The present invention provides methods, compositions and kits for discriminating between COX-1 and COX-2 activity. In particular, the prevent invention provides for the detection and/or measurement of COX-2 activity in subjects, samples thereof, and in laboratory tests. The present invention discloses that 2-arachidonylglycerol is a COX-2 selective substrate which is metabolized by COX-2 to prostaglandin glycerol esters (PG-Gs) and that the diversity of PG-Gs parallels that of arachidonic acid derived metabolites of COX. The present invention also provides certain novel COX-2 selective metabolites including prostaglandin I
2
-glycerol ester (PGI
2
-G) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F
1α
-glycerol ester. Methods and kits are described for detecting COX-2 activity comprising detecting PG-Gs (including the novel PG-Gs disclosed herein). Uses for these methods and kits include the detection and monitoring of inflammation and tumors or cancer. Additional uses include the monitoring of test agents in assays to screen for COX-2 specific inhibitors and other laboratory uses.
本发明提供了区分 COX-1 和 COX-2 活性的方法、组合物和试剂盒。特别是,本发明提供了在受试者、其样本和实验室测试中检测和/或测量 COX-2 活性的方法。本发明公开了 2-
丙烯酰
甘油是一种 COX-2 选择性底物,它被 COX-2 代谢为
前列腺素甘油酯(
PG-Gs),
PG-Gs 的多样性与 COX 的
花生四烯酸衍生代谢物的多样性相似。本发明还提供了某些新型 COX-2 选择性代谢物,包括
前列腺素 I
2
-
甘油酯(
PGI
2
-G)和
6-酮前列腺素 F
1α
-
甘油酯。描述了检测 COX-2 活性的方法和试剂盒,包括检测
PG-G(包括本文公开的新型
PG-G)。这些方法和试剂盒的用途包括检测和监测炎症和肿瘤或癌症。其它用途还包括在筛选 COX-2 特异性
抑制剂的试验中监测试验药剂以及其它实验室用途。