Spiking of urinary biomarker with exercise A marker of muscle inflammation?

During active inflammation, arachidonic acid is converted by the enzyme – cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) – into prostaglandins such as prostaglandin E2. However, this molecule is technically difficult to measure because it is metabolised very quickly. Isao Okayasu, Emeritus Professor of Kiryu University and Kitasato University, Japan has collaborated with a team of researchers to develop methods to measure a proposed surrogate marker of inflammation, prostaglandin E–major urinary metabolite (PGE-MUM) – a by-product of metabolism that is stable and easy to measure.