Cyclooxygenase-2 interacts with MMP and FGF pathways to promote epimorphic regeneration in lizard Hemidactylus flaviviridis.

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.