Affiliation:
Keywords: eicosanoids, prostaglandins, cyclooxygenase-2, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, gastrointestinal tract
Abstract: In mammalian cells, eicosanoid biosynthesis is usually initiated by the activation of phospholipase A2 and the release of arachidonic acid from membrane phospholipids in response to the interaction of a stimulus with a receptor on the cell surface. Arachidonic acid is subsequently transformed by the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX) to prostaglandins (PGs) and thromboxane (TX). The COX pathway is of particular clinical relevance because it is the major target for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are commonly used for relieving inflammation, pain and fever. In 1991, it was disclosed that COX exists in two distinct isozymes (COX-1 and COX-2), one of which, COX-2, is primarily responsible for inflammation but apparently not for gastrointestinal integrity or platelet aggregation. For this reason, in recent years, novel compounds that are selective for this isozyme, the so-called selective COX-2 inhibitors or COXIBs, which retain anti-inflammatory activity but minimize the risk of gastrointestinal toxicity and bleeding, have been developed. This review article provides an overview and an update on the progress achieved in the area of COX-2 and PG biosynthesis and describes the role of COX-2 in health and disease. It also discusses some unresolved issues related to the use of selective COX-2 inhibitors as a safe and promising therapeutic option not only for the treatment of inflammatory states but also for cancer.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Claria Joan, Cyclooxygenase-2 Biology, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2003; 9 (27) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612033454054
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612033454054 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
IL-6 Signaling and its Blockade with a Humanized Anti-Interleukin-6 Receptor Antibody in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Advent of a New and Innovative Therapeutic Drug, Tocilizumab
Current Rheumatology Reviews Natural Products to Improve Quality of Life Targeting for Colon Drug Delivery
Current Drug Delivery Exosomal microRNAs as Potentially Useful Tools in Cancer Biomarker Discovery
Recent Patents on Biomarkers Immunotherapy in Liver Diseases: A Balance Between Immunity and Tolerance
Current Drug Metabolism Chronopharmaceutics Based Modern Colon Specific Drug Delivery Systems
Current Drug Discovery Technologies Radiopharmaceutical: Revolutionary Agents for Diagnosis
Current Radiopharmaceuticals Cellular Energetical Actions of “Chemical” and “Surgical” Vagotomy in Gastrointestinal Mucosal Damage and Protection: Similarities, Differences and Significance for Brain-Gut Function
Current Neuropharmacology Glucans as Biological Response Modifiers
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Mesalamine for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Recent Reappraisals
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued) A Safe and Novel Desensitization Protocol with Ferric Carboxymaltose to Treat Iron Deficiency Anemia
Current Drug Safety Gut Emotions - Mechanisms of Action of Probiotics as Novel Therapeutic Targets for Depression and Anxiety Disorders
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets The Immunomodulatory Effects of Physical Activity
Current Pharmaceutical Design Scientific and Clinical Challenges in Sepsis
Current Pharmaceutical Design Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress and Immune-inflammatory Pathways in Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
Current Neuropharmacology Editorial [Hot topic: Microbiota, Innate Immune and Anti-Inflammation (Guest Editor: Jun Sun)]
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Milk Fermented with a 15-Lipoxygenase-1-Producing Lactococcus Lactis Alleviates Symptoms of colitis in a Murine Model
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Insights into the Structure, Function, and Regulation of Human Cytochrome P450 1A2
Current Drug Metabolism Strategies for Non-Invasive Molecular Imaging of Acute Allograft Rejection by Gamma Scintigraphy and Positron Emission Tomography
Current Radiopharmaceuticals Inhibition of Transcription Factors by Plant-Derived Compounds and their Implications in Inflammation and Cancer
Current Pharmaceutical Design Therapeutic Effect of Ribbon-Type Nuclear Factor-κB Decoy Oligonucleotides in a Rat Model of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Current Gene Therapy