Hypergravity induces expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in the heart vessels

• Oshima, Masanobu

• Oshima, Hiroko

• Taketo, Makoto Mark

Abstract

金沢大学がん研究所

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a rate-limiting enzyme for prostaglandin biosynthesis, is induced by various stimuli including mechanical stress and plays important roles in pathophysiological conditions. For example, gravitational stress has been shown to induce expression of COX-2 in bone tissues, which is essential for bone homeostasis. To investigate whether COX-2 is induced by gravitational loading in other tissues than bone, we exposed mice to hypergravity at 2G and 3G for 4 h. We demonstrate here that COX-2 is induced in the mouse heart vessels by hypergravity. Moreover, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α and its downstream genes such as inducible nitric oxide synthase, vascular endothelial growth factor, and heme oxygenase-1 were induced in the heart simultaneously, while none of these genes were induced in the COX-2(−/−) mouse heart. Therefore, COX-2 induced in the heart helps protect the heart function against hypoxia under hypergravity condition through HIF-1α induction.

Journal

• Biochemical and biophysical research communications

  Biochemical and biophysical research communications 330 (3), 928-933, 2005-05-01

  Elsevier

Keywords

• COX-2
• Hypergravity
• Heart
• Hypoxia
• HIF-1α
• iNOS
• VEGF
• HO-1

Details

• CRID: 1050564285937508992
• NII Article ID: 120000809421
• ISSN: 0006291X
• Web Site: http://hdl.handle.net/2297/1651
• Text Lang: en
• Article Type: journal article
• Data Source:
  • IRDB
  • CiNii Articles