Perspectives on the Biosynthesis and Metabolism of Eicosanoids

Pharmacological properties of nimesulide

“…2 and 3) [36]. Inter-relationships between proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., interleukin (IL)-1 and the induction of phospholipases (e.g., PLA 2 ) leading to arachidonic acid release and induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2).…”

“…In 1990, it was discovered that there are at least two forms of cyclooxygenasea constitutive enzyme, COX-1 and an inducible enzyme, COX-2 [36][37][38]. COX-1 is mainly involved in normal physiological functions while COX-2 is usually involved in the inflammatory response or some physiological functions that require prostaglandins transiently such as in gastric ulcer healing, some renal functions, atherothrombosis, bone metabolism, insulin secretion, vascular functions, regulation of immune functions and ovulation (Fig.…”

“…Inhibition of prostaglandins formed by COX-1 generally lead to unwanted side effects such as gastric bleeding, while inhibition of prostaglandins formed by COX-2 generally relieve pain and inflammation [27,38]. Leukotrienes also play important roles as mediators of the vascular and some of the immunological components of inflammation [36,40].…”

“…Between these two periods work on the actions of NSAIDs, including nimesulide, on prostaglandin production in various cellular systems was undertaken without knowledge of the existence of the COX-isoforms or many of the details concerning the mechanisms of action of these drugs on components of arachidonic acid metabolism. After the discovery of the leukotrienes and the lipoxygenases (LOX) involved in their production in the 1980s that interest focussed on the potential for some NSAIDs to affect the second pathway (LOX) of arachidonic acid metabolism [36,40].…”

BmPLA2 containing conserved domain WD40 affects the metabolic functions of fat body tissue in silkworm, Bombyx mori

“…Arachidonic acid release through PLA2 activation brought a complex regulatory mechanism, which is responsible for eicosanoid production. For several physiological and pathological processes, eicosanoids act as lipid mediators (Funk, ; Murphy et al ., ). Arachidonic acid and eicosanoids have both been known to implicate various actions, namely lipid hydrolysis (lipolysis) (Kather & Simon, ; Cohen‐Luria & Rimon, ; Fain et al ., ), transportation of glucose (Nugent et al ., ) and so on in adipose tissue.…”