| Description : |
Cyclooxygenase (COX, also called prostaglandin H Synthase or PGHS) is a bifunctional enzyme exhibiting both cyclooxygenase and peroxidase activities. The cyclooxygenase component converts arachidonic acid to a hydroperoxy endoperoxide (Prostaglandin G2; PGG2), and the peroxidase component reduces the endoperoxide to the corresponding alcohol (prostaglandin H2; PGH2), the precursor of prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and prostacyclins. It is now well established that there are two distinct isoforms of cyclooxygenase. COX-1 is constitutively expressed in a variety of cell types and is involved in normal cellular homeostasis. A variety of mitogenic stimuli such as phorbol esters, lipopolysaccharides, and cytokines lead to the induced expression of a second isoform of COX, COX-2. COX-2 is responsible for the biosynthesis of prostaglandins under acute inflammatory conditions. This inducible COX-2 is believed to be the target enzyme for the anti-inflammatory activity of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. |
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