Fig. 1
From: Autoregulation: mediators and renin–angiotensin system in diseases and treatments
Synthesis and Functions of Prostanoids. Normally, the constitutive isoforms of COX enzymes are produced by the action of phospholipase A2 on membrane phospholipids; but in inflammatory diseases, phospholipase A2 is triggered to produce inducible COX-2. Prostaglandin H2 is the precursor of the five main types of prostanoids which generates them upon the catalysis of specific isomerase (synthase) enzymes for each type [6, 8]. GIT indicates gastrointestinal tract. VSM, vascular smooth muscle