Figure 7.

A model illustrating ketamine treatment promoting the hypomethylation of COX-2 gene promoter via NF-κB in ketamine-induced ulcerative cystitis of rat bladder. Inflammatory stimuli of ketamine induced nuclear translocation of NF-κB and increased nuclear NF-κB level. The activated nuclear NF-κB bound to specific sequences of COX-2 promoter and thereafter enhanced hypomethylation of COX-2 gene promoter. The hypomethylation of COX-2 promoter increased COX-2 expression and the level of PGE2 production. PGE, prostaglandin; IKK, IκB kinase; P, phosphorylation; NFAT/NF-IL6, nuclear factor of activated T cells/NF-IL-6; AP-1, activator protein 1; CRE, cAMP-response element; SP-1, specificity protein 1; TATA, TATA box motif.