Cyclooxygenase-2 expression, prostacyclin production and endothelial protection of high-density lipoprotein.

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression, prostacyclin production and endothelial protection of high-density lipoprotein. Cardiovasc Hematol Disord Drug Targets. 2012 Dec;12(2):98-105 Authors: Liu D, Ji L, Wang Y, Zheng L Abstract Atherosclerosis is a multi-factorial inflammatory disease with accumulation of lipids and recruitment of leukocytes into the subendothelial space. Due to the consistent inflammation in vessels, a subset of atherosclerotic plaques is even prone to physical disruption or producing thrombosis that triggers acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Cyclooxygenase (COX) and the downstream diverse prostanoids are involved in numerous physiological activities and inflammatory processes. Remarkably, prostanoids are a group of bioactive lipid mediators, and play a series of complicated and even contradictory roles during the progression of atherogenesis. Some, mainly prostacyclin (PGI2) have cardioprotective effects to inhibit the aggravation of atherosclerosis, however, others including prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and thromboxane A2 (TXA2), increase the risk of cardiovascular thromboembolic events. Therefore, the controversial effects bring about a debate on the use of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) specific and non-specific inhibitors in the prevention from cardiovascular diseases. In addition to reverse cholesterol transport (RCT), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) exerts several beneficial effects on endothelial protection. Moreover, HDL could als...
Source: Cardiovascular and Hematological Disorders Drug Targets - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Cardiovasc Hematol Disord Drug Targets Source Type: research