Prostaglandin
A family of lipid signalling molecules derived from arachidonic acid that mediate inflammation, pain, fever, and many other physiological processes. Prostaglandins play roles in the inflammatory response modulated by corticotropin-stimulated cortisol production and in gastrointestinal protection.
Technical Context
Prostaglandins are synthesised from arachidonic acid (released from membrane phospholipids by phospholipase A2) by cyclooxygenases (COX-1 constitutive, COX-2 inducible) → PGH2 → tissue-specific synthases produce: PGE2 (pain, fever, vasodilation, gastric protection, renal blood flow), PGI2/prostacyclin (vasodilation, platelet inhibition), PGD2 (bronchoconstriction, sleep regulation), PGF2α (uterine contraction, bronchoconstriction), and TXA2/thromboxane (vasoconstriction, platelet aggregation). Corticotropin's anti-inflammatory mechanism partly involves cortisol-mediated induction of lipocortin-1, which inhibits phospholipase A2, reducing arachidonic acid release and therefore prostaglandin production. NSAIDs inhibit COX enzymes directly. Understanding prostaglandin biology contextualises the anti-inflammatory effects of corticotropin and the GI effects (gastric acid, mucosal protection) relevant to oral peptide delivery.