Novel selective COX-1 inhibitors suppress neuroinflammatory mediators in LPS-stimulated N13 microglial cells

COX-1 plays a previously unrecognized part in the neuroinflammation. Genetic ablation or pharmacological inhibition of COX-1 activity attenuates the inflammatory response and neuronal loss. In this context, the effects of selective COX-1 inhibitors (P6, P10, SC-560, aspirin) and coxibs (celecoxib and etoricoxib) on LPS-stimulated microglial cell function (a worldwide accepted neuroinflammation model) were investigated, and the effects on COX-1/COX-2, cPGES mRNA and iNOS expression, PGE(2) and NO production and NF-κB activation by IκBα phosphorylation were evaluated. The total suppression of the expression of both COX-1 and COX-2 by their respective selective inhibitors occurred. NF-κB remained almost completely inactive in the presence of coxibs, as expected, and totally inactive in the presence of P6. P6 also markedly counteracted LPS enhancing cPGES mRNA expression and PGE(2) production. Since COX-1 is predominantly localized in microglia, its high selective inhibition rather than COX-2 (by coxibs) is more likely to reduce neuroinflammation and has been further investigated as a potential therapeutic approach and prevention in neurodegenerative diseases with a marked inflammatory component.