The cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme catalyzes the rate-limiting step of prostaglandin formation in inflammatory states, and COX-2 overexpression plays a key role in carcinogenesis. To understand the mechanisms regulating COX-2 expression, we examined its posttranscriptional regulation mediated through the AU-rich element (ARE) within the COX-2 mRNA 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR). RNA binding st...

The efficacy of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is considered to be a result of their inhibitory effect on cyclooxygenase (COX) activity. Here, we report that flufenamic acid shows two opposing effects on COX-2 expression; it induces COX-2 expression in the colon cancer cell line (HT-29) and macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7); conversely, it inhibits tumor necrosis factor alpha (TN...

AIM Recent studies suggested that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enhances tumor angiogenesis via upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Although COX-2 expression has been demonstrated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the significance of COX-2 in progression of HCC remains unclear. This study evaluated the clinico-pathological correlation of COX-2 level and its relationship with ...

Despite the important role of both cyclooxygenase (COX) isoforms (i.e. COX-1 and COX-2) in maintenance of hypersensitivity following peripheral nerve injury, their role in the development of neuropathic pain is not clear. The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of COX inhibitors to address the potential role of COX isozymes in the development of neuropathic pain in rats after c...

Both policosanol and D-003 are mixtures of higher aliphatic alcohols and acids, respectively, purified from sugarcane wax, whose main components are octacosanol and octacosanoic acid (an active metabolite of octacosanol), respectively. Both substances share some, not all, pharmacological effects, like cholesterol-lowering, antiplatelet and antioxidant effects. The mechanisms whereby they exhibi...

Cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2) are ER-resident proteins that catalyze the committed step in prostanoid synthesis. COX-1 is constitutively expressed in many mammalian cells, whereas COX-2 is usually expressed inducibly and transiently. Abnormal expression of COX-2 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammation and various cancers; therefore, it is subject to tight and complex...

he developed severe psoriasis responsive only to repeated courses of the then newly available PUVA (psoralen plus UVA radiation) therapy. Between 1973 and 1993 he received PUVA once a week. During treatment no genital protection was used although he had never received UV therapy directly to the genital area. Two years after the onset of psoriasis he developed peripheral inflammatory arthritis. ...

OBJECTIVES To examine the effects of inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) on islet hormone secretion in vitro and on pancreatic islet blood flow in vivo. METHODS Insulin release was measured in a static incubation system of islets isolated from Wistar-F rats after inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2 with SC 560 (COX-1), FR 122047 (COX-1), rofecoxib (COX-2), or indomethacin (both COX-1 and COX-2). In ...