title: COX-1, COX-2, and COX-3 and the future treatment of chronic inflammatory disease.
abstract: A new generation of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs has been described that selectively targets the inducible isoform of cyclo-oxygenase, cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2). This isoform is expressed at sites of inflammation, which has led to the speculation that its inhibition could provide all the benefits of current nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but without their major side-effects on the gastrointestinal system (which are due to inhibition of COX-1). We have shown that COX-2 (identified by use of specific antibodies) is induced during the resolution of an inflammatory response, inhibition of COX-2 resulting in persistence of the inflammation due to the prevention of the synthesis of a range of anti-inflammatory prostanoids. We propose that there is a third isoform of this enzyme family, COX-3, a proposal that will have implication for the prescription of both existing and new generation anti-inflammatory drugs, and might represent a new therapeutic target.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pathology, William Harvey Research Institute, St Bartholomew's and Royal London Hospital Schools of Medicine & Dentistry, UK. d.a.willoughby@mds.qmw.ac.uk
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Willoughby
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Colville-Nash
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020033:Protein Isoforms
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D010544:Peroxidases; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases