Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and evidence indicates a correlation between the inflammatory process and cardiac dysfunction. Selective inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme are not recommended for long-term use because of potentially severe side effects to the heart. Considering this and the frequent prescribing of commercial celecoxib, the present study analyzed cellular and molecular effects of 1 and 10 mu M celecoxib in a cell culture model. After a 24-h incubation, celecoxib reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner as also demonstrated in MTT assays. Furthermore, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that the drug modulated the expression level of genes related to death pathways, and Western blot analyses demonstrated a modulatory effect of the drug on COX-2 protein levels in cardiac cells. In addition, the results demonstrated a downregulation of prostaglandin E2 production by the cardiac cells incubated with celecoxib, in a dose-specific manner. These results are consistent with the decrease in cell viability and the presence of necrotic processes shown by Fourier transform infrared analysis, suggesting a direct correlation of prostanoids in cellular homeostasis and survival.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG)Fundacao Valeparaibana de EnsinoUniv Vale Paraiba, Inst Pesquisa & Desenvolvimento, Sao Jose Dos Campos, BrazilUniv Fed Ouro Preto, Nucleo Pesquisa Ciencias Biol, Ouro Preto, MG, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista, Dept Biol, Inst Biociencias, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista, Dept Biol, Inst Biociencias, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP, BrazilCNPq: 475586/2009-3CNPq: 506991/2010-5FAPEMIG: 02351-10