title: Signalling networks regulating cyclooxygenase-2.
abstract: Cyclooxygenease-2 (COX-2) is the key enzyme regulating the production of prostaglandins, central mediators of inflammation. The expression of cyclooxygenease-2 is induced by several extra cellular signals including pro-inflammatory and growth-promoting stimuli. All signals converge to the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) that regulate cyclooxygenease-2 mRNA levels both at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional level. The machinery appears to be highly specialized involving activation of distinct signalling molecules depending on the type of extracellular stimulus. Expression of cyclooxygenease-2 mRNA is regulated by several transcription factors including the cyclic-AMP response element binding protein (CREB), nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB) and the CCAAT-enhancer binding protein (C/EBP). Cyclooxygenease-2 is also affected post-transcriptionaly, at the level of mRNA stability. Finally, cyclooxygenease-2 can be affected directly at its enzymatic activity by nitric oxide and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Each step of cyclooxygenease-2 regulation can be used as potential therapeutic target.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry-Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete GR-710 03, Greece. tsatsani@med.uoc.gr
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tsatsanis
authors.forename: Ariadne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Androulidaki
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Venihaki
authors.forename: Andrew N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Margioris
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D011453:Prostaglandins; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2