Abstract
Chronic smoking is associated with functional and structural vascular changes underlying inflammatory processes responsible for plaque formation and rupture. Cyclooxygenase (COX) is the key enzyme linking smoking action to inflammatory damages: it is responsible for the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostanoids, and lipid mediators involved in most of pathological processes. Two COX isoenzymes have been characterized, COX-1 and COX-2, that differ in terms of regulatory mechanisms of expression, tissue distribution, substrate specificity, and preferential coupling to upstream and downstream enzymes. The aim of this review is to highlight the pathogenetic role of chronic smoking in vasomotor dysfunction, inflammation, and modification of lipids underlying the initiation and the progression of atherosclerosis and to remark the hypothesis that plaque composition rather than plaque size is the real determinant of the plaque evolution toward rupture and the major responsible for acute ischemic syndromes. The concomitantly higher expression of EP4, COX-2, mPGES-1, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in unstable plaques is focused and the role of PGE2 as pathophysiological link between smoking, COX-2 and MMP activity is stressed. Indeed, the intracellular pathways regulating COX-2 and the mechanisms suggested to clarify the role of COX-2 and downstream synthases in atherothrombosis are summarized.
Keywords: Smoking, cyclooxygenase, prostaglandin synthases, atherosclerosis, inflammation
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Cyclooxygenase and Atherosclerosis: A Smoking Area
Volume: 16 Issue: 23
Author(s): F. Pistoia, F. Cipollone, C. Ferri, M. Sara, I. Sudano and G.B. Desideri
Affiliation:
Keywords: Smoking, cyclooxygenase, prostaglandin synthases, atherosclerosis, inflammation
Abstract: Chronic smoking is associated with functional and structural vascular changes underlying inflammatory processes responsible for plaque formation and rupture. Cyclooxygenase (COX) is the key enzyme linking smoking action to inflammatory damages: it is responsible for the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostanoids, and lipid mediators involved in most of pathological processes. Two COX isoenzymes have been characterized, COX-1 and COX-2, that differ in terms of regulatory mechanisms of expression, tissue distribution, substrate specificity, and preferential coupling to upstream and downstream enzymes. The aim of this review is to highlight the pathogenetic role of chronic smoking in vasomotor dysfunction, inflammation, and modification of lipids underlying the initiation and the progression of atherosclerosis and to remark the hypothesis that plaque composition rather than plaque size is the real determinant of the plaque evolution toward rupture and the major responsible for acute ischemic syndromes. The concomitantly higher expression of EP4, COX-2, mPGES-1, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in unstable plaques is focused and the role of PGE2 as pathophysiological link between smoking, COX-2 and MMP activity is stressed. Indeed, the intracellular pathways regulating COX-2 and the mechanisms suggested to clarify the role of COX-2 and downstream synthases in atherothrombosis are summarized.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Pistoia F., Cipollone F., Ferri C., Sara M., Sudano I. and Desideri G.B., Cyclooxygenase and Atherosclerosis: A Smoking Area, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2010; 16 (23) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161210792062902
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161210792062902 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Airway Clearance of Apoptotic Cells in COPD
Current Drug Targets Synthesis and Evaluation of A New Series of Thiazole Derivatives as Potential Antitumor Agents and MMP Inhibitors
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Macrophage Activation in Atherosclerosis: Pathogenesis and Pharmacology of Plaque Rupture
Current Vascular Pharmacology Comprehensive in silico Study of GLUT10: Prediction of Possible Substrate Binding Sites and Interacting Molecules
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Nocturia in Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome: An Underappreciated Symptom
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Telomere/Telomerase System: A New Target of Statins Pleiotropic Effect?
Current Vascular Pharmacology Proliferative Retinopathies: Animal Models and Therapeutic Opportunities
Current Neurovascular Research The Effects of Statin Therapy on the Human Airway
Drug Metabolism Letters Novel Ideas of Gene Therapy for Atherosclerosis: Modulation of Cellular Signal Transduction of TGF-β Family
Current Pharmaceutical Design Mood Stabilizers, Oxidative Stress and Antioxidative Defense in Euthymia of Bipolar Disorder
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Clinical Aspects of Melatonin in the Acute Coronary Syndrome
Current Vascular Pharmacology Preventing Death from Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Rupture
Vascular Disease Prevention (Discontinued) Heart Failure in East Asia
Current Cardiology Reviews Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells as Biomarkers for Prediction of Cardiovascular Outcomes
Current Medicinal Chemistry GP IIb / IIIa Blockade in Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Current Pharmaceutical Design Fish Oil Fatty Acids as Cardiovascular Drugs
Current Vascular Pharmacology Molecular Genetics of Quantitative Fibrinogen Disorders
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Relationships Between Alcohol Consumption, Smoking Status and Food Habits in Greek Adolescents. Vascular Implications for the Future
Current Vascular Pharmacology RAGE: A Multi-Ligand Receptor Unveiling Novel Insights in Health and Disease
Current Medicinal Chemistry Effect of Aging On Angiogenesis and Arteriogenesis
Current Cardiology Reviews