Journal: Frontiers in Pharmacology
Article Title: Soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibition restores pro-resolving lipid mediators and reduces inflammation in localized provoked vulvodynia
doi: 10.3389/fphar.2026.1741914
Figure Lengend Snippet: sEH is involved in the LPV inflammatory process. (A) Illustration of punch biopsy collection from LPV cases and healthy controls during surgery. Light touch to the vulvar vestibule (Vest) is immensely painful, whereas the adjacent external vulva (Vulv) is not painful to touch. (B) RT-qPCR data showing sEH (EPHX2) mRNA expression, normalized to 18S rRNA, in LPV and control fibroblasts (n = 6 cases and 6 controls). (C) Western blot data showing sEH (EPHX2) protein expression, normalized to β-tubulin, in LPV and control fibroblasts (n = 3 cases and 3 controls). (D) sEH enzyme activity is significantly elevated in the LPV vest compared to LPV vulv, control vest, and control vulv (n = 3 cases and 3 controls). The data was collected in technical triplicates and are represented as mean ± SEM, one-way ANOVA + Tukey’s post hoc test, *P < 0.05, ns = not significant. (E) siRNA knockdown with sEH siRNA [5 µg] in vulvar and vestibular fibroblasts derived from 3 LPV cases was confirmed through Western blotting. (F) Transfection of sEH siRNA in LPV case vestibular and vulvar fibroblasts, but not control siRNA, reduced IL-6 and PGE2 production upon IL-1β [500 pg/mL] stimulation (n = 3 cases). The data was collected in six technical replicates and are represented as mean ± SEM, two-way ANOVA + Tukey’s post hoc test, *P < 0.05.
Article Snippet: Protein blots were probed with EPHX2 rabbit polyclonal antibody (Abclonal, Woburn, MA, Cat: A1885) at a dilution of 1:1,000, hFAB Rhodamine Anti-Tubulin Primary Antibody (Bio-Rad, Cat: #12004166) at a dilution of 1:5,000, and peroxidase AffiniPure goat anti-rabbit IgG (H + L) (Jackson ImmunoResearch, West Grove, PA, Cat: 111-035-003) at a dilution of 1:4,000.
Techniques: Quantitative RT-PCR, Expressing, Control, Western Blot, Activity Assay, Knockdown, Derivative Assay, Transfection