non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and brain inflammation effects on microglial functions非甾体抗炎药和大脑炎症影响小胶质功能.pdfVIP

Pharmaceuticals 2010, 3, 1949-1964; doi:10.3390/ph3061949 OPEN ACCESS Pharmaceuticals ISSN 1424-8247 /journal/pharmaceuticals Review Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Brain Inflammation: Effects on Microglial Functions Maria Antonietta Ajmone-Cat, Antonietta Bernardo, Anita Greco and Luisa Minghetti * Experimental Neurology Section, Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy; E-Mails: mariaantonietta.ajmone-cat@iss.it (M.A.A-C.); antonietta.bernardo@iss.it (A.B.); anita.greco@iss.it (A.G.) * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: luisa.minghetti@iss.it; Tel.: +39-06-4990-3153; Fax: +39-06-4990-3012. Received: 8 April 2010; in revised form: 21 May 2010 / Accepted: 11 June 2010 / Published: 14 June 2010 Abstract: The term NSAID refers to structurally diverse chemical compounds that share the ability to inhibit the activity of the prostaglandin (PG) biosynthetic enzymes, the cyclooxygenase (COX) isoforms 1 and 2. The suppression of PG synthesis at sites of inflammation has been regarded as primarily responsible for the beneficial properties of NSAIDs, but several COX-independent effects have been described in recent years. Epidemiological studies indicate that NSAIDs are neuroprotective, although the mechanisms underlying their beneficial effect remain largely unknown. Microglial cells play a major role in brain infl