Immunohistochemical localisation of renal cyclooxygenase-1 expression in non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-treated mice

Marie Meskell (1, 2) , Raj Ettarh (1, 2)

1 School of Nursing
2 Développement de l'enfant

The utility of cyclooxygenase-inhibiting non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is limited by unwanted side effects that include disturbances in renal function. In order to further understand the mechanisms that underlie these renal side effects, the expression of the prostaglandin-synthesizing enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX) was examined by immunohistochemical methods in murine kidneys after treatment with indomethacin a non-selective inhibitor or nimesulide a inhibitor that preferentially and selectively blocks the COX-2 isoform of the enzyme. At therapeutic doses, indomethacin (10mg/kg) did not alter renal COX-1 expression relative to immunoreactivity in untreated control kidney. By contrast, an equipotent therapeutic dose of nimesulide reduced renal COX-1 expression within the first 24 hours of treatment. Taken together with the reports of reduced COX-1 expression prior to renal tissue damage following high dose indomethacin treatment, our findings suggest that effects of NSAIDs on renal COX expression are dependent on dose and may be related to isoform specificity.

Mots clés: Prostaglandin; Kidney; Cyclooxygenase; NSAIDs

Marie Meskell, Raj Ettarh. Immunohistochemical localisation of renal cyclooxygenase-1 expression in non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-treated mice. Experimental and Toxicologic Pathology, 2010, 63 (1-2), pp.39. ⟨10.1016/j.etp.2009.09.006⟩. ⟨hal-00652642⟩