Cyclooxygenase-2 modulates brain inflammation-related gene expression in central nervous system radiation injury.

Although the contribution of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) to peripheral inflammation is well documented, little is known about its role in brain inflammation. For this purpose we studied COX-2 expression in the mouse brain following ionizing radiation in vivo, as well as in murine glial cell cultures in vitro. The possible role of COX-2 in modulating brain inflammation was examined utilizing NS-398, a COX-2 selective inhibitor.