Abstract

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), the rate-limiting enzyme for prostanoid biosynthesis, plays a key role in gastrointestinal carcinogenesis. Among various prostanoids, prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) appears to be most responsible for cancer development. To investigate the role of PGE₂ in gastric tumorigenesis, we constructed transgenic mice simultaneously expressing COX-2 and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase (mPGES)-1 in the gastric epithelial cells. The transgenic mice developed metaplasia, hyperplasia and tumorous growths in the glandular stomach with heavy macrophage infiltrations. Although gastric bacterial counts in the transgenic mice were within the normal range, treatment with antibiotics significantly suppressed activation of the macrophages and tumorous hyperplasia. Importantly, the antibiotics treatment did not affect the macrophage accumulation. Notably, treatment of the transgenic mice with lipopolysaccharides induced proinflammatory cytokines through Toll-like receptor 4 in the gastric epithelial cells. These results indicate that an increased level of PGE₂ enhances macrophage infiltration, and that they are activated through epithelial cells by the gastric flora, resulting in gastric metaplasia and tumorous growth. Furthermore, Helicobacter infection upregulated epithelial PGE₂ production, suggesting that the COX-2/mPGES-1 pathway contributes to the Helicobacter-associated gastric tumorigenesis.