[Endogenous prostaglandins and angiogenesis]

Angiogenesis is a process involved in several physiological events including embryonic development, female reproductive cycle placentation and wound repair. It also plays a part in various pathological conditions such as tumor growth, diabetic retinopathy and rheumatoid arthritis. Angiogenesis is a very complex multistep process involving a variety of biologically active substances, among which are the prostaglandins (PGs), which can induce several growth factors and proliferation of endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo. Angiogenesis is reportedly enhanced by prostaglandins (PGs). We investigated whether or not COX-2 mediated angiogenesis in chronic and proliferate granuloma. In rat sponge implants, angiogenesis was gradually developed over a 14-day experimental period as granuloma formed. In sponge granuloma, mRNA of COX-1 was constitutively expressed, whereas that of COX-2 was increased with neovascularization in parallel with the increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). bFGF-stimulated angiogenesis was inhibited by indomethacin or a selective COX-2 inhibitor, NS-398. These results suggested that endogenous PGs generated through COX-2 may enhance the neovascularization in sponge granuloma by increased expression of VEGF and that a COX-2 inhibitor would facilitate the management of conditions involving angiogenesis.