Overview — mechanisms of action of anti-inflammatory drugs

摘要: Inflammation is the response of living tissues to injury. It involves a complex battery enzyme activation, mediator release, extravasation fluid, cell migration, tissue breakdown and repair. This overview will concentrate on actions anti-inflammatory drugs, with special reference prostaglandin system. system activated by phospholipase A2, which liberates arachidonic acid, substrate for cyclooxygenase (COX or PGH2 synthase). leads an increased production prostaglandins (Figure 1). Prostaglandin E2 predominant eicosanoid detected in inflammatory conditions man ranging from experimental acute oedema sunburn through chronic arthritis. Because inflammation one few PGE2 major product COX it possible that process directs enzymic pathway towards this product. A second enzyme, 5-lipoxygenase converts acid leukotrienes1, are important mediators asthma, but aspect not be discussed here.