Temporal expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in peritoneal macrophages of rats and effects of panax notoginseng saponins.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the temporal expression pattern of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and effects of panax notogensing saponins (PNS) in peritoneal macrophages of rats.


METHODS
Phagocytosis function of peritoneal macrophages was measured by chicken red blood cell phagocytosis assay in vitro. Expression of COX-2 mRNA and protein, PGE(2) and PGD(2) production were determined with real-time PCR, Western blotting and radioimmunoassay, respectively.


RESULTS
Phagocytosis function of macrophages increased significantly after stimulation and reached peak during 2-3h. Expression of COX-2 mRNA and its protein increased markedly after stimulation and reached the first peak at 2 h and 3h, respectively; and then decreased to reach a minimum at 24h. The second peak appeared at 36h. PNS (50, 100, 200 mg/kg) increased the phagocytosis function obviously at 2h, decreased the expression level of COX-2 and PGE(2) production at 2 h and elevated COX-2 expression and PGD(2) production at 36 h, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
COX-2 expression in peritoneal macrophages has a double-hump feature after stimulation. PNS enhanced phagocytosis, inhibiting COX-2 expression at an early stage and elevating it at a later stage.
Yuan
Z B
ZB
Institute of Materia Medica and Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China. zhibinyuan@sina.com
Zhang
H G
HG
Jia
Y
Y
Cheng
Y Q
YQ
Li
X H
XH
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D053723:Panax notoginseng / Q000737:chemistry*; D015230:Prostaglandin D2 / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015054:Zymosan / Q000494:pharmacology
D012503:Saponins; D015054:Zymosan; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D015232:Dinoprostone; D015230:Prostaglandin D2