title: [COX-2 regulation of prostaglandins in synaptic signaling].
abstract: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a rate-limiting enzyme converting arachidonic acid to prostaglandins (PGs), which is a key messenger in traumatic brain injury- and ischemia-induced neuronal damage and in neuroinflammation. COX-2 is implicated in the pathogeneses of neurodegenerative diseases. Growing evidence implies that the contribution of COX-2 to neuropathology is associated with its involvement in synaptic alteration. Elevation or inhibition of COX-2 has been shown to enhance or suppress excitatory glutamatergic neurotransmission and long-term potentiation (LTP). These events are mainly mediated via PGE2, the predominant reaction product of COX-2, and the PGE2 subtype 2 receptor (EP2). Thus, elucidation of COX-2 in synaptic signaling may provide a mechanistic basis for designing new drugs aimed at preventing, treating or alleviating neuroinflammation-associated neurological disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Medical Sciences of China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Wei
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000502:physiology*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D015232:Dinoprostone