Aspirin: recent developments.
Aspirin exerts anti-thrombotic action by acetylating and inactivating cyclooxygenase-1, preventing the production of thromboxane A2 in platelets. Through this inhibition of platelet function, aspirin is considered as a preventative of ischemic diseases such as coronary and cerebral infarction. However, many studies have revealed that aspirin has other beneficial actions in addition to its anti-platelet activity. For example, aspirin may confer some benefit against colorectal cancer. Here, we discuss the involvement of inflammation in atherosclerosis and how aspirin exerts its beneficial actions in atherosclerotic diseases and cancer.
Yasuda
O
O
Department of Geriatric Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan. yasuda@geriat.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Takemura
Y
Y
Kawamoto
H
H
Rakugi
H
H
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001241:Aspirin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin