THE ROLE OF THE PROSTANOIDS IN INFLAMMATION The inflammatory response is inevitably accompanied by the release of prostanoids. PGE2 predominates, although PGI2 is also important. In areas of acute inflammation, PGE2 and PGI2 are generated by the local tissues and blood vessels, while mast cells release mainly PGD2. In chronic inflammation, cells of the monocyte/macrophage series also release PGE2 and TXA2. Together, the prostanoids exert a sort of yin–yang effect in inflammation, stimulating some responses and decreasing others. The most striking effects are as follows. In their own right, PGE2, PGI2 and PGD2 are powerful vasodilators and synergise with other inflammatory vasodilators such as histamine and bradykinin. It is this combined dilator action on precapillary arterioles that contributes to the redness and increased blood flow in areas of acute inflammation. Prostanoids do not directly increase the permeability of the postcapillary venules, but potentiate this effect of histamine and bradykinin. Similarly, they do not themselves produce pain, but potentiate the effect of bradykinin by sensitising afferent C fibres (see Ch. 41) to the effects of other noxious stimuli. The anti-inflammatory effects of NSAIDs stem largely from their ability to block these actions. Prostaglandins of the E series are also pyrogenic (i.e. they induce fever). High concentrations are found in cerebrospinal fluid during infection, and there is evidence that the increase in temperature (attributed to cytokines) is actually finally mediated by the release of PGE2. NSAIDs exert antipyretic actions (Ch. 26) by inhibiting PGE2 synthesis in the hypothalamus. However, some prostaglandins have anti-inflammatory effects under some circumstances. For example, PGE2 decreases lysosomal enzyme release and the generation of toxic oxygen metabolites from neutrophils, as well as the release of histamine from mast cells. Several prostanoids are available for clinical use (see clinical box).
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