Figure 2.

Constitutive and inducible COX enzymes. COX‐1 is a ubiquitous isoform expressed constitutively in all tissues. COX‐2 is constitutively expressed in specific tissue locations within the kidney, gastrointestinal tract, brain, lungs and thymus as well as other regions of the urogenital tract (not shown). Constitutive COX‐2 transcription pathways are known only for the kidney (NFAT). Inducible COX‐2 is expressed at the site of inflammation and in cancer. Inducible COX‐2 transcription pathways include NF‐κB, NFAT and CREB. Inducible COX‐2 is the therapeutic target of the NSAID class of drugs, but their inhibition of constitutive COX‐1 and COX‐2 results in their side‐effects.