Celecoxib modulates inflammatory and immunoregulatory gene expression in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a pivotal role in regulating immune responses, influencing both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory environments. Given the critical role of the COX-2/PEG2 pathway in regulating DC maturation and cytokine production, we investigated whether selective COX-2 inhibition by celecoxib could shift human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (mDCs) toward a toerogenic profile. The impact of celecoxib treatment on the expression of various inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors, including IL-12, TNF-α, IL-10, IDO, TGF-β, and STAT3, was evaluated. Our results demonstrate that the expression of key anti-inflammatory factors was enhanced in DCs, suggesting that COX-2 inhibition could promote a tolerogenic phenotype. In conclusion, the therapeutic modulation of DCs through COX-2 inhibition could have applications beyond autoimmune diseases, offering potential for broader immunomodulatory therapies. Further studies are required to validate these findings and explore clinical applications.