The purpose of this review is to summarize the role of prostaglandins (PGs) in allergic inflammation and to know the value of PGs, as a target molecule for an anti-allergic drug.
PGD
2 is the major PG produced by the cyclooxygenase pathway in mast cells. Our and others findings indicate that PGD
2 is one of the potent allergic inflammatory mediators and must be a target molecule of anti-allergic agent. From our data, one of PGD
2 receptor antagonists show clear inhibition of airway hypersensitivity caused by allergic reaction. Concerning the role of PGE
2 in allergic inflammation, conflicting results have been reported. Many experimental data suggest an individual role of each PGE
2 receptor, EP
1, EP
2, EP
3 and EP
4 in allergic reaction. Our results indicate the protective action of PGE
2 on allergic reaction via EP
3. In addition, one of EP
3 agonists clearly inhibits the allergic airway inflammation. These findings indicate the value of EP
3 agonists as an anti-allergic agent.
In addition, some investigators including us reported that PGI
2 plays an important role for the protection of the onset of allergic reaction. However, the efficacy of PGI
2 analogue as an anti-allergic agent is not yet fully investigated.
Finally, the role of thromboxane A
2 (TxA
2) in allergic reaction is discussed. Our experimental results suggest a different participation of TxA
2 in allergic reaction of airway and skin. In this review, the role of PGs in allergic inflammation is summarized and the value of PGs as a target molecule for developing a new anti-allergic agent will be discussed.
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