What is the meaning of cyclooxygenase-2?

An enzyme that speeds up the formation of substances that cause inflammation and pain. It may also cause tumor cells to grow. Some tumors have high levels of cyclooxygenase-2 and blocking its activity may reduce tumor growth. Also called COX-2 and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2.

What is the role of COX-2 in inflammation?

In contrast, COX-2, the inducible form, is expressed in response to inflammatory and other physiologic stimuli and growth factors and is involved in the production of those prostaglandins that mediate pain and support the inflammatory process.

Does COX-2 cause cancer?

COX-2 induces cancer stem cell (CSC)-like activity, and promotes apoptotic resistance, proliferation, angiogenesis, inflammation, invasion, and metastasis of cancer cells.

Which cyclooxygenase enzyme increases during inflammation?

The enzymes cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-1 and COX-2) catalyze the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin (PG) H2, the precursor of PGs and thromboxane. These lipid mediators play important roles in inflammation and pain and in normal physiological functions.

What is a cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitor?

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors are a type of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that specifically blocks COX-2 enzymes. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (usually abbreviated to NSAIDs) are a group of medicines that relieve pain and fever and reduce inflammation.

What is the meaning of cyclooxygenase?

Definition of cyclooxygenase : an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins and that has two isoforms of which one is involved in the creation of prostaglandins which mediate inflammation and pain.

What induces COX-2?

Due to which COX-2 can be easily induced by various endogenous and exogenous stimulus including pro inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 and IL-6) (Samad et al., 2001), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) (Wang and Smart, 1999), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (Eliopoulos et al., 2002), and stress (Han et al., 2002; Ponik and Pavalko.

What activates COX-2?

By contrast, the gene for COX-2, Ptgs-2, is an immediate early gene that is activated by a wide variety of inflammatory and proliferative stimuli, and the 4 kb COX-2 mRNA turns over rapidly due to the presence of instability sequences in the 3′-untranslated region (1, 2).

Is COX-2 a tumor suppressor?

The activity of COX-2-PGE2-EP signal pathway can suppress Dendritic cells (DCs), natural killer (NK), T cells, type-1 immunity excluding type-2 immunity which promote tumor immune evasion. COX-2 and the prostaglandin cascade play important roles in the “inflammogenesis of cancer”.

What is COX-2 PGE2?

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is an endogenous lipid mediator of inflammation. Its production is regulated by the rate-limiting upstream enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). We have recently demonstrated that the major cell type expressing COX-2 in the germinal center is follicular dendritic cell (FDC).

What is the role of cyclooxygenase?

Cyclooxygenase (prostaglandin synthase G2/H2, COX) is the rate-limiting enzyme in metabolizing arachidonic acid to prostaglandin G2 and subsequently to prostaglandin H2, which serves as the precursor for subsequent metabolism by prostaglandin and thromboxane synthases.

What is the difference between COX-1 and COX-2?

COX-1 is thought to be responsible for the production of prostaglandins associated with normal physiologic function and is found in such tissues as the stomach, kidney, and platelets. COX-2 was thought to be induced as the result of inflammation and responsible for producing prostaglandins such as prostaglandin E2.