Description | Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) is a potent endogenous vasodilator agent that increases peripheral blood flow. It inhibits platelet aggregation and has many other biological effects such as bronchodilation, mediation of inflammation, and various protective functions.
The protective action of PGE1 has been shown on both experimental animal models of liver injury and patients with fulminant viral hepatitis. PGE1-treated cirrhotic rats had less hepatosplenomegaly, lower serum alanine aminotransferase levels, and portal pressures and higher arterial pressure than placebo-treated cirrhotic rats.
Mechanisms of hepatic cytopotection of PGE1: inhibitory effects on T-cell mediated cytotoxicity, enhance DNA synthesis of injured liver after partial hepatectomy by stimulating cyclic AMP production and increasing ATP level in hepatic tissue, and could accelerate the recovery of mitochondrial respiratory functio n after reperfusion, stabilization of membrane microviscosity.
PGE1 is a prostanoid. Prostanoids is a term that collectively describes prostaglandins, prostacyclines and thromboxanes. Prostanoids are a subclass of the lipid mediator group known as eicosanoids. They derive from C-20 polyunsaturated fatty acids, mainly dihomo-gamma-linoleic (20:3n-6), arachidonic (20:4n-6), and eicosapentaenoic (20:5n-3) acids, through the action of cyclooxygenases-1 and -2 (COX-1 and COX-2). (PMID: 11819590, 16986207) |