ABSTRACT
Cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and -2 expressions in the incisional wound healing of mouse skin were determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. By Western blotting, compared to normal skin, COX-2 activity was increased at days 1, 4, 8, and 12 and was maximal at 4 day after incisional wound of mouse skin whereas COX-1 was barely detectable. In normal skin, COX-1 immunostaining was observed among the basal cells of epidermis whereas COX-2 immunostaining was detected in the more differentiated, suprabasal keratinocytes. At 1~4 days after wound, COX-2 staining was particularly prominent in the inflammatory cells, and at day 8, many macrophage-like cells were stained positively. COX-2 immunoreactive fibroblast, macrophage-like cells, and newly formed vascular endothelial cells were increased in number at 12 days after incision. These data suggest that COX-2 is constitutively expressed, just as is COX-1, in epidermis and is associated with keratinocyte differentiation. In addition, these findings support the well-established role for COX-2, the prostaglandins that they generate, as mediators of inflammatory response.