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Roles of cyclooxygenase 2 and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase 1 in rat acid reflux oesophagitis.

Hayakawa T, Fujiwara Y, Hamaguchi M, Sugawa T, Okuyama M, Sasaki E, Watanabe T, Tominaga K, Oshitani N, Higuchi K, Arakawa T

Department of Gastroenterology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Abenoku, Osaka 545-8585, Japan.

BACKGROUND: Although prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase 1 (mPGES-1) are known to play a role in various inflammatory events, their roles in the pathogenesis of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease are not known. AIMS: We examined the dynamics of COX-1, COX-2, mPGES-1, mPGES-2, cytosolic PGES (cPGES), and PGE2 synthetic activity in rat acid reflux oesophagitis and the effects of COX-2 inhibitors on the severity of oesophagitis. METHODS: Acid reflux oesophagitis was induced by ligating the transitional region between the forestomach and the glandular portion and wrapping the duodenum near the pylorus. Rats were killed on day 3 (acute phase) or day 21 (chronic phase) after induction of oesophagitis. RESULTS: Expression of COX-2 and mPGES-1 was markedly increased in oesophagitis while modest changes in COX-1, cPGES, and mPGES-2 expression were observed. COX-2 and mPGES-1 were colocalised in epithelial cells of the basal layer, as well as inflammatory and mesenchymal cells in the lamina propria and submucosa. COX-2 inhibitors significantly reduced the severity of chronic oesophagitis but did not affect acute oesophageal lesions. COX-2 inhibitors significantly inhibited the increase in PGE2 synthesis in oesophageal lesions on both days 3 and 21. Epithelial proliferation was significantly increased in the basal layer on day 21. Inflammatory cells and epithelial cells of the basal layer exhibited reactions for EP4 in oesophagitis. CONCLUSION: PGE2 derived from COX-2 and mPGES-1 plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of chronic acid reflux oesophagitis, and possibly in basal hyperplasia and persistent inflammatory cell infiltration.

Published 13 March 2006 in Gut, 55(4): 450-6.
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