Cox-2 Inhibition Protects against Hypoxia/Reoxygenation-Induced Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis via Akt-Dependent Enhancement of iNOS Expression

Figure 9

Schematic of proposed signaling involved in the effect of COX-2 in H/R-induced cardiomyocytes apoptosis. In cardiomyocytes, COX-2 was strongly induced in response to H/R stimulation in NFκB-dependent way. Acute pretreatment with NS398, the COX-2 specific inhibitor, can protect against H/R-induced cell injury and apoptosis through attenuation of proinflammatory cytokines expression, ROS formation, and activation of Akt/iNOS/NO signaling pathway.