What to know about prostaglandins

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 Prostaglandins are hormone-like substances. Different tissues in the body can release prostaglandins, including the skin, stomach, and lungs. Having an appropriate amount of this substance is essential to regulating many bodily functions.

There are different types of prostaglandins, and each has a specific function. For example, some prostaglandins can cause inflammation, while others suppress it. Similarly, some prostaglandins promote blood clotting, while others promote bleeding.

Although prostaglandins are essential for many bodily functions, they can also cause issues. Too much inflammation can damage tissues and organs, while excessive blood clotting can lead to severe health problems such as stroke or heart attack. Additionally, prostaglandins may contribute to debilitating pain that can interfere with a person’s daily activities.

Read on to learn more about prostaglandins, what they are, and how they can affect the body.

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Prostaglandins are hormone-like substances that the body produces in response to injury or illness. They are part of the inflammatory response, which is the body’s natural mechanism for healing.

Prostaglandins consist of fatty acids and are present in all tissues of the body, including the skin, stomach, and lungs.

There are several types of prostaglandin, including:

  • prostaglandin D2
  • prostaglandin E2
  • prostaglandin F2
  • thromboxane
  • prostacyclin

Prostaglandins have hormone-like effects in the body, but, unlike hormones, a specific gland does not release them. Rather, the body has numerous tissues that can make prostaglandins.

Prostaglandins only perform actions in the local area where the body produces them. This is essential to help regulate and limit the effect they can have on the body.

Prostaglandins have different functions — and possibly opposite effects — in different tissues. Generally, they may play a role in:

  • constricting or dilating blood vessels, or airways
  • forming blood clots or breaking them apart
  • contracting or relaxing the smooth muscle in the digestive tract
  • contracting the uterus during pregnancy and while not pregnant

The type of receptor, to which the prostaglandin binds, determines whether it will inhibit or stimulate some of these processes.

Although prostaglandins may have some significant effects, they are typically shortlived and can only affect nearby cells. For this reason, they are present throughout the body.

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