Research progress in relationship between prostaglandin E₂ and cardiovascular diseases

Prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), an extremely important arachidonic acid metabolite in the body, is released when stimulated by various physiological or pathological stimuli and mediates inflammatory response, regulates blood pressure, and is involved with other biological effects through specific receptors. There are four kinds of specific receptor subtypes (E-prostanoidreceptors, EP₁, EP₂, EP₃ and EP₄) in the body which mediate the effects of PGE₂. However, given the antagonistic effects mediated by these four subtypes, PGE₂ has a complex effect on the cardiovascular system, which is usually determined by receptor subtype in specific organs or tissues. This review summarizes the latest research related to PGE₂ in cardiovascular diseases, includiong atherosclerosis, thrombosis, hypertension, and stroke from the perspective of receptor action characteristics, aiming to provide new ideas in PGE₂ role in cardiovascular pathogenesis.