Aspirin's ability to reduce pain, fever and inflammation at moderate to high doses, is due to modification of COX-2 as well as COX-1.
- Pain, fever and inflammation are mediated by PGD and PGE, and in most cells, COX-2 is the major producer of PGD and PGE.
- COX-2 synthesis is induced by conditions that lead to pain fever and inflammation, making it the predominant cycloogygenase under these conditions.
- When modified by aspirin, COX-2 does not make prostaglandins (e.g. PGD and PGE). Instead, it makes anti-inflamatory eicosanoids that you will meet in later screens.
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