title: Cyclooxygenase-2: a therapeutic target.
abstract: Cyclooxygenase (COX), also known as prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase, is the key enzyme required for the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins. Two COX isoforms have been identified, COX-1 and COX-2. In many situations, the COX-1 enzyme is produced constitutively (e.g., in gastric mucosa), whereas COX-2 is highly inducible (e.g., at sites of inflammation and cancer). Traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit both enzymes, and a new class of COX-2 selective inhibitors (COXIBs) preferentially inhibit the COX-2 enzyme. This review summarizes our current understanding of the role of COX-1 and COX-2 in normal physiology and disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Nestlé Research Center, CH-1000 Lausanne 26, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Marco E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Turini
authors.forename: Raymond N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: DuBois
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496511:PTGS1 protein, human; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases