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
1&agr;
-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.
本发明提供了用于区分COX-1和COX-2活性的方法、组合物和试剂盒。特别地,本发明提供了在受试者、其样品以及实验室测试中检测和/或测量COX-2活性的方法。本发明揭示了2-
花生四烯酸甘油酯是一种COX-2选择性底物,可被COX-2代谢成
前列腺素甘油酯(
PG-Gs),而
PG-Gs的多样性与COX源自
花生四烯酸的代谢产物相似。本发明还提供了某些新的COX-2选择性代谢产物,包括
前列腺素I2-
甘油酯(
PGI2-G)和
6-酮前列腺素F1α-
甘油酯。描述了用于检测COX-2活性的方法和试剂盒,包括检测
PG-Gs(包括本文所披露的新
PG-Gs)。这些方法和试剂盒的用途包括检测和监测炎症、肿瘤或癌症。另外的用途包括监测试剂在筛选COX-2特异性
抑制剂和其他实验室用途中的作用。