The induction of cyclooxygenase-2 in IL-1beta-treated endothelial cells is inhibited by prostaglandin E2 through cAMP.

Prostaglandins (PGs) have numerous cardiovascular and inflammatory effects. Cyclooxygenase (COX), which exists as COX-1 and COX-2 isoforms, is the first enzyme in the pathway in which arachidonic acid is converted to PGs. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) exerts a variety of biological activities for the maintenance of local homeostasis in the body. Elucidation of PGE2 involvement in the signalling molecules such as COX could lead to potential therapeutic interventions. Here, we have investigated the effects of PGE2 on the induction of COX-2 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) treated with interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta 1 ng/ml). COX activity was measured by the production of 6-keto-PGF1alpha, PGE2, PGF2alpha and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) in the presence of exogenous arachidonic acids (10 microM for 10 min) using enzyme immunoassay (EIA). COX-1 and COX-2 protein was measured by immunoblotting using specific antibody. Untreated HUVEC contained only COX-1 protein while IL-1beta treated HUVEC contained COX-1 and COX-2 protein. PGE2 (3 microM for 24h) did not affect on COX activity and protein in untreated HUVEC. Interestingly, PGE2 (3 microM for 24h) can inhibit COX-2 protein, but not COX-1 protein, expressed in HUVEC treated with IL-1beta. This inhibition was reversed by coincubation with forskolin (100 microM). The increased COX activity in HUVEC treated with IL-1beta was also inhibited by PGE2 (0.03, 0.3 and 3 microM for 24h) in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, forskolin (10, 50 or 100 microM) can also reverse the inhibition of PGE2 on increased COX activity in IL-1beta treated HUVEC. The results suggested that (i) PGE2 can initiate negative feedback regulation in the induction of COX-2 elicited by IL-1beta in endothelial cells, (ii) the inhibition of PGE2 on COX-2 protein and activity in IL-1beta treated HUVEC is mediated by cAMP and (iii) the therapeutic use of PGE2 in the condition which COX-2 has been involved may have different roles.