The COX-2/PGI2 Receptor Axis Plays an Obligatory Role in Mediating the Cardioprotection Conferred by the Late Phase of Ischemic Preconditioning

摘要

BackgroundPharmacologic studies with cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors suggest that the late phase of ischemic preconditioning (PC) is mediated by COX-2. However, nonspecific effects of COX-2 inhibitors cannot be ruled out, and the selectivity of these inhibitors for COX-2 vs. COX-1 is only relative. Furthermore, the specific prostaglandin (PG) receptors responsible for the salubrious actions of COX-2-derived prostanoids remain unclear.