AUTHOR=Stitham Jeremiah , Midgett Charles , Martin Kathleen , Hwa John 

TITLE=Prostacyclin: An Inflammatory Paradox

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=2

YEAR=2011

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2011.00024

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2011.00024

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p>Prostacyclin (PGI<sub>2</sub>) is a member of the prostaglandin family of bioactive lipids. Its best-characterized role is in the cardiovascular system, where it is released by vascular endothelial cells, serving as a potent vasodilator and inhibitor of platelet aggregation. In recent years, prostacyclin (PGI<sub>2</sub>) has also been shown to promote differentiation and inhibit proliferation in vascular smooth muscle cells. In addition to these well-described homeostatic roles within the cardiovascular system, prostacyclin (PGI<sub>2</sub>) also plays an important role as an inflammatory mediator. In this review, we focus on the contribution of prostacyclin (PGI<sub>2</sub>) as both a pathophysiological mediator and therapeutic agent in three major inflammatory-mediated disease processes, namely rheumatoid arthritis, where it promotes disease progression (“pro-inflammatory”), along with pulmonary vascular disease and atherosclerosis, where it inhibits disease progression (“anti-inflammatory”). The emerging role of prostacyclin (PGI<sub>2</sub>) in this context provides new opportunities for understanding the complex molecular basis for inflammatory-related diseases, and insights into the development of current and future anti-inflammatory treatments.</p>