Vane's discovery of the mechanism of action of aspirin changed our understanding of its clinical pharmacology.
Journal Title: Pharmacological Reports - Year 2010, Vol 62, Issue 3
Abstract
Aspirin exerts its analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory actions by inhibiting the enzyme cyclooxygenase and thus preventing the formation and release of prostaglandins. The elucidation by John Vane of the mechanism of action of aspirin in 1971 was followed twenty years later by the discovery of a second cyclooxygenase enzyme, COX-2 and the rapid development of selective inhibitors of this enzyme. The COX-2 inhibitors are potent anti-inflammatory drugs without the damaging side effects on the stomach mucosa of the non-selective aspirin-like inhibitors. More recently, two enzymes have been identified inhibition of which may explain the mechanism of action of paracetamol. These are a putative cyclooxygenase-3 which is a variant of cyclooxygenase-1 and derives from the same gene, and a COX-2 variant, induced with diclofenac, which may be involved in the resolution of inflammation.
Authors and Affiliations
Regina Botting
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP107838
- DOI -
- Views 106
- Downloads 0
Interaction between tobacco smoke and alcohol in animal models.
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of nicotine and other xenobiotics contained in tobacco smoke on the pharmacokinetics of ethyl alcohol and on the levels of toxic ethanol metabolites such as acetic aldehyde.We also...
Effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors beyond lowering blood pressure - are they important for doctors?
Large clinical trials and experimental studies have indicated that not all of the beneficial properties of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is) can be attributed to the lowering of blood pressure. The aim of...
Association between remote organ injury and tissue polyamine homeostasis in acute experimental pancreatitis - treatment with a polyamine analogue bismethylspermine.
Experimental pancreatitis is associated with activation of polyamine catabolism. The polyamine analog bismethylspermine (Me(2)Spm) can ameliorate pancreatic injury. We investigated the roles of polyamine catabolism in re...
Effects of raloxifene on development of the methotrexate-induced changes in bone mechanical properties of male rats.
Methotrexate, a cytostatic and immunosuppressive drug, has been reported to deteriorate the osseous system. Raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, is used in the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal o...
Effect of cysteamine on bile secretion in the rat.
The effect of cysteamine, a specific somatostatin depletor, on biliarysecretion was studied in urethane-anesthetized rats. Different groups of rats received ip cysteamineat 25, 100 or 340 mg/kg just before bile collectio...