Cyclooxygenase converts arachidonic acid into prostaglandins. The enzyme has two distinct activities, cyclooxygenase and peroxidase activity. There are also two isozymes, COX-1 and COX-2. While COX-2 is constitutive at a low level in some tissues (kidney, brain, female reproductive system), its importance lies in its inducible nature, with significant upregulation in response to inflammatory stimuli. Inflammation is a necessary process for host defense and tissue repair, but dysregulation leads to chronic autoinflammatory diseases such as arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, where sustained overexpression leads to persistent inflammation and tissue damage. COX-2 plays a role in regulating blood flow and renal function and is implicated in some types of cancer, associated with tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis. Selective COX-2 inhibitors have been developed to bind COX-2 without affecting COX-1 but their use has an increased risk of cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarct and stroke. AkrivisBio’s COX-2 Inhibitor Screening Kit is a simple sensitive way to test compounds for their effects on COX-2.
