Diabetes Pharmacology and Guidelines Flashcards
Describe the chemical (primary) structure of insulin:
Two peptide chain
Chain A: 21 a.a residues
Chain B: 30 a.a residues
Chains linked by disulphide bridges between (A7 and B7) and (A20 and B19)- tertiary
Chain A is also internally bridged between A6 and A11
What are the different types of insulin and their differences and which ones are used now?
Bovine
Porcine
Human
Very similar but different a.a residues on A8, A10 and B30
Describe the physical (secondary) structure of insulin:
Alpha helix
Three segments
Intramolecular H-bonding between amide groups
Describe the physical (tertiary) structure of insulin:
Disulfide bridges
Describe the Dimer (quaternary) structure of insulin:
In solution exists as dimers
Anti-parallel B sheet formed between B23 and B30, with B28 proline which is important in weak hydrophobic interactions stabilised by H-bonding involving R24 and R26
Describe the Hexamer (quaternary) structure of insulin:
Two Zn ions and three insulin dimers
Globular, not soluble
Interior is mainly non polar a.a side chains
Exterior is mainly polar a.a side chains
What are the two forms of conformation of the B chain in insulin?
T (extended B1 to B8)
R (alpha helix B1 to B8)
Which one of the conformation of the B chain in insulin is more predominant and stable?
R state found in presence of phenol or cresol
R state is more stable
What does insulin need to be in order to be absorbed?
Dissolved
What are the physical properties of insulin?
White powder
Can be amorphous or crystalline
Practically insoluble in water, ethanol and ethers
Dissolves in dilute mineral acids
Dissolves and decomposes in dilute solutions of alkali hydroxides
Which structure of insulin will dissolve faster?
Amorphous
What is the process in obtaining natural insulin?
Pig or cow, insulin from pancreas
Needs to be free from transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSF)
Long and involved purification process: extraction, purification, analysis
Describe semi-synthetic human insulin?
Chemically identical to human insulin
Enzymatically modified porcine insulin
Label must state ‘emp’
How is semi-synthetic human insulin made?
Generate purified porcine insulin as normal and then change the B30 residue from alanine to threonine by action of an enzyme
What does ‘emp’ stand for on an insulin label?
Enzymatically modified porcine
Describe biosynthetic human insulin:
Chemically identical to human insulin
Recombinant DNA tech
Label must contain the method of preparation :
‘Prb’ ‘Crb’ ‘Pyr’
How is biosynthetic human insulin made?
Identify gene codes for insulin in humans
Insert gene into the plasmid of a bacterial or fungal vector
Grow the modified bacterium/fungus
Harvest and purify the human insulin
What does ‘Prb’, ‘Crb’ and ‘Pyr’ stand for on an insulin label?
Prb and Crb= purified recombinant bacterial
Pyr= purified yeast recombinant
What is one unit equivalent to in human insulin?
0.0347mg
How is insulin administered?
Normally Subcutaneously
Occasionally IM
IV in emergencies
Where is the absorption of insulin fastest when it is injected and what can also increase the rate of absorption?
Fastest at abdominal wall
Exercise and heat will increase rate
Name the five types of insulin formulations:
Soluble insulin (neutral insulin)
Insulin Zinc suspension
Isophane insulin (NPH-neutral protamine hagedorn)
Protamine zinc insulin
Biphasic isophane insulin
Describe soluble insulin:
Insulin is all in solution in the dimer form, fast acting and clear
Describe Insulin zinc suspension:
Crystalline/ amorphous/ mixed (70:30 C:A)
Insulin is all as solid particles so it takes time to go from hexamers to dimers as in complex
Describe Isophane insulin:
Insulin in complex with protamine
Protamine sulfate= the sulphates of the basic peptides extracted from the sperm of roe of fish, usually salmon or herring
Slow dissolution as in complex
Describe protamine zinc insulin:
Complexed with both protamine and zinc
Describe Biphasic isophane insulin:
Mix of protamine insulin with soluble insulin
What is the onset of action, peak action and DoA time for soluble insulin?
SC:
- Onset- 30-60 mins
- Peak action- 2-4 hours
- DoA- 8 hours
IV:
- Onset- imediate
- Peak action: none
- DoA- 30 mins
What is the onset of action, peak action and DoA time for Zinc suspension?
Crystalline:
- Onset- 4-6 hours
- Peak action- 8-24 hours
- DoA- 28-36 hours
Amorphous:
- Onset- 1-2 hours
- Peak action- 2-4 hours
- DoA- 6-12 hours
Mixed:
- Onset- 1-3 hours
- Peak action- 6-12 hours
- DoA- 18-24 hours
What is the onset of action, peak action and DoA time for Isophane insulin?
- Onset- 1-2 hours
- Peak action- 4-12 hours
- DoA- 24 hours
What is the onset of action, peak action and DoA time for protamine zinc insulin?
- Onset- 4-6 hours
- Peak action- 10-20 hours
- DoA- 24-36 hours
Name three short acting new human insulin analogues:
Insulin Aspart (NovoRapid)
Insulin Glulisine (Apidra)
Insulin Lispro (Humalog)
Describe and explain the features of Insulin Aspart:
Produced using recombinant yeast
B28 proline in human insulin is replaced by aspartic acid
Aspartic acid is negatively charged at physiological pH whereas proline is non-ionisable:
-Increase in charge repulsion between neighbouring molecules
-Self aggregation reduced to decrease in dimer formation so increase in dissolution
-molecules act more independently
-molecules diffuse more rapidly to give a quicker clinical effect
-receptor interaction unchanged
What is the onset of action, peak action and DoA time for Insulin Aspart?
- Onset- 10-20mins
- Peak action- 1-3 hours
- DoA- 3-5 hours
Describe and explain the features of Insulin Glulisine:
Produced using recombinant bacteria (Ecoli)
B3 asparagine in human insulin replaced by lysine
B29 lysine in human insulin replaced by glutamic acid:
-Increased charged repulsion between neighbouring moleucles
-self aggregation reduced
-moluecules diffuse more rapidly to give a quicker clinal effect
Receptor interaction unchanged
What is the onset of action, peak action and DoA time for Insulin Glulisine?
- Onset- 5-10mins
- Peak action- 1 hour
- DoA- 2-4 hours
Describe and explain the features of Insulin Lispro:
Produced using recombinant bacteria (E coli)
B28 proline and B29 lysine in human insulin are reversed
Reversal of lysine and proline reduces potential for hydrophobic interactions between molecules (dimer formation due to hydrophobic):
-increased charge repulsion between neighbouring molecules
- decreasing self aggregation, molecules act more independently
-molecules diffuse more rapidly to give a quicker clinical effect
Receptor interaction unchanged
What is the onset of action, peak action and DoA time for Insulin Lispro?
- Onset- 10-20 mins
- Peak action- 1-2 hours
- DoA- 2-5 hours
In which way can insulin lispro be changed in order to make it have a longer DoA?
Complexed with protamine
Name three long acting new human insulin analogues:
Insulin Glargine (Lantus, Sanofi, Elililly)
Insulin Detemir (Levemir)
Insulin Degludec (Tresiba)
Describe and explain the features of Insulin Glargine:
Produced using recombinant bacteria (Ecoli)
A21 asparagine in human insulin replaced by glycine
Two arginine residues are added at the C terminus of the B chain (positions B31,B32)
Isoelectric point is changed (zero charge )
-completely soluble at pH 4
-low solubility at pH 7, so precipitates after SC injection, so it dissolves more slowly so prolonged absorption
Receptor interaction unchanged
What is the onset of action, peak action and DoA time for Insulin Glargine?
- Onset- 1 hour
- Peak action- NO PEAK
- DoA- 24 hours
Describe and explain the features of insulin Detemir:
Produced using recombinant yeast (saccharomyces cerevisiae)
B30 threonine removed and C14 fatty acid chain (myristic acid) added to B29 lysine
Strong molecular self association (not in monomer form as increase in hydrophobic interactions) leads to slow and prolonged absorption
Extensive binding to plasma albumin leads to consistent low plasma levels of monomer for absorption
Receptor interaction unchanged
What is the onset of action, peak action and DoA time for Insulin Determir?
- Onset- 1 hour
- Peak action- slight peak after 6 hours
- DoA- 24 hours
Describe and explain the features of insulin Degludec:
Produced using recombinant yeast (saccharomyces cerevisiae)
B30 threonine removed and C16 fatty diacid (hexadecanoic acid) linked to lysine B29 via a glutamate acid linker (increase hydrophobic)
Strong molecular self association of dihexamers to form linear multihexamers, which precipitate in the SC tissue
Extensive binding to albumin in the blood stream like insulin detemir
Receptor interaction unchanged
Clear even if long acting
What is the onset of action, peak action and DoA time for Insulin Degludec?
- Onset- 30-90 mins
- Peak action- NO PEAK
- DoA- 24 hours
Name an intermediate acting insulin:
NPH insulin- Humulin N
What is the NICE guidance on insulin therapy for T1D?
1,2 or 3 injections per day, usually injections of short acting + intermediate acting (biphasic regimen)
No regiment suits all
What is the NICE guidance on insulin therapy for T2D?
NPH insulin, injected once or twice a day
NPH+ short acting insulin should be considered especially if pts HbA1c is 75mmol (9%) or more
Insulin detemir/glargine should be considered as an alternative to NPH
What are the 3 aims of insulin therapy?
To ensure the pt has a normal lifestyle
To treat hyper without causing hypo
Reduce risk of long term complications
Describe rapid acting analogues of insulin:
Novorapid, Humalog
Injected 5-15 mins before eating or immediately after eating
Describe short acting insulin:
Actrapid, Humulin
Injected 15-30 mins before eating
Can act in the body for up to 8 hours
Describe medium acting insulin:
Insultard, Humulin I
Groups of insulin known as NPH
Injected usually at night and work up to 24 hours to keep blood glucose control between meals
Describe long acting insulin:
Levemir, Lantus
Injected usually at night and work up to 24 hours to keep blood glucose control between meals