title: The role of prostaglandins in allergic lung inflammation and asthma.
abstract: Prostaglandins (PGs) are products of the COX pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism. There are five primary PGs, PGD₂, PGE₂, PGF₂, PGI₂ and thromboxane A₂, all of which signal through distinct seven transmembrane, G-protein coupled receptors. Some PGs may counteract the actions of others, or even the same PG may have opposing physiologic or immunologic effects, depending on the specific receptor through which it signals. In this review, we examine the effects of COX activity and the various PGs on allergic airway inflammation and physiology that is associated with asthma. We also highlight the potential therapeutic benefit of targeting PGs in allergic lung inflammation and asthma based on basic science, animal model and human studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Pulmonary, and Critical Care Medicine, T-1217 MCN Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-2650, USA.
authors.forename: Dru
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Claar
authors.forename: Tina V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Hartert
authors.forename: Ray Stokes
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Peebles
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011982:Receptors, Prostaglandin / Q000378:metabolism; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D011453:Prostaglandins; D011982:Receptors, Prostaglandin; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
keywords: COX; allergy; asthma; inflammation; prostaglandin