Nitric oxide synthase 2 and Cyclooxygenase-2 (iNOS/COX-2)

Inducible nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 production refers to a coordinated biological process involving the synthesis of two major inflammatory mediators: nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). This production is primarily driven by the inducible enzymes nitric oxide synthase 2 (iNOS or NOS2) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2 or PTGS2), which are typically expressed at low levels but are rapidly upregulated in response to pro-inflammatory stimuli like lipopolysaccharides (LPS) or cytokines (UniProt P35228, P35354). Nitric oxide serves as a potent vasodilator and signaling molecule, but its overproduction can lead to oxidative stress and tissue damage, while PGE2 is a key lipid mediator responsible for pain sensitization, fever, and increased vascular permeability (PubMed: 10454021). In drug discovery, the inhibition of this dual production is a standard phenotypic readout for evaluating the efficacy of anti-inflammatory compounds. Therapeutic strategies often involve non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that target COX-2 or selective inhibitors of iNOS to manage conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and chronic inflammatory diseases (PubMed: 15630134). Because this term describes a downstream physiological outcome of multiple enzymatic pathways rather than a single molecular entity, it is classified as a biological process or assay readout rather than a discrete therapeutic target.

Other names

Inducible nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 productioniNOS/COX-2 pathwayInflammatory mediator productionNOS2/PTGS2

Inhibition of the enzymatic activity or transcriptional expression of Nitric Oxide Synthase 2 (iNOS) and Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) to reduce the synthesis of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2.