Resveratrol inhibits cyclooxygenase-2 transcription in human mammary epithelial cells

A large body of evidence suggests that inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), the inducible form of COX, will be an important strategy for preventing cancer. In this study, we investigated whether resveratrol, a chemopreventive agent found in grapes, could suppress phorbol ester (PMA)-mediated induction of COX-2 in human mammary and oral epithelial cells. Treatment of cells with PMA induced COX-2 mRNA, COX-2 protein, and prostaglandin synthesis. These effects were inhibited by resveratrol. Nuclear runoffs revealed increased rates of COX-2 transcription after treatment with PMA, an effect that was inhibited by resveratrol. Resveratrol inhibited PMA-mediated activation of protein kinase C and the induction of COX-2 promoter activity by c-Jun. Phorbol ester-mediated induction of AP-1 activity was blocked by resveratrol. These data are likely to be important for understanding the anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties of resveratrol.