Rafael F. Perini, Li Ma and John L. Wallace Pages 2207 - 2211 ( 5 )
The healing of gastric ulcer is a complicated process that involves the proliferation of epithelial and endothelial cells and the concerted actions of a wide range of growth factors. Prostaglandins play an important role in ulcer healing. Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is markedly upregulated around the margins of gastric ulcers and its inhibition leads to a delay of ulcer healing. Several of the growth factors that promote ulcer healing may work in part through COX- 2-dependent mechanisms. Angiogenesis, which is crucial to ulcer healing, is tightly regulated by growth factors. Treatment with selective COX-2 inhibitors appears to alter the balance of serum levels of growth factors, favoring an inhibition of angiogenesis. Given the importance of COX-2 in regulating ulcer healing, caution should be taken in the use of selective inhibitors of COX-2 by patients at risk of ulcer disease.
ulcer healing,angiogenesis,cyclooxygenase,prostaglandin,endothelium,platelets
, , Department of Pharmacology&Therapeutics, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW Calgary,Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada.