B-19/20. Glucocorticoids for oral and parenteral use. Topically applied glucocorticoids and Mineralocorticoids. Flashcards
Which interleukins upregulate the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary?
Which neurotransmitters upregulate the hypothalamus?
Which neurotransmitters/hormone downregulates the hypothalamus (CRH neurons)?
- ) Il-1, Il-2, Il-6, and TNF-alpha upregulate (they are released from the immune system via the lymphocytes, macrophages, monocytes, and neutrophils)
- ) Ach, 5-HT, NE upregulate
- ) NE, GABA, and cortisol downregulate
What hormones upregulate/downregulate the anterior pituitary (Corticotropes)?
CRH upregulates the anterior pituitary and cortisol downregulates it
What hormones upregulate the adrenal cortex (fasciculata cells) and why do we measure it?
ACTH upregulates the adrenal cortex leading to the release of cortisol.
It is measured for diagnostic purposes and certain epilepsies in childhood.
What do the different cells in the adrenal cortex get upregulated by, release, and via which CYP enzyme?
- ) Zona Glomerulosa?
- ) Zona Fasciculata?
- ) Zona Reticularis?
- ) Zona Glomerulosa
- Upregulated by Angiotensin II/K+ releasing aldosterone via CYP11B2 - ) Zona Fasciculata
- Upregulated by ACTH releasing cortisol via CYP11B1/CYP17 - ) Zona Reticularis
- Upregulated by ACTH releasing DHEA via CYP17
What are the genomic and non-genomic mechanisms of steroid hormone operation?
The steroid hormones (aldosteron, cortisol, progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone) act via the…
- ) Genomic action where the hormone crosses the lipid membrane and binds an intracellular receptor, transducer, and messenger to bind directly to DNA to amplify and undergo gene transcription
- ) Nongenomic action which binds a receptor on the cell surface that activates a tranducer (Alpha, beta + gamma subunits) which upregulate amplifiers that create messengers that have intracellular effect (AC creates cyclic AMP, PI 3-k creates PIP3, and PLC creates DAG and InsP3 which increases intracellular calcium)
What are some specific gene transcriptions can the steroid-glucocorticoid receptor complex activate?
It interacts with other transciptions factors like NF-kB and AP1 which are involved in anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects
Glucocorticoid receptor actions (Gene activation)
- ) Annexin-1 which decreases PLA2 (precursor for eicosanoids, such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes.)
- Eicosanoids function in diverse physiological systems and pathological processes such as: mounting or inhibiting inflammation, allergy, fever and other immune responses; regulating the abortion of pregnancy and normal childbirth; contributing to the perception of pain; regulating cell growth; controlling blood pressure; and modulating the regional flow of blood to tissues. - ) Enzymes of gluconeogenesis and amino acid metabolism (cAMP dependent protein kinase)
- ) Adrenergic receptors on vascular and bronchial smooth muscle (permissive effect e.g. B2 agonist effect in bronchial asthma)
Glucocorticoid receptor actions (Gene repression)
COX-2, NOS, Cytokines, Interleukins, and Cell adhesion molecules
* 10-20% of expressed genes are regulated by glucocorticoids
Glucocorticoid metabolic effects
- ) Carbohydrates?
- ) Proteins?
- ) Lipids?
1.) Carbohydrates
-Decreased glucose uptake and utilization
-Increased gluconeogenesis
(Hyperglycemic tendency)
2.) Proteins
-Increased catabolism
-Decreased anabolism
3.) Lipids
-Redistribution of fat (Cushing type)
-Increased triglycerides
-Increased LDL/HDL
Glucocorticoid regulatory effects part 1:
- ) Hypothalamus and anterior pituitary gland?
- ) Cardiovascular system?
- ) Musculoskeletal?
- ) Hypothalamus and anterior pituitary gland
- Negative feedback causes decreased release of endogenous glucocorticoids - ) Cardiovascular system
- Decreased vasodilation - ) Musculoskeletal
- Activity of osteoblast decreased and osteoclast activity increases (less bone formation)
Glucocorticoid regulatory effects part 2:
Inflammation and immunity?
- ) Less influx and activity of leukocytes in acute inflammation
- ) Less activity of mononuclear cells, angiogenesis, and fibrosis in chronic inflammation
- ) In the blood there will be more neutrophils and less eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes
- ) Lymphoid tissues will have decreased T/B cells clonal expansion and decreased cytokine secreting T action
Glucocorticoid regulatory effects part 3:
Mediators?
Overall effects?
1.) Decreased production and action of cytokines (ILs, TNF-alpha, GM-CSF)
2.) Less generation of eicosanoids
3.) Less generation of IgG
4.) Decreased complement components in the blood
5.) Increased release of anti-inflammatory factors (e.g. IL-10 and annexin-1)
Overall effects: activity of the innate and acquired immune systems decrease as well as healing and protective aspects of inflammation
Clinical uses of glucocorticoids (6)
- ) Replacement therapy (adrenocortical insufficiency, Addison’s disease)
- ) Diagnostic purposes (dexamethasone suppression test, Cushing’s syndrome, diff. diagnosis of depression)
- ) Stimulation of lung maturation in fetus (premature before week 34)
- )Anti-inflammatory/immunosupressive therapy (more in next flashcard)
- ) In neoplastic diseases (more in next flashcard)
- ) Nausea and vomiting (in chemotherapy and general anesthesia)
Glucocorticoid Anti-inflammatory/immunosupressive therapeutical uses (5)
- ) In asthma
- ) Topically in inflammatory conditions of skin, eye, ear, nose (e.g. eczema, allergic conjunctivitis or rhinitis)
- ) Hypersensitivity states (e.g. severe allergic rxn)
- ) In diseases with autoimmune and inflammatory components (e.g. RA and other connective tissue diseases, IBD, some forms of haemolytic anaemia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura)
- ) To prevent graft vs host rxn (organ or bone marrow transplantation
Glucocorticoid neoplastic diseases therapeutic uses (2)
- ) In combination with cytotoxic drugs (Hodgkin’s disease, acute lymphocytic leukaemia)
- ) to reduce cerebral oedema (metastatic or primary brain tumours; dexamethasone)
Glucocorticoid drugs (11)
- ) Hydrocortisone (Cortisol)
- ) Cortisone
- ) Deflazacort
- ) Prednisolone
- ) Prednisone
- ) Methylprednisolone
- ) Triamcinolone
- ) Dexamethason
- ) Betamethasone
- ) Fludrocortisone
- ) Aldosteron
Which glucocorticoid drugs are prodrugs
Cortisone, Prednisone, Deflazacort, and Fludrocortisone
Glucocorticoids of short action (8-12 hours)
Hydrocortisone, Cortisone, and Deflazacort
Glucocorticoids of intermediate action (12-36 hours)
Prednisolone, Prednisone, Methylprednisolone, Triamcinolone
Glucocorticoids of long action (36-72 hours)
Dexamethasone and Betamethasone
Strongest anti-inflammatory Glucocorticoids (3)
Dexamethasone, Betamethasone, and Fludrocortisone
Which 2 glucocorticoids have minimal sodium retaining ability
Dexamethasone and Betamethasone