Basic Science Flashcards
what are HLAs? where are these encoded?
Antigens
HLAs: are encoded for by genes on chromosome 6
Which HLA: Ankylosing spondylitis Postgonococcal arthritis Acute anterior uveitis Reiter's syndrome (reactive arthritis)
HLA B27
Which HLA:
Narcolepsy
Goodpasture’s
HLA DR2
Which HLA: Autoimmune hepatitis Primary biliary cirrhosis Diabetes mellitus type 1 Dermatitis herpetiformis Coeliac disease (95% associated with HLA-DQ2) Primary Sjögren syndrome
HLA DR3
Which HLA:
Rheumatoid arthritis
Diabetes mellitus type 1 (> DR3)
HLA DR4
rheumatoid arthritis - in particular the DRB1 gene (DRB104:01 and DRB104:04 hence the association with DR4)
which HLA:
Diabetes mellitus type 1
HLA DR3 and DR4 combined
Which HLA:
21-hydroxylase deficiency
HLA-B47
Which HLA:
Hemochromatosis
HLA-A3
Which HLA:
Behcet’s disease
HLA-B5
HLA B51 is a split of B5
What HLA is assoc with rheumatoid? What syndrome is this HLA also assoc with?
Around 70% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis are HLA-DR4. Patients with Felty’s syndrome
(a triad of rheumatoid arthritis, splenomegaly and neutropaenia) are even more strongly
associated with 90% being HLA-DR4
What is CD1?
HLA molecule that presents lipid molecules
What is CD2?
Found on thymocytes, T cells, and some natural killer cells that acts as a ligand for CD58 and CD59 and is involved in signal transduction and cell adhesion
what is CD3?
The signalling component of the T cell receptor (TCR) complex
what is CD4?
Co-receptor for HLA class II; also a receptor used by HIV to enter T cells
What is CD8?
Co-receptor for HLA class I; also found on a subset of myeloid dendritic cells
what are the 4 gel and coombs classification of hypersensitivity reactions? what is the recently added V?
Type I - Anaphylactic
Type II - Cell bound
Type III - Immune complex
Type IV - Delayed hypersensitivity
Type V - Stimulated hypersensitivity
describe type 1 hypersensitivity?
Anaphalaxis
• Antigen reacts with IgE bound to mast cells
• Anaphylaxis, atopy
Describe type 2 hypersensitivity?
Type II - Cell bound
• IgG or IgM binds to antigen on cell surface
• Autoimmune hemolytic anemia, ITP, Goodpasture’s
Describe type 3 hypersensitivity?
Type III - Immune complex
• Free antigen and antibody (IgG, IgA) combine
• Serum sickness, SLE, post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, extrinsic allergic alveolitis
(especially acute phase)
Describe type 4 hypersensitivity
Type IV - Delayed hypersensitivity
• T cell mediated
• Tuberculosis, Tuberculin skin reaction, grafT versus hosT disease, allergic conTacT
dermaTiTis, scabies, exTrinsic allergic alveoliTis (especially chronic phase)
Describe type 5 hypersensitivity
Type V - Stimulated hypersensitivity
• IgG antibodies stimulate cells they are directed against
• Graves’, myasthenia Gravis
Describe the skin prick test - what is this useful for?
Most commonly used test as easy to perform and inexpensive. Drops of diluted allergen are placed on the skin after which the skin is pierced using a needle. A large number of allergens can be tested in one session. Normally includes a histamine (positive) and sterile water (negative) control. A wheal will typically develop if a patient has an allergy. Can be interpreted after 15 minutes
Useful for food allergies and also pollen and wasp/bee venom
Describe RAST testing?
what is this useful for?
Radioallergosorbent test (RAST)
Determines the amount of IgE that reacts specifically with suspected or known allergens, for example IgE to egg protein. Results are given in grades from 0 (negative) to 6 (strongly positive)
Useful for food allergies inhaled allergens (e.g. pollen) and wasp/bee venom
Blood tests may be used when skin prick tests are not suitable, for example if there is extensive eczema or if the .
Describe skin patch testing - what is this used for?
Useful for contact dermatitis. Around 30-40 allergens are placed on the back. Irritants may also be tested for. The results are read 48 hours later by a dermatologist
IgG
what proportion of serum antibodies?
type of molecule?
what is the role?
75%
Monomer
Enhance phaGocytosis of bacteria and viruses.
IgA
what proportion of serum antibodies?
type of molecule?
what is the role?
15%
Mono+Dimer
Found in secretions, provide localized protection on mucous membranes
IgM
what proportion of serum antibodies?
type of molecule?
what is the role?
10%
Pentamer
first to be secreted, anti-A, B blood antibodies → Blood Transfusion
IgD
what proportion of serum antibodies?
type of molecule?
what is the role?
1%
Monomer
Involved in activation of B cells
IgE
what proportion of serum antibodies?
type of molecule?
what is the role?
0.1%
Monomer
Involved in allergic reactions
How much antibody does an average adult produce everyday?
Each day an average adult produces approximately 3gm of antibodies, about two-thirds of this IgA
IgG
- half life
- how many binding sites
- what 4 things can the Fc portion of IgG do?
• IgG makes up approximately 75% of the serum antibodies.
• IgG has a half-life of 7-23 days depending on the subclass.
• IgG is a monomer and has 2 epitope-binding sites
• The Fc portion of IgG can activate the classical complement pathway.
• The Fc portion of IgG can bind to macrophage and neutrophils for enhanced phaGocytosis.
• The Fc portion of IgG can bind to NK cells for antibody-dependent cytotoxicity (ADCC).
• The Fc portion of IgG enables it to cross the placenta. (IgG is the only class of antibody that
can cross the placenta and enter the fetal circulation).
IgA
- where is this mainly found
- where is this mainly produced
- what does the molecule look like
- what the does Fc portion of IgA do
- what complement pathway does this activate
• IgA makes up approximately 15% of the serum antibodies, it has a half-life of ≈ 5 days.
• IgA is found mainly in body secretions (saliva, mucous, tears, colostrum and milk) as
secretory IgA (sIgA) where it protects internal body surfaces exposed to the environment
by blocking the attachment of bacteria and viruses to mucous membranes.
• Secretory IgA is the most immunoglobulin produced.
• IgA is made primarily in the mucosal-associated lymphoid tissues (MALT).
• IgA appears as a dimer of 2 “Y”-shaped molecules and has 4 epitope-binding sites and a
secretory component to protect it from digestive enzymes in the secretions
• The Fc portion of secretory IgA binds to components of mucous and contributes to the
ability of mucous to trap microbes.
• IgA can activate the alternative complement pathway. (IgA ≈ Alternate)
IgM
- when is this produced
- what is the half life
- what kind of molecule is this
- what do the Fc portions of IgM do
- where are momeric forms of IgM found
• IgM makes up approximately 10% of the serum antibodies and is the first antibody produced
during an immune response.
• IgM has a half-life of about 5 days.
• IgM is a pentamer and has 10 epitope-binding sites
• The Fc portions of IgM are able to activate the classical complement pathway (most efficient)
• Monomeric forms of IgM are found on the surface of B-lymphocytes as B-cell receptors or sIg.
IgD
- what kind of molecule is this
- where is this found
- what may this play a role in
• IgD makes up approximately 1% of the serum antibodies.
• IgD is a monomer and has 2 epitope-binding sites.
• IgD is found on the surface of B-lymphocytes (along with monomeric IgM) as a B-cell
receptor or sIg where it may control of B-lymphocyte activation and suppression.
• IgD may play a role in eliminating B-lymphocytes generating self-reactive autoantibodies.
IgE:
- where is this found
- what kind of molecule is this
- what is this made in response to
- how may this protect external mucosal surfaces
- what does the Fc portion of IgE do?
• IgE makes up about 0.002% of the serum antibodies with a half-life of 2 days.
• Most IgE is tightly bound to basophils and mast cells via its Fc region.
• IgE is a monomer and has 2 epitope-binding sites.
• IgE is made in response to parasitic worms (helminths) and arthropods. It is also often made in
response to allergens.
• IgE may protect external mucosal surfaces by promoting inflammation, enabling IgG,
complement proteins, and leucocytes to enter the tissues.
• The Fc portion of IgE can bind to mast cells and basophils where it mediates many allergic
reactions. Cross linking of cell-bound IgE by antigen triggers the release of vasodilators for an
inflammatory response.
• The Fc portion of IgE made against parasitic worms and arthropods can bind to
eosinophils enabling opsonization. This is a major defense against parasitic worms and arthropods.
what kind of disorders are:
• Chronic granulomatous disease
• Chediak-higashi syndrome
• Leukocyte adhesion deficiency
neutrophil disorders
what kind of disorders are:
• IgA deficiency
• Bruton’s congenital agammaglobulinemia
• Common variable immunodeficiency
B-cell disorders
what kind of disorder is DiGeorge syndrome?
T-cell disorders
• DiGeorge syndrome is an example of a microdeletion syndrome. Patients are consequently at ↑ risk of viral and fungal infections.
C - Cardiac abnormalities A - Abnormal facies T - Thymic aplasia C - Cleft palate H - Hypocalcaemia/ hypoparathyroidism 22 - Caused by chromosome 22 deletion
what kind of disorders are:
• Severe combined immunodeficiency
• Ataxic telangiectasia
• Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome
Combined B- and T-cell disorders
How is ataxic telangiectasia inherited?
- what does this increase the risk of?
- what do patients suffer from?
Ataxic telangiectasia (Autosomal recessive - 10% risk of developing malignancy, lymphoma or leukaemia, but also non-lymphoid tumours - recurrent chest infections)
How is wiskott-aldrich syndrome inherited?
- what is this thought to be caused by?
- what are the features?
Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome inherited in an X-linked recessive fashion and is thought to be caused by mutation in the WASP gene. Features include recurrent bacterial infections (e.g. chest), eczema and thrombocytopenia with low IgG.
what are the two main types of ANCA?
There are two main types of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) - cytoplasmic (cANCA) and perinuclear (pANCA)
what is: • cANCA assoc with?
• pANCA assoc with?
- cANCA - Wegener’s Granulomatosis (Granulomatosis with polyangiitis)
- pANCA - Churg-Strauss syndrome + others
cANCA
- what is the most common target?
- is there a correlation between cANCA levels and disease activity?
- what 2 conditions are assoc?
- Most common target serine proteinase 3 (PR3)
- Some correlation between cANCA levels and disease activity
- Wegener’s granulomatosis, positive in > 90%
- Microscopic polyangiitis, positive in 40%
pANCA
- what is the most common target?
- can levels be used to monitor disease activity?
- what 4 diseases in this assoc with?
- Most common target is myeloperoxidase (MPO)
- Cannot use level of pANCA to monitor disease activity
- Associated with immune crescentic glomerulonephritis (positive in c. 80% of patients)
- Microscopic polyangiitis, positive in 50-75%
- Churg-Strauss syndrome, positive in 60%
- Wegener’s granulomatosis, positive in 25%
• Inflammatory bowel disease (UC > Crohn’s)
• Connective tissue disorders: RA, SLE, Sjogren’s
• Autoimmune hepatitis
are all ? positive
Other causes of positive ANCA (usually pANCA)
• Inflammatory bowel disease (UC > Crohn’s)
• Connective tissue disorders: RA, SLE, Sjogren’s
• Autoimmune hepatitis
what is C3 deficiency assoc with
what is C5 deficiency assoc with
Whilst C3 deficiency is associated with recurrent bacterial infections, C5 deficiency is more
characteristically associated with disseminated meningococcal infection
what is complement?
Complement is a series of proteins that circulate in plasma and are involved in the inflammatory and immune reaction of the body. Complement proteins are involved in chemotaxis, cell lysis and opsonisation
C1 inhibitor (C1-INH) protein deficiency
- what does this causes?
- what is C1-INH?
- what is the disease mechanism?
- Causes hereditary angiedema
- C1-INH is a multifunctional serine protease inhibitor
- Probable mechanism is uncontrolled release of bradykinin resulting in edema of tissues
what does C1q, C1rs, C2, C4 deficiency (classical pathway components) cause?
- Predisposes to immune complex disease
* E.g. SLE, Henoch-Schonlein Purpura
what does C3 deficiency cause?
• Causes recurrent bacterial infections
what does C5 deficiency cause?
- Predisposes to Leiner disease
- Recurrent diarrhea, wasting and seborrhoeic dermatitis
- Disseminated meningococcal infection.
what does C5-9 deficiency cause?
- Encodes the membrane attack complex (MAC)
* Particularly prone to Neisseria meningitidis infection
how is anion gap worked out? what is a normal anion gap?
Metabolic Acidosis is commonly classified according to the anion gap. This can be calculated by: (Na+ + K+) - (Cl- + HCO-3). If a question supplies the chloride level then this is often a clue that the anion gap should be calculated. The normal range = 10-18 mmol/L
what are 5 causes of normal anion gap metabolic acidosis?
Normal anion gap (hyperchloraemic metabolic acidosis)
• Gastrointestinal bicarbonate loss: diarrhea, ureterosigmoidostomy, fistula
• Renal tubular acidosis
• Drugs: e.g. Acetazolamide
• Ammonium chloride injection
• Addison’s disease
what are 4 causes of raised anion gap?
Raised anion gap • Lactate: shock, hypoxia • Ketones: DKA, alcohol • Urate: renal failure • Acid poisoning: salicylates, methanol
what are two types of lactic acidosis?
- Lactic acidosis type A: shock, hypoxia, burns
* Lactic acidosis type B: metformin
what is metabolic alkalosis caused by?
Metabolic Alkalosis may be caused by a loss of hydrogen ions or a gain of bicarbonate. It is due mainly to problems of the kidney or gastrointestinal tract
what are causes of metabolic alkalosis?
- Vomiting / aspiration (e.g. Peptic ulcer leading to pyloric stenosis, nasogastric suction)
- Diuretics
- Liquorice, carbenoxolone
- Hypokalemia
- Primary hyperaldosteronism
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
- Cushing’s syndrome
- Bartter’s syndrome
how does the RAAS contribute to metabolic alkalosis?
• Activation of renin-angiotensin II-aldosterone (RAA) system is a key factor
• Aldosterone causes reabsorption of Na+ in exchange for H+ in the distal convoluted tubule
• ECF depletion (vomiting, diuretics) → Na+ and Cl- loss → activation of RAA system → raised
aldosterone levels
why does hypokalaemia cause metabolic alkalosis?
• In Hypokalemia, K+ shift from cells → ECF. Alkalosis is caused by shift of H+ into cells to
maintain neutrality
what levels of plasma osmolality:
hypertonic
isotonic
hypotonic
hyper - > 290
iso - 290-275
hypo - < 275
describe causes of hyponatraemia with a urinary sodium of >20 and hypovolaemic patient?
Sodium depletion, renal loss (patient often hypovolaemic)
• Diuretics
• Diuretic stage of renal failure
• Addison’s
describe causes of hyponatraemia with a urinary sodium of >20 and euvolaemic patient?
- SIADH (urine osmolality > 500 mmol/kg)
* Hypothyroidism
what are causes of hyponatraemia with a urinary sodium of <20 and patient euvolaemic/hypovolaemic?
Sodium depletion, extra-renal loss
• Diarrhea, vomiting, sweating
• Burns, adenoma of rectum
what are causes of hyponatraemia with a urinary sodium of <20 and patient hypervolaemic and oedematous?
Water excess (patient often hypervolaemic and edematous)
• Secondary hyperaldosteronism: CCF, cirrhosis
• ↓ GFR: renal failure with volume overload
• IV dextrose, psychogenic polydipsia
what are causes of hypernatraemia?
- Dehydration
- Osmotic diuresis e.g. Hyperosmolar non-ketotic diabetic coma
- Diabetes insipidus
- Excess IV saline
what are causes of hyperkalaemia?
Causes of Hyperkalemia: • Acute renal failure • Drugs*: potassium sparing diuretics, ACE inhibitors, Cyclosporin • Metabolic acidosis • Addison's • Rhabdomyolysis • Massive blood transfusion
*β-blockers interfere with potassium transport into cells and can potentially cause Hyperkalemia in renal failure patients
what is the management of hyperkalaemia?
Stabilisation of the cardiac membrane
• intravenous calcium gluconate
Short-term shift in potassium from extracellular to intracellular fluid compartment
• combined insulin/dextrose infusion
• nebulised salbutamol
Removal of potassium from the body
• calcium resonium (orally or enema)
• loop diuretics
• dialysis
why is hyperkalaemia assoc. with acidosis?
Potassium and hydrogen can be thought of as competitors. Hyperkalemia tends to be associated with acidosis because as potassium levels rise fewer hydrogen ions can enter the cells
what are causes of hypokalaemia with alkalosis?
Hypokalemia with alkalosis • V omiting • Diuretics • Cushing's syndrome • Conn's syndrome (primary hyperaldosteronism)
what are the causes of hypokalaemia with acidosis?
Hypokalemia with acidosis: • Diarrhea • Renal tubular acidosis • Acetazolamide • Partially treated DKA
what are the features of hypokalaemia on ECG?
- U waves
- Small or absent T waves (occasionally inversion)
- Prolong PR interval
- ST depression
- Long QT
n Hypokalemia, U have no Pot and no T, but a long PR and a long QT
what are causes of hypomagnesaemia?
- Diuretics
- Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)
- Diarrhea
- Alcohol
- Hypokalemia, hypocalcemia
what are features of hypomagnesaemia?
- Paraesthesia
- Tetany
- Seizures
- Arrhythmias
- ↓ PTH secretion → hypocalcemia
- ECG features similar to those of Hypokalemia
- Exacerbates digoxin toxicity
what are causes of hypophosphataemia?
- Alcohol excess
- Acute liver failure
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- Refeeding syndrome (like in anorexia nervosa management)
- Primary hyperparathyroidism
- Osteomalacia
what does hypophosphataemia cause?
- Red blood cell hemolysis
- White blood cell and platelet dysfunction
- Muscle weakness and rhabdomyolysis
- Central nervous system dysfunction
what does vitamin D do to increase calcium levels?
Vitamin D ↑ plasma calcium and plasma phosphate levels by promoting renal tubular absorption
and gut absorption of calcium and increasing renal phosphate reabsorption
what two hormones primarily control calcium?
what others have a role?
The two hormones which primarily control calcium metabolism are:
• parathyroid hormone (PTH)
• vitamin D
- Calcitonin: secreted from the C cells of the thyroid gland
- Thyroxine
- Growth hormone
what are the action of PTH?
Actions of parathyroid hormone (↑ plasma Ca from bones and kidneys and activation of Vit-D)
• ↑ plasma calcium, ↓ plasma phosphate
• ↑ renal tubular reabsorption of calcium
• ↑ osteoclastic activity
• ↑ renal conversion of 25-hydroxy vitamin D to 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D
• ↓ renal phosphate reabsorption
what does vitamin D do?
Actions of vitamin D (↑ plasma Ca from bones and kidneys and GIT)
• ↑ plasma calcium and ↑ plasma phosphate
• ↑ renal tubular reabsorption and gut absorption of calcium
• ↑ osteoclastic activity
• ↑ renal phosphate reabsorption
what are 7 causes of hypocalcaemia?
Causes
• Vitamin D deficiency (osteomalacia)
• Chronic renal failure
• Hypoparathyroidism (e.g. Post thyroid/parathyroid surgery)
• Pseudohypoparathyroidism (target cells insensitive to PTH)
• Rhabdomyolysis (initial stages)
• Magnesium deficiency (due to end organ PTH resistance)
Acute pancreatitis may also cause hypocalcemia. Contamination of blood samples with EDTA may also give falsely low calcium levels
what does osteomalacia cause in terms of calcium and phosphate?
Osteomalacia causes hypocalcemia associated with a low serum phosphate
what does hypocalcaemia do on ECG?
Hypocalcemia causes Prolonged QT in ECG
how does cisplatin affect magnesium?
Cisplatin, often used in the management of non-small cell lung cancer, is a well known cause of
magnesium deficiency. Without first correcting magnesium levels it is difficult to reverse hypocalcemia
what are the features of hypocalcaemia?
Features
• Tetany: muscle twitching and spasm
• Perioral paraesthesia
• If chronic: depression, cataracts
what is trousseaus sign?
Trousseau’s sign
• Carpal spasm if the brachial artery occluded by inflating the blood pressure cuff and maintaining pressure above systolic
• Wrist flexion and fingers drawn together
• Seen in around 95% of patients with hypocalcemia and around 1% of normocalcaemic people
what is chvosteks sign?
Chvostek’s sign
• Tapping over parotid causes facial muscles to twitch
• Seen in around 70% of patients with hypocalcemia and around 10% of normocalcaemic people
what is the management of hypocalcaemia?
Management
• Acute management of severe hypocalcemia is with intravenous replacement. The preferred method is with intravenous calcium gluconate, 10ml of 10% solution over 10 minutes
• Intravenous calcium chloride is more likely to cause local irritation
• ECG monitoring is recommended
• Further management depends on the underlying cause
what are the most common causes of hypercalcaemia?
The most common causes of hypercalcemia are malignancy (bone metastases, myeloma, PTHrP from squamous cell lung cancer) and primary hyperparathyroidism
how to differentiate MGUS and myeloma?
One of the key differentiating features between monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain
significance (MGUS) and myeloma is the absence of complications such as immune paresis,
hypercalcemia and bone pain
• Sarcoidosis/TB/histoplasmosis • Vitamin D intoxication • Acromegaly • Thyrotoxicosis • Milk-alkali syndrome • Drugs: thiazides, Ca++ containing antacids • Dehydration • Addison's disease • Paget's disease of the bone and prolonged immobilisation can all cause:
hypercalcaemia
what is the management of hypercalcaemia?
Management
The initial management of hypercalcemia is rehydration with normal saline, typically 3-4 litres/day. Following rehydration bisphosphonates may be used. They typically take 2-3 days to work with maximal effect being seen at 7 days
Other options include:
• Calcitonin - quicker effect than bisphosphonates
• Steroids in sarcoidosis
what may hyperuricaemia be secondary to?
Hyperuricemia ↑ levels of uric acid may be seen secondary to either ↑ cell turnover or ↓ renal excretion of uric acid. Hyperuricemia may be found in asymptomatic patients who have not experienced attacks of gout
Hyperuricemia may be associated with both hyperlipidemia and hypertension. It may also be
seen in conjunction with the metabolic syndrome
what may increase synthesis of uric acid? 6
- Lesch-Nyhan disease
- Myeloproliferative disorders
- Diet rich in purines
- Exercise
- Psoriasis
- Cytotoxics
what 5 things may decrease excretion of uric acid?
- Drugs: low-dose aspirin, diuretics, pyrazinamide
- Pre-eclampsia
- Alcohol
- Renal failure
- Lead
what is rheumatoid factor?
Rheumatoid factor is an IgM antibody against IgG
Rheumatoid Factor (RF) is a circulatinjg antibody (usually IgM) which reacts with antigenic sites on the Fc portion of the patients own IgG
how can rheumatoid factor be detected?
RF can be detected by:
• Rose-Waaler test: sheep red cell agglutination
• Latex agglutination test (less specific)
what are high levels of rheumatoid factor assoc with?
RF is positive in 70-80% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis; high titre levels are associated with severe progressive disease (prognosis but NOT a marker of disease activity)
what does nitric oxide do?
Nitric Oxide: vasodilation+inhibits platelet aggregation
How is nitric acid formed? how long is this half-life?
Nitric Oxide previously known as endothelium derived relaxation factor, nitric oxide (NO) has emerged as a molecule which is integral to many physiological and pathological processes. It is formed from L-arginine and oxygen by nitric oxide synthetase (NOS). An inducible form of NOS has been shown to be present in macrophages. Nitric oxide has a very short half-life (seconds), being inactivated by oxygen free radicals
what are the effects of nitric oxide?
- Acts on guanylate cyclase leading to raised intracellular cGMP levels and therefore decreasing Ca++ levels
- Vasodilation, mainly venodilation
- Inhibits platelet aggregation
- What is the underproduction of NO implicated in?
- what does the lack of NO promote?
- what happens to NO in sepsis?
- what are organic nitrates used to treat?
- how does sildenafil affect NO?
• Underproduction of NO is implicated in hypertrophic pyloric stenosis
• Lack of NO is thought to promote atherosclerosis
• In sepsis ↑ levels of NO contribute to septic shock
• Organic nitrates (metabolism produces NO) is widely used to treat cardiovascular disease (e.g.
Angina, heart failure)
• Sildenafil is thought to potentiate the action of NO on penile smooth muscle and is used in the
treatment of erectile dysfunctions
What is ANP?
- what is this secreted by?
- what does ANP work to do?
Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP) is a powerful vasodilator, and a protein (polypeptide) hormone secreted by heart muscle cells. It is involved in the homeostatic control of body water, sodium, potassium and fat (adipose tissue). ANP acts to ↓ the water, sodium and adipose loads on the circulatory system, thereby reducing blood pressure
when is ANP secreted and where from? how is this degraded?
- Secreted mainly from myocytes of right atrium and ventricle in response to ↑ blood volume
- Secreted by both the right and left atria (right»_space; left)
- 28 amino acid peptide hormone, which acts via cGMP
- Degraded by endopeptidases
what are the actions of ANP?
Actions
• Natriuretic, i.e. Promotes excretion of sodium
• Lowers BP
• Antagonises actions of angiotensin II, aldosterone
BNP - actions:
• Vasodilator
• Diuretic and natriuretic
• Suppresses both sympathetic tone and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
BNP:
- where is this produced?
- what are causes of raised BNP?
- what are causes of reduced BNP?
B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) hormone produced mainly by the left ventricular myocardium in response to strain
Whilst heart failure is the most obvious cause of raised BNP levels any cause of left ventricular dysfunction such as myocardial ischemia or valvular disease may raise levels. Raised levels may also be seen due to ↓ excretion in patients with chronic kidney disease. Factors which ↓ BNP levels include: treatment with ACE inhibitors, angiotensin-2 receptor blockers and diuretics.
what is BNP useful for?
Diagnosing patients with acute dyspnea
• A low concentration of BNP(< 100pg/ml) makes a diagnosis of heart failure unlikely, but raised
levels should prompt further investigation to confirm the diagnosis
• NICE currently recommends BNP as a helpful test to rule out a diagnosis of heart failure
Prognosis in patients with chronic heart failure
• Initial evidence suggests BNP is an extremely useful marker of prognosis
Guiding treatment in patients with chronic heart failure • Effective treatment lowers BNP levels
Screening for cardiac dysfunction
• Not currently recommended for population screening
what is endothelin?
- what is this secreted initially as?
- how does this lead to calcium release?
- what is this important in the pathogenesis of?
Endothelin is a potent, long-acting vasoconstrictor and bronchoconstrictor. It is secreted initially as a prohormone by the vascular endothelium and later converted to ET-1 by the action of endothelin converting enzyme. It acts via interaction with a G-protein linked to phospholipase C leading to calcium release. Endothelin is thought to be important in the pathogenesis of many diseases including primary pulmonary hypertension (endothelin antagonists are now used), cardiac failure, hepatorenal syndrome and Raynaud’s
what promotes the release of endothelin?
- Angiotensin II
- ADH
- Hypoxia
- Mechanical shearing forces
what inhibits the release of endothelin?
• Nitric oxide • Prostacyclin
what is TNF?
Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine with multiple roles in the immune system
what is TNF secreted by?
what are its 5 main actions?
TNF is secreted mainly by macrophages and has a number of effects on the immune system, acting
mainly in a paracrine fashion:
• Activates macrophages and neutrophils
• Acts as costimulator for T cell activation
• Key mediator of bodies response to gram NEGATIVE septicemia
• Similar properties to IL-1
• Anti-tumour effect (e.g. Phospholipase activation)
what does TNF-alpha bind to? what does TNF alpha activate?
TNF-α binds to p55 and p75 receptors, these receptors can induce apoptosis. It also cause activation of NFkB
what are endothelial effects of TNF?
Endothelial effects include ↑ expression of selectins and ↑ production of platelet activating factor, IL-1 and prostaglandins. TNF promotes the proliferation of fibroblasts and their production of protease and collagenase. It is thought fragments of receptors act as binding points in serum.
what are systemic effects of TNF?
Systemic effects include pyrexia, ↑ acute phase proteins and disordered metabolism leading to cachexia. TNF is important in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis - TNF blockers (e.g. infliximab, etanercept) are now licensed for treatment of severe rheumatoid.
name 3 TNF blockers
what are adverse effects of TNF blockers?
TNF blockers
• Infliximab: monoclonal antibody, IV administration
• Etanercept: fusion protein that reversibly binds soluble TNF receptors, subcutaneous
administration
• Adalimumab: monoclonal antibody, subcutaneous administration
• Adverse effects of TNF blockers include reactivation of latent tuberculosis and demyelination
what are interferons?
-how are these classified?
what do IFN-alpha and IFN-beta bind to?
what does IFN-gamma bind to?
Interferons (IFN) are cytokines released by the body in response to viral infections and neoplasia. They are classified according to cellular origin and the type of receptor they bind to. IFN-α and IFN-β bind to type-1 receptors, whilst IFN-gamma binds only to type-2 receptors.
IFN-Alpha:
- what is this produced by?
- what action does this have?
- what diseases is this useful against?
- what are the adverse effects?
- Produced by Leucocytes
- Antiviral action
- Useful in hepatitis B & C, kaposi’s sarcoma, metastatic renal cell cancer, hairy cell leukemia
- Adverse effects include fLu-Like symptoms and depression
IFN-β
- what is this produced by?
- what action does this have?
- what disease is this important for?
IFN-β
• Produced by fibroBlasts
• Antiviral action
• ↓ the frequency of exacerbations in patients with relapsing-remitting MS
IFN-gamma
- what is this produced by?
- what is the main actio?
- what diseases is this useful in?
• Produced by T lymphocytes & NK cells
• weaker antiviral action (inhibit viral duplication), more of a role in immunomodulation
particularly macrophage activation
• May be useful in chronic granulomatous disease and osteopetrosis
what are leukotrienes?
-what are leukotriene antagonists used for?
Leukotrienes are fatty molecules of the immune system that contribute to inflammation in asthma and bronchitis. Leukotriene antagonists are used to treat asthma and bronchitis.
what are 4 functions of leukotrienes?
- Mediators of inflammation and allergic reactions
- Cause bronchoconstriction, mucous production
- ↑ vascular permeability, attract leukocytes
- Leukotriene D4 has been identified as the SRS-A (slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis)
how are leukotrienes produced?
• secreted by leukocytes
• formed from arachidonic acid by action of lipoxygenase
• it is thought that the NSAID induced bronchospasm in asthmatics is secondary to the express
production of leukotrienes due to the inhibition of prostaglandin synthetase
what is interleukin 1?
-what is this secreted by?
Interleukin 1 (IL-1) is a key mediator of the immune response. It is secreted mainly by macrophages and monocytes and acts as a costimulator of T cell and B cell proliferation
what are the effects of interleukin 1?
Acts as a costimulator of T cell and B cell proliferation
Other effects include increasing the expression of adhesion molecules on the endothelium. By stimulating the release by the endothelium of vasoactive factors such as PAF, nitric oxide and prostacyclin it also causes vasodilation and ↑ vascular permeability. It is therefore one of the mediators of shock in sepsis. Along with IL-6 and TNF, it acts on the hypothalamus causing pyrexia.
what are the two major subsets of T helper cells?
Th1
Th2
Th1:
- what is his involved in?
- what does this secrete?
Th1
• Involved in the cell mediated response and delayed (type IV) hypersensitivity
• Secrete IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-3
Th2
- what is this involved in?
- what does this secrete?
Th2
• Involved in mediating humoral (antibody) immunity
• e.g. Stimulating production of IgE in asthma
• Secrete IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13
what causes a raised ALP and raised Ca?
- Paget’s
- Bone metastases
- Hyperparathyroidism
what causes a raised ALP and low calcium?
• Osteomalacia • Renal failure
what is ESR?
-what does this depend on?
ESR is a non-specific marker of inflammation and depends on both the size, shape and number of red blood cells and the concentration of plasma proteins such as fibrinogen, α2-globulins and gamma globulins
- Temporal arteritis
- Myeloma
- Other connective tissue disorders e.g. Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Other malignancies
- Infection
- Other factors which raise ESR: increasing age, ♀ sex, anemia
are all causes of
raised ESR
- Polycythemia
- Afibrinogenemia/hypofibrinogenemia
are all causes of
low ESR
- Myelofibrosis
- Leukemoid reactions
- Polycythemia rubra vera
- Infections
- Steroids, Cushing’s syndrome
- Pregnancy, oral contraceptive pill
are all assoc. with
raised Leukocyte alkaline phosphatase: