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Novel effects of the cyclooxygenase-2-selective inhibitor NS-398 on IL-1β-induced cyclooxygenase-2 and IL-8 expression in human ovarian granulosa cells

Ovulation is a critical inflammation-like event that is central to ovarian physiology. IL-1β is an immediate early pro-inflammatory cytokine that regulates production of several other inflammatory mediators, such as cyclooxygenase 2 (COX)-2 and IL-8. NS-398 is a selective inhibitor of COX-2 bioactivity and thus this drug is able to mitigate the COX-2-mediated production of downstream prostaglandins and the subsequent inflammatory response. Here we have investigated the action of NS-398 using a human ovarian granulosa cell line, KGN, by exploring IL-1β-regulated COX-2 and IL-8 expression. First, NS-398, instead of reducing inflammation, appeared to further enhance IL-1β-mediated COX-2 and IL-8 production. Using selective inhibitors targeting various signaling molecules, MAPK and NF-κB pathways both seemed to be involved in the impact of NS-398 on IL-1β-induced COX-2 and IL-8 expression. NS-398 also promoted IL-1β-mediated NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation but had no effect on IL-1β-activated MAPK phosphorylation. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that NS-398, in combination with IL-1β, significantly enhanced cell cycle progression involving IL-8. Our findings demonstrate a clear pro-inflammatory function for NS-398 in the IL-1β-mediated inflammatory response of granulosa cells, at least in part, owing to its augmenting effect on the IL-1β-induced activation of NF-κB.