Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an inducible enzyme known for its role in promoting inflammation, pain and cancer. It has more recently been attributed a function in epimorphic regeneration of vertebrate appendages. However, its position among the molecular regulators of regeneration remains unclear. This work was aimed at analyzing the influence of COX-2 on critical mediators of regenerative processes in the lizard Hemidactylus flaviviridis. It was found during the early events of regeneration that MMP and FGF genes get altered in their expression in response to administration of etoricoxib, a COX-2 inhibitor. Results herein also reflect a positive correlation between COX-2 activity and gelatinase activities in our system. These observations, for the first time, establish a definitive interaction of the COX-2 signal with the MMPs and FGFs as essential to the initiation of tail regeneration, placing it as one of the top regulators of the molecular events which characterize epimorphosis.

环氧合酶2（COX-2）是一种诱导酶，以其促进炎症，疼痛和癌症的作用而闻名。最近已将其归因于脊椎动物附肢的表观再生。然而，其在再生的分子调节剂中的位置仍不清楚。这项工作旨在分析COX-2对蜥蜴黄变半乳糖再生过程中关键过程的影响。。发现在再生的早期事件中，响应于施用COX-2抑制剂依托昔布，MMP和FGF基因的表达改变。本文的结果还反映了我们系统中COX-2活性和明胶酶活性之间的正相关。这些观察首次建立了COX-2信号与MMP和FGF的确定性相互作用，这对于启动尾巴再生至关重要，并将其作为表征表观异型的分子事件的主要调节剂之一。