Preferential inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 by meloxicam in human rheumatoid synoviocytes

Eur J Pharmacol. 2000 May 3;395(3):255-63. doi: 10.1016/s0014-2999(00)00163-1.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of 4-hydroxy-2-methyl-N-[5-methyl-2-thiazolyl]-2H-1, 2-benzothiazine-3-carboxamide-1,1-dioxide (meloxicam) using cultured rheumatoid synovial fibroblast-like cells (synoviocytes). Synoviocytes were treated with meloxicam in the presence or absence of interleukin-1beta. Meloxicam had no effect on both cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 expression as determined by Western blot analysis, immunohistochemical staining, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Even the lower doses of meloxicam inhibited cyclooxygenase-2 activity, but only the higher doses of meloxicam inhibited cyclooxygenase-1 activity as determined by prostaglandin E(2) synthesis assay. So meloxicam had a preferential inhibitory effect of cyclooxygenase-2 relative to cyclooxygenase-1 on cultured rheumatoid synoviocytes without affecting cyclooxygenase expression. On the other hand, indomethacin had no selectivity and dexamethasone inhibited the expression of cyclooxygenase-2. Our data indicate that clinical efficacy and safety of meloxicam for rheumatoid arthritis may result from its preferential inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 activity relative to cyclooxygenase-1 on rheumatoid synoviocytes.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / pharmacology
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / enzymology
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / pathology
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cyclooxygenase 1
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Dexamethasone / pharmacology
  • Dinoprostone / metabolism
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Indomethacin / pharmacology
  • Isoenzymes / drug effects*
  • Isoenzymes / genetics
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism
  • Meloxicam
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / drug effects*
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / genetics
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / drug effects
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Synovial Membrane / cytology
  • Synovial Membrane / drug effects*
  • Synovial Membrane / enzymology
  • Thiazines / pharmacology*
  • Thiazoles / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors
  • Isoenzymes
  • Membrane Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Thiazines
  • Thiazoles
  • Dexamethasone
  • Cyclooxygenase 1
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • PTGS1 protein, human
  • PTGS2 protein, human
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
  • Dinoprostone
  • Meloxicam
  • Indomethacin