Anti-inflammatories Flashcards
What is the primary role of inflammation?
Its a defense mechanism aimed at restoring normal function to damaged or infected tissue.
What are the five key components of the acute inflammatory response?
Chemical mediators, vascular changes, cell migration, innate response and short time course.
Differentiate between innate and adaptive immunity
Innate is rapid and non-specific, adaptive is slower but specific and improves with repeated exposure.
Name three major drug classes used for inflammation
NSAIDs, corticosteroids and DMARDs.
What is the mechanism of NSAIDs?
They inhibit COX enzymes, reducing the synthesis of prostaglandins and thromboxanes.
What enzyme do corticosteroids inhibit to reduce inflammation?
Cyclooxugenase and phospholipase A2.
What condition are DMARDs primarily used to treat?
Rheumatoid arthritis
What is methotrexate/s mechanism of action?
Inhibits dihydrofolate reductase, blocking DNA and RNA synthesis in lymphocytes.
What is infliximab and how does it work?
A monoclonal antibody that blocks TNF a, reducing inflammation in autoimmune diseases.
What are calcineurin inhibitors and give an example
Drugs that inhibit IL 2 production in T cells, like cyclosporine.
How does cyclosporine suppress the immune system?
It binds to cyclophilin, inhibits calcineurin and prevents IL 2 transcription.
What is sirolimus (Rapamycin’s) unique mechanism?
Inhibits mTOR, blocking T cell response to cytokines and proliferation.
What are common uses of cyclosporine?
Organ transplants, rheumatoid arthritis and crohn’s disease.
Name a key adverse effect of cyclosporine.
Nephrotoxicity
What are basiliximab and daclizumab?
Monoclonal antibodies that block IL 2 receptor CD25 to prevent T cell activation.
What distinguishes basilizimab from daclizumab in potency and composition.
Basilizimab is a chimeric antibody, daclizumab is humanized.
What is azathioprines’s mechanism of action?
Inhibits purine synthesis, preventing proliferation of B and T cells.
What cytokines do corticosteroids reduce?
IL 1, IL 2, TNF and interferon.
What is interferon’s role in immunity?
Modulates immune response and has antiproliferative activity, used in autoimmune diseases.
What is thalidomide used for and how does it work?
Treats RA and GVHD, reduces TNF a and enhances IL 10, with immunomodulatory effects.
