title: Interaction of a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor with aspirin and NO-releasing aspirin in the human gastric mucosa.
abstract: In addition to inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX)-1-derived prostanoid biosynthesis, aspirin acetylates COX-2, enabling the conversion of arachidonic acid to 15(R)-epi lipoxin A4, or aspirin-triggered lipoxin (ATL). Selective COX-2 inhibitors block ATL formation and exacerbate mucosal injury in rats treated with aspirin. In the present study, we have examined whether inhibition of COX-2 activity in healthy volunteers taking aspirin exacerbates gastric mucosal injury and if such an effect would be prevented by NCX-4016, a NO-releasing derivative of aspirin. Thirty-two volunteers were randomized to receive 2 wk of treatment with NCX-4016 (800 mg twice a day) or aspirin (100 mg once a day) alone or in combination with 200 mg of celecoxib twice a day. Mucosal damage was assessed by endoscopy. The mean mucosal injury score was 5.8 +/- 1.8 in subjects treated with aspirin and 2.4 +/- 0.7 (P < 0.01 vs. aspirin) in subjects treated with NCX-4016. Administration of celecoxib increased the injury score in volunteers treated with aspirin (9.9 +/- 1.9) but not in subjects taking NCX-4016 (1.5 +/- 0.8). Aspirin and NCX-4016 caused a comparable suppression of serum thromboxane B2 levels and increased urinary excretion of ATL. Celecoxib inhibited endotoxin-induced prostaglandin E2 generation in whole blood by approximately 80% and abolished ATL formation. These findings suggests that (i) aspirin and NCX-4016 trigger ATL formation in humans, (ii) celecoxib inhibits ATL formation and exacerbates the mucosal injury caused by low doses of aspirin, and (iii) the NO-donating moiety of NCX-4016 protects the gastric mucosa even in the presence of suppression of COX-1 and COX-2.
authors.affiliation: Clinica di Gastroenterologia ed Epatologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Perugia, Italy. fiorucci@unipg.it
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fiorucci
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santucci
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sardina
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: del Soldato
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001241:Aspirin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000068579:Celecoxib; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000187:drug effects*; D044045:Lipoxins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000187:drug effects*; D011720:Pyrazoles; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D044045:Lipoxins; D011720:Pyrazoles; D013449:Sulfonamides; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; C102148:nitroaspirin; D000068579:Celecoxib; D001241:Aspirin