Transcriptional regulation of fatty acid cyclooxygenases-1 and -2.

Transcriptional regulation of fatty acid cyclooxygenase isozymes (COX-1 and COX-2) were studied using two cell lines. A rapid and transient induction of COX-2 was observed by the addition of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) to murine osteoblastic cells MC3T3-E1. Possible involvement of NF kappa B and NF-IL6 as transcription factors was shown by deletion experiments using a luciferase reporter gene. COX-1 induction by a phorbol ester was demonstrated along with differentiation of human megakaryoblastic cells CMK to megakaryocytes.