2- pharmacology asthma Flashcards
where are the cell bodies of preganglionic fibres located?
in the brain stem
where are the cell bodies of postganglionic fibres located?
embedded in walls of bronchi & bronchioles
what does stimulation of post ganglionic cholinergic fibres cause in airways?
- bronchial smooth muscle contraction mediated by M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors on airway smooth muscle cells
- increased mucus secretion mediated by M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors on gland (goblet) cells
what does stimulation of postganglionic non-cholinergic fibres cause?
bronchial smooth muscle relaxation mediated by nitric oxide (NO) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) = possible route for therapy
non cholinergic fibers = fibers that release neurotransmitters other than acetylcholine
is there innervation in bronchial smooth muscle?
no but there are post ganglionic fibers that supply submucosal glands & smooth muscle in blood vessel
what innervation causes bronchial smooth muscle relaxation?
adrenaline released by adrenal glands that enters circulation and activates beta 2 adrenoceptors
what effect does beta 2 adrenoceptor activation cause?
- bronchial smooth muscle relaxation
- decreased mucus secretion (beta 2 adrenoceptors on goblet cells)
- increased mucociliary clearance (beta 2 adrenoceptors on epithelial cells)
what happens due to alpha 1 adrenoceptors acting on vascular smooth muscle cells?
vascular smooth muscle contraction
(same process as muscarinic 3 Gq)
describe how the g-protein coupled receptor leads to smooth muscle contraction?
hormone or transmitter actives g-protein coupled receptor which triggers Gq which swaps GDP to GTP to become activated.
phospholipase C generates 2nd messenger, IP3. IP3 moves through cell and binds to IP3 receptor (which is also Ca channel) opening Ca+ channels which drives contraction
opening of Ca+ = transitory, opens voltage gated Ca+ channels so drives towards max Ca+ so max contraction
how is contraction initiated by calcium in smooth muscles?
Ca2+ binds to calmodulin (protein) and combined Ca2+ & calmodulin activates enzyme called myosin light chain kinase (kinase = phosphorylates downstream target). MLCK phosphorylates myosin cross bridges that bind actin so makes contraction
how is relaxation of smooth muscle caused?
myosin phosphatase = dephosphorylates myosin which means it is in an inactive state and unable to bind to actin, leading to muscle relaxation therefore myosin phosphatase indirectly causes muscle relaxation
(phosphatase = dephosphorylation)
beta 2 receptor:
- phosphorylates and inhibits MLCK
- phosphorylates and stimulates myosin phosphatase
PKA (made from beta 2 adrenoceptor Gs pathway), phosphorylates and inhibits myosin light chain kinase, inhibition of MLCK prevents it from phosphorylating myosin, thereby promoting muscle relaxation
what is the counter phase that determines how much contraction occurs?
MLC dephosphorylated by myosin phosphatase balanced with MLC phosphorylated by myosin light chain kinase
presence of elevated intracellular Ca2+ the rate of phosphorylation exceeds rate of dephosphorylation and vice versa
what regulates levels of myosin light chain kinase & myosin phosphatase?
by extracellular signals like adrenaline on beta 2 adrenoceptor
adrenaline activated it’s G-protein coupled receptor which activates Gs
cAMP activates downstream kinase, protein kinase A which phosphorylates & stimulates myosin phosphatase so inhibits myosin light chain kinase and causes relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle
what is function of PDE?
controls half life of cAMP (by degrading)
PDE = phosphodiesterase
why is it important that 2nd messengers like cAMP have a short half life?
so not continuous stimulation hence why things like PDE there to degrade cAMP
what are symptoms of intermittent attacks of bronchoconstriction?
- tight chest
- wheezing (increased airway turbulence & increased airway resistance)
- difficulty breathing
- cough
what pathological changes to bronchioles result from chronic asthma?
pathological change to bronchioles:
- increased mass of smooth muscle (hyperplasia & hypertrophy)
- accumulation of interstitial fluid (oedema)
- increased secretion of mucus
- epithelial damage (exposing sensory nerve endings)
- sub-epithelial fibrosis = decreased lung compliance
what is effect of airways narrowing on FEV1 and peak expiratory flow rate?
decreasing them
what contributes to sensitivity of airways to bronchoconstrictor influences?
epithelial damage, exposing sensory nerve endings (c-fibre, irritant receptors)
= may cause neurogenic inflammation by the release of various peptides – (from sensory nerve endings)
what are 2 components of asthma?
hypersensitivity (mild) & hyperreactivity (more severe)
what causes early phase & late phase asthma attack?
so early phase = bronchospasm & acute inflammation (type I hypersensitivity)
late phase = bronchospasm & delayed inflammation (type IV hypersensitivity)
→in severe asthma attack this is typical
*mild asthma can just be like early phase
what response dominates in a mild to moderate asthma response?
Th2 response = immune response involving IgE (much more severe asthmatic response)
what response dominates in a severe asthma response?
Th2 and Th1 response
what is the normal response to allergen (in non-atopic individuals)?
Th1 response = you recover quickly & remove allergens from your system using IgG ¯ophages