Prostaglandin signaling pathway

The prostaglandin signaling pathway is a biological pathway involving the synthesis, transport, and signaling of prostaglandins—bioactive lipid compounds derived from arachidonic acid via cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes (specifically prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthases PTGS1/COX-1 and PTGS2/COX-2)[2][5][7][9]. Prostaglandins mediate diverse physiological and pathological processes, including inflammation, pain, regulation of vascular tone, immune response, and tumor progression[1][2][3][5]. Their effects are exerted by binding to specific GPCRs (such as EP, DP, IP, FP, and TP receptors), initiating a variety of intracellular signaling cascades[2][3][10]. The "prostaglandin signaling pathway" refers to the integrated action of several molecular targets—primarily prostaglandin receptors (such as Prostaglandin E2 receptor [EP1–4], Prostaglandin D2 receptor [DP1/DP2], Prostaglandin I2 receptor [IP], Thromboxane receptor [TP], etc.), and enzymes involved in prostaglandin biosynthesis (e.g., PTGS1/COX-1, PTGS2/COX-2, PTGES)[2][3][7][9]. Individual components (each prostaglandin receptor or synthase enzyme) are legitimate drug targets; the pathway itself is a collection of such targets. Relevant drugs (NSAIDs like aspirin, ibuprofen; COX-2 inhibitors like celecoxib; and receptor antagonists) act on elements of the prostaglandin pathway, but not on the pathway as a single entity[2][5][10]. Clinical and mechanistic significance of the pathway is in broad processes: inflammation, cancer progression, cardiovascular regulation, and more; targeting is typically at the enzyme or receptor level rather than the pathway as a whole[2][8][10]. "Prostaglandin signaling pathway" is not a discrete molecular target, but a term denoting the ensemble of molecules/processes for prostaglandin-mediated signaling. For structured pharmacological or bioinformatics data, individual prostaglandin receptors or enzymes (e.g., Prostaglandin E2 receptor EP4, PTGS2/COX-2) should be used as the target.

Other names

Prostaglandin pathwayPG signaling