Cyclooxygenase-2 immunoreactivity in the ischemic neonatal human brain. An autopsy study.
Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is known to be expressed in rat brain and up-regulated by ischemia. The administration of COX inhibitors before as well as soon after the ischemic insult reduces the extension of cerebral damage in rats. Overexpression of COX-2 has also been shown in the ischemic brain of adult human patients, while no information concerning COX-2 expression in neonatal ischemia is available. Intrapartum asphyxia and perinatal brain injury may result in cerebral palsy, mental retardation or epilepsy. COX-2 expression in the brain of neonates delivered after severe birth asphyxia was investigated using immunohistochemistry. Meningeal vessel walls of term and preterm babies widely expressed COX-2 immunoreactivity, as did periventricular large vessels in preterms. A number of brain cells (mature and immature cortical, periventricular and basal ganglia neurons, and oligodendrocytes of the cerebral white matter in brains from term neonates) also expressed COX-2. The present findings suggest that COX-2 may take part in enhancing neonatal brain damage via different mechanisms, such as those involving excitotoxicity and production of reactive oxygen species.
Toti
P
P
Institute of Pathology, and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, Italy. paolot@unisi.it
DE Felice
C
C
Schürfeld
K
K
Stumpo
M
M
Bartolommei
S
S
Lombardi
A
A
Petraglia
E
E
Buonocore
G
G
D000208:Acute Disease; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008578:Meninges / Q000098:blood supply / Q000201:enzymology; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human