Animals ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Female ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic ; metabolism ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of cyclooxygense-2 (COX-2) in eutopic and ectopic endometrium in ovarian endometriosis. METHODS: Thirty patients with ovrian endometriosis, 10 with ovarian chocolate cysts and 27 normal controls were enrolled it determine the expression of COX-2 immunohistochemically in eutopic or ectopic endometrium or healthy endometrial tissues. RESULTS: The immunoreactivities of COX-2 were found in epithelial cells and stromal cells in eutopic endometrium. The expression of COX-2 in the epithelial cells in the secretory phase was higher than that in the proliferative phase in the control group and ovarian endometriosis group (P <0. 05). But the expression of COX-2 in stromal cells in the control group and ovarian endometriosis group showed no cyclic changes throughout the menstrual cycle (P > 0. 05). The expression of COX-2 in eutopic and ectopic endometrium in the ovarian endometriosis group was higher than that in the control group (P <0. 05) , hut we did not find significant difference between the eutopic and ectopic endometrium in the ovarian endometriosis group (P > 0. 05). CONCLUSION The increased COX-2 expression in eutopic and ectopic endometrium in ovarian endometriosis may he related to its pathology.
Adult ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Endometriosis ; enzymology ; Endometrium ; enzymology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Ovarian Diseases ; enzymology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the expression of COX-2 and liver cancer and construct a recombinant adenovirus encoding human COX-2 antisense RNA, and then to investigate its effects on liver cancer cell proliferation.

METHODSThe expression of COX-2 in 34 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma and in SMMC-7402 and SMMC-7721 cell lines was studied by using immunohistochemical techniques. The shuttle plasmid encoding anti-sense COX-2 was constructed by using cloning COX-2 cDNA fragment in the reverse direction into the pHCMVSPIA. Then the plasmid pJM17 and the shuttle plasmid were co-transferred into 293 cells with lipofectamine for homologous recombination to acquire recombinant adenovirus (Ad-AShcox-2), which was confirmed by PCR. Human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines SMMC-7402 and SMMC-7721 were transduced in vitro. The cell apoptosis and cell cycle were analyzed by flow cytometry. The cell proliferation was determined by colony-forming efficiency.

RESULTSWe observed COX-2 expression in 82.4% of the hepatocellular carcinomas and SMMC-7402 cell line, but no COX-2 expression in the SMMC-7721 cell line. In addition, the recombinant adenovirus encoding anti-sense COX-2 fragment Ad-AShcox-2 was obtained with a titer of 1.06 x 10(12) PFU/ml. Ad-AShcox-2 reduced the expression of COX-2 and enhanced the percentage of cells into G1/G0 phase in the SMMC-7402 cell line. The difference of apoptotic index between the Ad-AShcox-2 group and the control group was statistically significant in SMMC-7402 but not in SMMC-7721. Similarly, colony-forming rates of SMMC-7402 and SMMC-7721 cell lines after Ad-AShcox-2 being transferred were (2.7+/-0.94)% and (33.6+/-4.24)%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONBy reducing the expression of COX-2 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells with the expression of COX-2, the cells could be inhibited.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Membrane Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Antisense ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes in gene expression of cyclooxygenase (COX) during spontaneous recovery from stress ulcer in rats exposed to water immersion and restraint stress (WRS).

METHODSA rat model of stress ulcer was established by means of WRS, in which the changes in COX expression were detected with immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription (RT)-PCR.

RESULTSVery low levels of COX-2 expression were detected in the gastric mucosa of the control rats, and the expression increased significantly during the healing process of the stress ulcer (P<0.05). COX-1 expression in the gastric mucosa showed no significant difference between the control group and the stress ulcer groups during healing (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONCOX-1 and COX-2 expressions in rat gastric mucosa during the recovery from stress ulcer participate in the recovery of the damaged mucosa possibly by mediating prostaglandin secretion.

Animals ; Cyclooxygenase 1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Gastric Mucosa ; enzymology ; Male ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Remission, Spontaneous ; Stomach Ulcer ; enzymology ; Stress, Physiological ; complications

In order to study the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and its significance, the expression of VEGF mRNA and COX-2 mRNA in 62 cases of LSCC and 54 adjacent noncancerous laryngeal tissues and 9 normal human laryngeal mucous tissues was detected by using techniques of semi-quantitative RT-PCR. It was found that the expression level of VEGF and COX-2 mRNA was significantly increased in LSCC as compared with that in the normal human laryngeal mucous tissues (both P < 0.01), and the expression level of VEGF and COX-2 mRNA were significantly increased in stage Ill + IV tissues of LSCC as compared with the stage I + II tissues of LSCC (P < 0.01). There was a high positive correlation between VEGF and COX-2 expression in LSCC (r = 0.756, P < 0.01). These data raise the possibility that VEGF and COX-2 may play key roles in the growth, invasion and metastasis of LSCC.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/*metabolism ; Cyclooxygenase 2/*biosynthesis ; Cyclooxygenase 2/genetics ; Laryngeal Neoplasms/*metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Tumor Markers, Biological ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/*biosynthesis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of the mRNA expression and the intestinal mucosal cyclooxygenase (COXs) activity in scalded rats.

METHODSWistar rats inflicted with 30% TBSA III degree scalding were employed as the model. The changes of COX-1, COX-2 activities were determined by substrate fluorescence analysis and the mRNA expressions of COX-1 and COX-2 by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe mRNA expressions and the activities of COX-2 in rat intestinal mucosa increased obviously after injury. But those of COX-1 exhibited lower range of change.

CONCLUSIONThe pathological mechanism of rat intestinal mucosa injury after scalding might be closely related to the COXs participation by different styles between the two enzymes.

Animals ; Burns ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; Cyclooxygenase 1 ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Intestinal Mucosa ; enzymology ; Isoenzymes ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), human mut-l homologue 1 (hMLH1) and human mut-s homologue 2 (hMSH2) proteins in human paired gastric carcinoma (GC) and adjacent normal mucosa, and analyze their relationship with microsatellite instability (MSI).

METHODSThe protein expressions were examined by western blotting. Five MSI loci were assessed by PCR.

RESULTSIn 30 surgically excised GC tissues, the overexpression rate of COX-2, the low expression rate of hMLH1 and hMSH2 were 66.7%, 40% and 33.3%, respectively. Significant differences were found when compared with those of adjacent normal mucosa (P < 0.05). MSI was detected in 13 GC. The number of MSI-H (MSI-High, > or = 2 loci), MSI-L (MSI-Low, only one locus), and MSS (microsatellite stable) were 9, 4 and 17, respectively. The number of low expression rates of COX-2, hMLH1 and hMSH2 in MSI-H were 6, 8 and 5, respectively. There were significant differences compared to that of MSS (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that microsatellite instability pathway is probably involved in the carcinogenesis of gastric carcinoma, which is frequently accompanied by low expression of hMLH1 and hMSH2, and may be also by low expression of COX-2.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; MutL Protein Homolog 1 ; MutL Proteins ; Neoplasm Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Nuclear Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism

In order to investigate the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in human lower segments of myometrium obtained from women in labor and those not in labor and identify the splicing variant of COX-2, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of COX-2. The primers were designed and synthesized according to the sequence of rat COX-2 splice variant which was discovered firstly by us. Then the splicing variant of COX-2 in human myometrium from woman in labor was identified, cloned into vector and sequenced. The results showed that the expression of COX-2 mRNA was lower in human myometrium obtained from women who were not in labor than that in labor women and a new band of COX-2 was obtained in myometrium from labor woman. The fragment included an unspliced intron, which pitched between exons 7 and 8. It was suggested that COX-2 gene was not only expressed highly in human myometrium from woman in labor, but also produced splicing variant by alternative splicing.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Cyclooxygenase 2/*biosynthesis ; Cyclooxygenase 2/genetics ; Labor Onset/*metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Myometrium/*enzymology ; Myometrium/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Sequence Analysis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in pathogenesis of premature delivery. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 30 women in the following categories: preterm delivery in labor with intact membranes( n = 8), the term in labor with intact membranes (n = 10), and the term not in labor (control group, n = 12). The expressions of COX-2 in different areas of the fetal membranes were examined by immunohistochemical assay. RESULTS: The immuoreactivity of COX-2 was found in epithelial cells and stromal cells in amniotic and chorion membranes. Expression of COX-2 in different areas of the fetal membranes varied markedly in preterm delivery in labor, term in labor and the control group. Immunohistochemical scores(IH score) of COX-2 in the cervical and corpus fetal membranes in the preterm delivery in labor group were higher than those in the term in labor group and the control group(P < 0.05). There was no difference in COX-2 expression between the cervical and corpus fetal membranes among the three groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION COX-2 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of premature labor.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Extraembryonic Membranes ; enzymology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; enzymology ; Pregnancy

To study the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) gene and its relationship with clinicopathological characteristics of lung cancer, expression of the COX-2 mRNA was evaluated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in cancerous tissues and paired adjacent non-cancerous tissues from 56 patients and benign lesions from 12 patients. Our results showed that expression of COX-2 gene was detected in a significantly greater proportion of cancerous tissues (60.7%) than adjacent noncancerous tissues (10.7%, P<0.01) and benign lesions (3/12, P<0.05). Expression of COX-2 gene was higher in adenocarcinoma than in squamous carcinoma (P<0.01). There was no significant relationship between COX-2 gene expression and patients' age, sex, histological type of tumors, differentiation degree and TNM stages (P>0.05). The up-regulation of COX-2 gene in lung cancer tissues especially in adenocarcinoma suggested that COX-2 may play a role in the lung carcinogenesis and COX-2 gene may serve as a potential therapeutic target in lung cancer.
Adenocarcinoma/*enzymology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Lung Neoplasms/*enzymology ; Membrane Proteins ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases/*biosynthesis ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases/genetics ; RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction