
Compensatory hypertrophy induced by ventricular cardiomyocyte-specific COX-2 expression in mice.
Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an important mediator of inflammation in stress and disease states. Recent attention has focused on the role of COX-2 in human heart failure and diseases owing to the finding that highly specific COX-2 inhibitors (i.e., Vioxx) increased the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke in chronic users. However, the specific impact of COX-2 expression in the intact heart remains to be determined. We report here the development of a transgenic mouse model, using a loxP-Cre approach, which displays robust COX-2 overexpression and subsequent prostaglandin synthesis specifically in ventricular myocytes. Histological, functional, and molecular analyses showed that ventricular myocyte specific COX-2 overexpression led to cardiac hypertrophy and fetal gene marker activation, but with preserved cardiac function. Therefore, specific induction of COX-2 and prostaglandin in vivo is sufficient to induce compensated hypertrophy and molecular remodeling.
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- Sulfones
- Myocytes, Cardiac
- Myocardial Infarction
- Mice, Transgenic
- Mice
- Lactones
- Hypertrophy
- Heart Ventricles
- Heart Failure
- Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors
Citation

Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Sulfones
- Myocytes, Cardiac
- Myocardial Infarction
- Mice, Transgenic
- Mice
- Lactones
- Hypertrophy
- Heart Ventricles
- Heart Failure
- Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors