title: COX-2-derived endocannabinoid metabolites as novel inflammatory mediators.
abstract: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an enzyme that plays a key role in inflammatory processes. Classically, this enzyme is upregulated in inflammatory situations and is responsible for the generation of prostaglandins (PGs) from arachidonic acid (AA). One lesser-known property of COX-2 is its ability to metabolize the endocannabinoids, N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). Endocannabinoid metabolism by COX-2 is not merely a means to terminate their actions. On the contrary, it generates PG analogs, namely PG-glycerol esters (PG-G) for 2-AG and PG-ethanolamides (PG-EA or prostamides) for AEA. Although the formation of these COX-2-derived metabolites of the endocannabinoids has been known for a while, their biological effects remain to be fully elucidated. Recently, several studies have focused on the role of these PG-G or PG-EA in vivo. In this review we take a closer look at the literature concerning these novel bioactive lipids and their role in inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Bioanalysis and Pharmacology of Bioactive Lipids Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Avenue Emmanuel Mounier 72 (B1.72.01), 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mireille
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alhouayek
authors.affiliation: Bioanalysis and Pharmacology of Bioactive Lipids Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Avenue Emmanuel Mounier 72 (B1.72.01), 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium. Electronic address: giulio.muccioli@uclouvain.be.
authors.forename: Giulio G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Muccioli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011462:Prostaglandins G / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D011462:Prostaglandins G; C107684:prostaglandin E2 ethanolamide; C038291:prostaglandin G2; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D015232:Dinoprostone
keywords: FAAH; MAGL; anandamide; cannabinoid; prostaglandin synthase; prostanoid