Eicosanoids in Tick Salivary Gland Physiology

前列腺素（类二十烷类分子的一种）在哺乳动物和其他脊椎动物中极为重要。环氧合酶能将花生四烯酸转化为前列腺素，是阿司匹林、布洛芬等大多数广泛使用的抗炎药物的作用靶点。在孤星蜱的唾液腺中发现了前列腺素E2受体，这是首次在无脊椎动物中发现前列腺素受体。前列腺素E2通过其受体刺激唾液蛋白的分泌，清楚地证明了类二十烷在蜱虫唾液腺生理学中的作用。绍尔博士的提案研究将确定蜱唾液腺中的所有类二十烷酸。研究还将分析前列腺素E2的合成，以及合成是否对某些抗炎药物敏感，这些药物已被证明能有效抑制哺乳动物和其他脊椎动物的合成。本研究还将探讨前列腺素E2在诱导唾液蛋白分泌中的作用模式。随着人们对蜱虫生理学的了解越来越多，有可能开发出药物（例如针对系统蛋白蛋白酶的药物）或其他治疗方法，以消除蜱虫进食造成的危害。

Prostaglandins ( type of eicosanoid molecule) are extremely important in mammals and other vertebrates. Cyclooxygenase, which converts arachidonic acid to prostaglandins, is the target for most of the widely used anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, etc. A prostaglandin E2 receptor has been identified in the salivary glands of the lone star tick, demonstrating for the first time, a prostaglandin receptor in an invertebrate. Prostaglandin E2, through its receptor, stimulates secretion of saliva protein clearly demonstrating a function for an eicosanoid in tick salivary gland physiology.The proposal research by Dr. Sauer will identify all eicosanoids in tick salivary glands. Research will also analyze syntheis of prostaglandin E2 and whether synthesis is sensitive to some of the same anti-inflamatory drugs shown to effective in inhibiting synthesis in mammals and other vertebrates. The research will also exaimen the mode of action of prostaglandin E2 in eliciting secretion of saliva protein.As more is learned about the tick's physiology it may be possible to develop agents (e.g. drugs which target protaglandin systensis enzymes) or other treatments that will neutralize the harm caused by tick feeding.