Abstract
Aspirin, arguably the world's favourite drug, has been around since the late nineteenth century, but it wasn't until the late 1970s that its ability to inhibit prostaglandin production by the cyclooxygenase enzyme was identified as the basis of its therapeutic action. Early hints of a second form of the cyclooxygenase that was differentially sensitive to other aspirin-like drugs ultimately ushered in an exciting era of drug discovery, culminating in the introduction of an entirely new generation of anti-inflammatories. This article reviews the story of this discovery and looks at the future of cyclooxygenase pharmacology.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / pharmacology
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Cyclooxygenase 1
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Cyclooxygenase 2
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Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors
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Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
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Drug Design
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Humans
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Isoenzymes / metabolism*
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Isoenzymes / physiology
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Membrane Proteins
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Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / metabolism*
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Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / physiology
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Structure-Activity Relationship
Substances
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
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Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors
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Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors
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Isoenzymes
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Membrane Proteins
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Cyclooxygenase 1
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Cyclooxygenase 2
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PTGS1 protein, human
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PTGS2 protein, human
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Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases