Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of a selective COX-2 inhibitor Celecoxib and PGE2 on expression of nerve growth factor (NGF). Methods Isolated human IVD cells were stimulated with 10ng/ml of IL-1β in the presence or absence of different concentration of Celecoxib. NGF expression and paoduction were determined by real-time PCR and ELISA, respectively. Secretion of PGE2 was determined by ELISA. The effects of exogenous PGE2 and its receptor (EPs1-4) agonists were also tested for NGF production. Results Stimulation of IL-1β for 3h could induce IVD cells to express NGF mRNA in a dose-dependent manner. Pre-treatment with Celecoxib strongly enhanced it to 1.8 fold. 10ng/mL of IL-1β induced PGE2 production to (5.46±0.64)ng/mL, At the concentration of 10mmol/L Celecoxib, PGE2 release was substantially inhibited to (1.07±0.04) ng/mL (P<0.05). 100μmol/L PGE2 inhibited IL-1β induction of NGF to 59% (P<0.05), and this effect was mimicked when agonists EP2 and EP4, but not EP1 and EP3, were supplemented to the culture. Conclusion. Celecoxib can enhance IL-1β-induced NGF expression, and this effect may be mediated by inhibition of PGE2 production.

Key words: Nerve growth factor, intervertebral disc cells, prostaglandin E2, Celecoxib