Role for prostaglandins in the regulation of type 1 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in human granulosa-lutein cells

11 beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11 beta HSD) enzymes regulate glucocorticoid availability in target tissues. 11 beta HSD1 is the predominant isoenzyme expressed and active in human granulosa-lutein (hGL) cells. This study investigated the effects of pharmacological inhibitors of prostaglandin ( PG) synthesis on 11 beta HSD1 activities and expression in hGL cells. The consequences for 11 beta HSD1 of increasing exposure of hGL cells to PGs, either by treatment with exogenous PGs or by challenging cells with IL-1 beta, were also assessed. Suppression of basal PG synthesis using four different inhibitors of PG H synthase enzymes [ indomethacin, niflumic acid, meclofenamic acid (MA) and N-(2-cyclohexyloxy-4-nitorophenyl) methane sulfonamide (NS-398)] each resulted in significant decreases in both cortisol oxidation and cortisone reduction.