title: Expression of mRNA for cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 in human tissues.
abstract: The rate-limiting step in the formation of prostanoids is the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin H2 by cyclooxygenase, also known as prostaglandin G/H synthase/cyclooxygenase. Two forms of cyclooxygenase have been characterized: a ubiquitously expressed form (COX-1) and a recently described second form (COX-2) inducible by various factors including mitogens, hormones, serum and cytokines. Here we quantitate by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) the expression of COX-1 and COX-2 mRNA in human tissues including lung, uterus, testis, brain, pancreas, kidney, liver, thymus, prostate, mammary gland, stomach and small intestine. All tissues examined contained both COX-1 and COX-2 mRNA and could be grouped according to the level of COX mRNA expression. The highest levels of COX mRNAs were detected in the prostate where approximately equal levels of COX-1 and COX-2 transcripts were present. In the lung high levels of COX-2 were observed whereas COX-1 mRNA levels were about 2-fold lower. An intermediate level of expression of both COX-1 and COX-2 mRNA was observed in the mammary gland, stomach, small intestine, and uterus. The lowest levels of COX-1 and COX-2 mRNA were observed in the testis, pancreas, kidney, liver, thymus, and brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Merck Frosst Centre for Therapeutic Research, Merck Frosst Canada Inc., Pointe Claire-Dorval, Que.
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Ford-Hutchinson
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D004247:DNA; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004247:DNA; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases