Endo 2 Flashcards
T/F All nuclear steroid hormones will form hetero or homodimers
TRUE (e.g. cortisol)
mechanism of cortisol signaling
1) converted from corticosterone to cortisol by 11 beta HSD intracellularly
2) form dimer in nucleus
3) binds to response element (GRE) on promoter of gene of interest
4) recruits other co-binding proteins to express/repress gene
what is corticosterone bound to? where is it made? how is corticosterone released?
CBG (90% bound), made in liver;
- need proteases to cleave bonds, enzymes are tissue specific
what else will CBG bind?
aldosterone (30 fold higher affinity for cortisol)
what can decrease CBG?
estrogen, shock, severe infection (will cause higher cortisol levels)
active form of glucocorticoids in humans
cortisol
active form of glucocorticoids in rodents
corticosterone
when does cortisol peak?
around 8AM (released in circadian manner)
what do glucocorticoids make up the majority of?
cortical hormones (made in zona fasiculata- biggest zone)
what does pleiotropic mean?
lots of different effects on multiple tissue types
T/F Every cell in the body has glucocorticoid receptors
True- how/when it acts depends on enzymes that allow cortisol to get into the cell
Main functions of cortisol
1) decreases bone formation (osteoporosis)
2) inhibits the immune response/potent anti-inflammatory
3) maturation of the brain/maintaining arousal/mood
4) maturation of the fetus (increases surfactant in lungs)
5) maintains cardiac output
6) mobilizes glucose, increases gluconeogenesis
metabolic actions of cortisol
mobilizes energy stores, increases lipolysis & proteolysis, antagonizes insulin, inhibits calcium reabsorption; redistributes body fat (abdominal fat)
3 enzymes of the gluconeogenesis pathway that allow cortisol to mobilize glucose
1) glucose 6 phosphatase
2) PEP carboxykinase
3) tyrosine aminotransferase
what does cortisol act on in the muscle?
inhibits Glut4 insertion in the membrane (opposite of insulin); glucose not being taken up by muscles
what does cortisol act on to increase protein degradation? increase lipolysis?
- doesn’t allow FoxO to be phosphorylated; increases E3 ubiquitin ligases which increase protein degradation
- increases transcription of genes for lipolysis
3 things cortisol does to dampen inflammation (actions in cell)
1) increases the production of IkappaB by binding to its promotor; IkappaB can bind more NfKappaB, decrease transcription of inflammatory disease
2) binds to same proinflammatory gene promoters and turn them off
3) create GR-NfKappaB complex to prevent translocation of NFkappaB to the nucleus
how does cortisol suppress the edmea associated with inflammation globally?
1) blocks the prostaglandins from being released- decreases capillary permeability
2) inhibits activation of neutrophils
what does cortisol increase with regard to inflammation?
neutrophils (but inhibits their migration/activation), platelets, RBCs
what part of the adaptive system does cortisol block?
induces atrophy of thymus; get less T cell production which suppresses antibody production
cortisol’s actions on bone
- calcium transport is facilitative and passive
- inhibits synthesis of calcium channels
- low calcium are signals for other hormones
- decreases IGF1 receptors on bone
overall effect of cortisol on cardiovascular system
- shunts blood from periphery (alpha adrenergic stimulation results in constriction) to coronary arteries (increases beta adrenergic receptors to get vasodilation) & brain
- is permissive (helps other hormones do their job)
what is difference between Cushing disease and Cushing syndrome?
syndrome- all of the phenotypic effects associated with excess cortisol production (exogenous) - negative feedback will turn off ACTH
disease- phenotypic changes caused by a corticotroph (pituitary) tumor- have high levels of ACTH since pituitary causing disease
excess cortisol symptoms
moon face, abdominal obesity, subcutaneous fat is thinning, osteoporosis, hypertension (high GCCs activate MR) , glucose intolerant, purple striae (fat re-distribution)
why is glucocorticoid therapy used?
- medical emergencies- potent anti-inflammatory effect
- chronic therapy used with autoimmune diseases (lupus) (shuts down HPA axis, ACTH needed for cells in zona fasiculata, body stops making endogenous cortisol)
- pre-term infants (surfactant)
what do you look for in a synthetic glucocorticoid analog?
maximize GR activity without affecting MR
- prednisone, dexamethasone
what is adrenal insufficiency (AI) and what is the most common type? where is the failure?
- an autoimmune disease causing a failure to secrete glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids or both
- Addison’s is primary type (failure at adrenal)
where is the failure of secondary AI?
- failure to secrete CRH or ACTH
- caused by sudden cessation of glucocorticoid therapy
what does the zona glomerulosa produce?
mineralocorticoids
what are mineralocorticoids?
steroid hormones that regulate sodium/water balance
what is the primary endogenous mineralocorticoid? whats a precursor?
aldosterone; 11-deoxycorticosterone
in what tissues is MR expression high? restricted expression
distal tubule of kidney
colon
salivary ducts
sweat ducts
main target of aldosterone? what is its the main stimulator? what does it cause?
- kidney
- increase in extracellular potassium, stimulates aldosterone via angeiotensin II, extrudes potassium
- is steroid hormone, increases synthesis of epithelial sodium channels (ENaCs)
which system is activated directly by changes in blood volume?
renin-angiotensin-aldosterone
- decreased blood pressure stimulates renin release from JGA of kidney
- renin cleaves ATGEN (from liver) to ATI
- ACE converts to AT II
- AT II is vasoconstrictor and stimulates aldosterone
what’s special about renin?
hormone with no receptor
aldosterone vs AVP (work together to maintain osmoregulation, blood pressure, blood volume)
aldosterone- extracellular volume- by stimulating Na reabsorption, H20 follows, increases ECV fluid volume and blood pressure
AVP- free water balance- changes distal nephron water permeability, secondarily affects sodium concentration in blood
what enzyme de-activates cortisol in mineralocorticoid target cells?
11 beta HSD2 (TWO NOT ONE!!!)
cortisol becomes cortisone