Cyclooxygenase-2 is induced globally in infarcted human brain.
Cyclooxygenase (COX) catalyzes synthesis of prostanoids after liberation of arachidonic acid, an important biochemical sequela of cerebral ischemia that aggravates brain injury. We investigated expression of inducible COX-2 in infarcted human brains (symptom duration, 15 hours to 18 days) and found that COX-2 protein was present in both neuronal and glial cells throughout the brain in accord with infarct topography and duration. These results emphasize the global yet temporally regulated nature of COX-2 induction during focal ischemia in humans, clearly different from the circumscribed acute expression reported in experimental animal models. We speculate that early induction of COX-2 may fuel tissue damage through prostanoids and free radicals, and delayed induction in remote brain areas may promote reconstitutive processes in the face of tissue scarring and remodeling of the surviving neural networks.
Sairanen
T
T
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Ristimäki
A
A
Karjalainen-Lindsberg
M L
ML
Paetau
A
A
Kaste
M
M
Lindsberg
P J
PJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000378:metabolism*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D050884:HSP72 Heat-Shock Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D017628:Microglia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
D015415:Biomarkers; D050884:HSP72 Heat-Shock Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D010544:Peroxidases; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases