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Substance P‐induced cyclooxygenase‐2 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells
Author(s) -
Gallicchio Margherita,
Rosa Arianna Carolina,
Benetti Elisa,
Collino Massimo,
Dianzani Chiara,
Fantozzi Roberto
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1038/sj.bjp.0706660
Subject(s) - umbilical vein , cyclooxygenase , agonist , receptor , western blot , downregulation and upregulation , mapk/erk pathway , substance p , arachidonic acid , kinase , prostaglandin d2 , endocrinology , prostaglandin , p38 mitogen activated protein kinases , chemistry , medicine , pharmacology , biology , biochemistry , neuropeptide , enzyme , in vitro , gene
Substance P (SP) is a neuropeptide involved in neurogenic inflammation and an agonist for NK 1 , NK 2 , and NK 3 receptors. SP induces prostaglandin (PG) production in various cell types, and these eicosanoids are responsible for numerous inflammatory and vascular effects. Cyclooxygenase (COX) are needed to convert arachidonic acid to PGs. The study evaluated the effect of SP on COX expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). COX‐2 protein expression was upregulated by SP with a peak at 100 n M and at 20 h; in the same experimental conditions COX‐1 protein expression was unchanged. A correlation between COX‐2 expression and PGI 2 and PGE 2 release was detected. Dexamethasone (DEX) inhibited SP‐mediated COX‐2 expression. Mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPK) p38 and p42/44 were activated by SP, whereas SB202190 and PD98059, inhibitors of these kinases, blocked COX‐2 expression. 5,5‐dimethyl‐3‐(3‐fluorophenyl)‐4‐(4‐methylsulphonyl)phenyl‐2(5H)‐furanone (DFU), an experimental selective COX‐2 inhibitor, blocked SP‐induced PG release. By RT–PCR and Western blot analysis, we demonstrated that NK 1 and NK 2 but not NK 3 receptors are present on HUVEC. Selective NK 1 and NK 2 agonists, namely [Sar 9 , Met(O 2 ) 11 ]SP and [ β ‐Ala 8 ] NKA(4–10), upregulated COX‐2 protein expression and PG production, whereas senktide (Suc–Asp–Phe–MePhe–Gly–Leu–Met–NH 2 ), a selective NK 3 agonist, was ineffective in this respect. The NK 1 selective antagonist L703,606 (( cis )‐2‐(diphenylmethyl)‐ N ‐((2‐iodophenyl)‐methyl)‐1‐azabicyclo(2.2.2)octan‐3‐amine) and the NK 2 selective antagonist SR 48,968 ((S)‐ N ‐methyl‐ N ‐(4‐(4‐acetylamino‐4‐phenylpiperidino)‐2‐(3,4 dichlorophenyl)butyl) benzamide) competitively antagonised SP‐induced effects. The study shows HUVEC to possess functional NK 1 and NK 2 receptors, which mediate the ability of SP to induce expression of COX‐2 in HUVEC, thus showing a previously‐undetected effect of SP on endothelial cells.British Journal of Pharmacology (2006) 147 , 681–689. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0706660