Analgesia and cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are among the most commonly used medications and they are a mainstay in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are widely used to reduce pain associated with acute or chronic inflammation. Recently, a new class of inhibitors of the inducible enzyme cyclo-oxygenase-2 have become available. These inhibitors selectively target the inducible enzyme and have been shown to spare the gastrointestinal tract. While a role of cyclo-oxygenase-2 in the development of chronic inflammation has been well established, its role in pain perception is still unclear. Recent experimental data led to the hypothesis that cyclo-oxygenase-1 plays an important role in pain perception. This short review addresses some recent preclinical data as well as some clinical evidence showing that cyclo-oxygenase-1 is an important component of inflammatory pain.
Meli
R
R
Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Federico II University of Naples, Italy.
Antonelli
E
E
Cirino
G
G
D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism*
D000700:Analgesics; 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; D001241:Aspirin