Prostaglandins are important signaling compounds formed from arachidonic acid. The enzymes
that form prostaglandins, cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 are the targets of non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Because prostaglandins are very unstable in the body, they
can not be measured directly. Instead, their metabolites are isolated from urine or blood and
quantified as markers of formation of the parent, active compounds.
The investigators are testing the hypothesis that there is a previously unrecognized
metabolic pathway between two prostaglandins. The investigators hypothesize that
prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), in addition to its known metabolism to PGD-M, is also metabolized to
11-dehydro-thromboxane B2 (11-dehydro-TxB2).