COX-2 inhibitors inhibit recovery from heart attacks

Bicarbonate transporters, enzymes critical to maintaining this delicate balance of bicarbonate across the cell membrane, are inhibited from doing their work by some anti-inflammatory drugs such as celecoxib, the active ingredient in Celebrex.

The work indicates the reported side effects of celecoxib may result from their unintended inhibition of the body�s ability to move bicarbonate. Bicarbonate is the primary buffer of our bodies and the primary waste product of cellular energy production.

• Some new generation COX-2 inhibitors may not allow heart attack patients to recover fully, research indicates.
• Researchers at the University of Alberta have discovered a basic cellular process the body uses to balance pH in cells--also critical to recovery following a heart attack--is compromised by certain novel COX-2 inhibitors.
• Bicarbonate transporters, enzymes critical to maintaining this delicate balance of bicarbonate across the cell membrane, are potently inhibited from doing their work by some clinically used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as celecoxib, the active ingredient in Celebrex.
• Celecoxib is an effective anti-inflammatory drug because of its effects on the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2).
• The work from the Casey laboratory indicates that the reported side-effects of celecoxib may result from their unintended inhibition of the body's ability to move bicarbonate.