Cylcooxgenase-2 (COX-2) expressing macrophages, constituting a major portion of tumor mass, are involved in several pro-tumorigenic mechanisms. In addition, macrophages are actively recruited by the tumor and represent a viable target for anticancer therapy. COX-2 specific inhibitor, celecoxib, apart from its anticancer properties was shown to switch macrophage phenotype from tumor promoting to...

Acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol, is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug with potent antipyretic and analgesic actions but with very weak anti-inflammatory activity. When administered to humans, it reduces levels of prostaglandin metabolites in urine but does not reduce synthesis of prostaglandins by blood platelets or by the stomach mucosa. Because acetaminophen is a weak inhibitor i...

Staphylococcus aureus is a major pathogen of varieties of oral mucous infection. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a pro-inflammatory factor and Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) is a critical enzyme of PGE2 biosynthesis. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether Staphylococcus aureus can increase PGE2 production of oral epithelial cells and how PGE2 functions in the growth and adherence of Staphyloc...

Despite the considerable range of newly identified disease modifying approaches to the control of the inflammatory process reported over the past 10–20 years, only a few have yet gained widespread clinical acceptance. In contrast, the very recent advent of the class of anti-inflammatory agents termed COX-2 selective inhibitors is already having a significant impact on current clinical prescribi...

BACKGROUND Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) frequently cause adverse drug reactions. Many studies have shown that drugs which selectively inhibit the cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme (COX-2) are safe alternatives in the majority of patients. However, hypersensitivity reactions to COX-2 inhibitors have been published. Hardly any data are available regarding the safety of alternatives in cas...

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of the lung cancer. It is known that COX-2 negatively regulates the activity of a number of tumor suppressors, including p53. Consequently, inhibition of COX-2 signaling is anticipated to be a promising approach to stabilize p53 functionality. In this regard, we investigated the effect of COX-2 signaling blockade on p53 and COX-2 e...

BACKGROUND Cyclooxygenase (COX) activity is increased in endoscopic normal colonic mucosa from patients with colorectal neoplasia (CRN). COX-2 is thought to be the predominant COX isozyme involved in neoplasia. Meanwhile, relative contributions of COX-1 and COX-2 isoforms are unknown. Knowledge about their mutual activity in colonic mucosa is important for diagnostics and targeted therapy for C...

Purpose: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and its metabolite, PGE2 affect multiple tumorigenesis, including angiogenesis, invasion, and tumor-induced immune suppression. Their overexpression is association with impaired immune cell function in many tumors. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is an emerging immuno-regulatory enzyme that can catalyze the initial rate-limiting step in tryptophan catabolism,...

For many years, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a critical enzyme for PG production, has been the favorite target for anti-inflammatory drug development. However, recent revelations regarding the adverse effects of selective COX-2 inhibitors have stimulated intense debate. Interestingly, in the early phase of inflammation, COX-2 facilitates inflammatory PG production while in the late phase it has an...