Eicosanoids and Their Drugs in Cardiovascular Diseases: Focus on Atherosclerosis and Stroke. Issue 2 (20th March 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Capra, Valérie; Bäck, Magnus; Barbieri, Silvia S.; Camera, Marina; Tremoli, Elena; Rovati, G. Enrico
• Is Part Of: Medicinal research reviews. Volume 33:Issue 2(2013:Mar.)
• Page Start: 364
• Page End: 438
• Publication Date: 2012-03-20
• Subjects: Pharmacology -- Periodicals; Drugs -- Research -- Periodicals; 615
• DOI: 10.1002/med.21251
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0198-6325

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Eicosanoids are biologically active lipids in both physiologic and pathophysiologic situations. These mediators rapidly generate at sites of inflammation and act through specific receptors that following the generation of a signal transduction cascade, lead to coordinated cellular responses to specific stimuli. Prostanoids, that is, prostaglandins and thromboxane A₂, are active products of the cyclooxygenase pathway, while leukotrienes and lipoxins derive from the lipoxygenase pathway. In addition, a complex family of prostaglandin isomers called isoprostanes is derived as free‐radical products of oxidative metabolism. While there is a wide consensus on the importance of the balance between proaggregating (thromboxane A₂) and antiaggregating (prostacyclin) cyclooxygenase products in cardiovascular homeostasis, an increasing body of evidence suggests a key role also for other eicosanoids generated by lipoxygenases, epoxygenases, and nonenzymatic pathways in cardiovascular diseases. This intricate network of lipid mediators is unique considering that from a single precursor, arachidonic acid, may derive an array of bioproducts that interact within each other synergizing or, more often, behaving as functional antagonists.</p> </abstract>