COX-2-derived endocannabinoid metabolites as novel inflammatory mediators
(2014) Trends in Pharmacological Sciences — Vol. 35, n° 6, p. 284-292 (2014)
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- 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
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Al Houayek, M., & Muccioli, G. (2014). COX-2-derived endocannabinoid metabolites as novel inflammatory mediators. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 35(6), 284-292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tips.2014.03.001 (Original work published 2014)