Inflammation and Immunosuppression Flashcards
4 Signs of Inflammation?
- Rubor/Redness - increase in local blood flow caused by vasodilator action of inflammatory mediators
- Tumor/ Swelling - increase in vascular permeability, proteins and fluid leak from vasculature
- Calor/ Heat - increased blood flow
- Dolor/ Pain - direct action on nociceptors
Causes of inflammation (3)
- Noxious Stimulation
- Bacterial/Viral/Fungal infection
- Autoimmune reactions (when adaptive immune system attacks the body’s own tissues)
Triple Response of Lewis
- Flush - drawing a pointed instrument forcefully across the skin produces a band of redness that matches the size and shape of the stimulus due to local release of vasodilator substances e.g. histamine
- Neurogenic inflammation - Activation of sensory fibres will send APs to the spinal cord + brain (pain), and to other collateral branches. Branches release CALCITONIN GENE RELATED PEPTIDE and SUBSTANCE P –> results in local production of histamine causing vasodilatation and increased vascular permeability
- Wheal - leakage of plasma from blood to the extracellular space causes swelling due to increased vascular permeability
Dermatographic utcaria
A condition in which the triple response is exaggerated; largely idiopathic and generally treated with H1-receptor antagonists
Omalizumab
- Monoclonal antibody
- Recognises IgE, decreases mast cell activation
- Allergen bound IgE induces mast cell degranulation when bound to its receptor FcERI
Where is histamine made and found?
- Made from histidine by histidine decarboxylase
- Found in 4 cell types: mast cells, basophils, enterochromaffin-like cells (ECL) in the gut, histaminergic neurones in brain
- In mast cells + basophils - histamine is packaged into acidic granules with a high molecular weight MACROHEPARIN
Sodium Cromoglycate
Mast cell stabiliser; inhibits degranulation
Decreased Ca2+ influx upon mast cell stimulation, inhibits inward Cl- conductance required to maintain a negative enough membrane potential to enable sustained influxes of extracellular Ca2+
- Used to treat mastocytosis + used as eye drop for hayfever (opticrom)
Mepyramine
First generation H1 antagonist - classical antihistamine used in treating histamine-mediated inflammatory responses
- Rapidly permeate blood brain barrier + caused drowsiness; not suited for systemic use but used a topical creams for insect bites
Terfenadine
Second generation H1 antagonist
- Cannot cross the blood brain barrier
- Inhibits Kv11.1 or hERG causing Long QT syndrome
Pro-drug that is metabolised by p450 3A4 into fexofenadine.
Diminished p450 3A4 activity enhances risk of death
Bergamottin
A component of grapefruit juice which inhibits p450 3A4, thus increasing the potency of Terfenadine (Long QT syndrome)
Fexofenadine/ Loratadine
Third generation H1 antagonists
- Non-drowsy, lack cardiac side effects
- Mainly used in treating hay fever, allergies and urticaria
Adrenaline
Administered intramuscularly in anaphylaxis to counteract systemic vasodilatation and reduction in tissue perfusion
- Relieves bronchospasm
- Co-administered with hydrocortisone (anti-inflammatory)
Why is noradrenaline not used in anaphylaxis
Highly potent vasoconstrictor, which can cause reflex bradycardia
Imatinib
Receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors used in the treatment of mastocytosis
- Only efficacious in patients that are NOT presenting with the D816V c-Kit mutation
Oclacitinib
Inhibits Janus Kinases (JAK) - JAKs involved in many cytokine signalling pathways associated with allergic skin diseases
- Lowers pro-inflammatory signalling, can be used as an alternative to corticosteroids/ciclosporin
- Treats Atopic Dermatitis in dogs (10%)
Somatostatin
Negative regulator of H+ release from parietal cells. 2 modes of action…
Direct - Activation of SSRT2 Gi coupled receptors on parietal cells counteracts histamine
Indirect - Activation of SSRT2 on ECL and G cells reduces histamine + gastrin respectively
Proglumide
CCK2 receptor antagonist , reduces histamine secretion from ECL which inhibits gastric acid secretion
- Role in treating peptic ulcers has been surpassed
Cimetidine/ Ranitidine
H2 antagonists used in treating peptic ulcers
Note: Cimetidine inhibits CYP450 and has been displaced by ranitidine
Omeprazole
Proton pump inhibitor (PPI), used preferentially to H2 receptor antagonists
- Authorised for use in treating peptic ulcers In horses
- PPIs are converted to active form in the acidic environment of parietal cells and form disulphide bonds with K+/H+ pump
- PPIs are broken down by H+ and have slow onset to maximal effectiveness
- Predominantly metabolised by CYP2C19 which exhibits genetic polymorphism
Vonoprazan
Potassium competitive acid blocker (P-CAB); competes with K+ binding site, has greater stability than PPIs in H+ and CYP2C19 is less important in its metabolism
Clarithromycin
Eradication of Helicobacter Pylori - causative agent in many cases of human peptic ulcers. Dogs may present with gastric ulcers, which can have a variety of causes, Helicobacter are not generally thought to be the cause
Misoprostal
Synthetic prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) analogue given to patients with gastric complications who have been prescribed NSAIDs
Arthrotec
Combination tablet = NSAID diclofenac + misoprostal
- Used in chronic treatment against rheumatoid arthritis
- Misoprostal acts a prophylactic against NSAID induced ulceration
Activation of bradykinin B1 and B2 receptors in the vascular endothelium causes…
Calcium influx –> Activates cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) –> Prostacyclin (PGI2) production + endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) resulting in NO production –> PGI2 + NO diffuse to vascular smooth muscle –> Increase cAMP and cGMP respectively –> Mediate vasodilatation
ACE (Angiotensin converting enzyme)
Kininase II is a peptidyl dipeptidase that inactivates kinins by removing two C-terminal amino acids, this enzyme is angiotensin converting enzyme
Action of ACE inhibitors
- Reduce angiotensin II levels, thus reducing vasoconstriction, but they also cause an increase in bradykinin levels and thus enhance vasodilatation
Hereditary Angioedema (-0.01%)
Mutation in the gene encoding C1-INH (C1-esterase inhibitor) causes excessive levels of bradykinin - sufferers experience periods of severe and painful swelling
- Type I HAE - mutations that compromise the secretion/synthesis of C1-INH
- Type II HAE - mutations that result in inactive C1-INH
- There is also ACE-inhibitor associated angioedema (0.1%)
Icatibant
B2 antagonist used in the treatment of HAE
- HAE also treated using recombinant C1-INH, kallikrein inhibitors and B2 antagonists
4 groups of cytokines?
- Chemokines
- Interleukins
- Interferons
- Colony stimulating factors
Interleukins
Observed to communicate between leukocytes.
- Key pro-inflammatory ILs are IL1 and TNFa. Predominantly released from macrophages and induce expression of further cytokines (TNFa) and promote proliferation and maturation of other immune cells, as well as causing fever (IL1).
- Anti-inflammatory cytokines inhibit cytokine production and inhibit T-cell responses (IL1- and IL-ra)
Chemokines
Chemoattractant cytokines…
CCL3 acts on CCR1 receptors to induce mast cell degranulation
Characterised by cysteine residues at the N-terminus of the peptide chain
CXC chemokine - single amino acid separating two cysteines
CC chemokine - two adjacent chemokine
C chemokine - only one cysteine at N terminus
CX3C - 3 amino acids separating two cysteine.
Sometimes termed alpha, beta, gamma, delta
Chemokine receptors
GPCRs
Note: Most non-chemokine cytokine receptors are receptor tyrosine kinases
Interferons
3 classes: Alpha, Beta, Gamma
Alpha + Beta - have some role in antiviral activity
Gamma - role in the induction of Th1 response
Colony stimulating factors
Stimulate formation of maturing colonies of leukocytes and are primarily used to overcome deficits in a person’s white blood cell count
Tanezumab
Anti-NGF antibody; currently in clinical trials for therapeutic use against osteoarthritis
- NGF elevated in synovial fluid of OA patients, NGF cause pain
Side effects: Pain relief is so great that patients may over-use damaged joints and exacerbate damage
Annexin A1
Anti-inflammatory protein produced by many cells.
- Downregulates inflammatory cells activation and mediator release
- Actions brought about by binding to GPCR formylpeptide receptor 2 (FPR2)
Aspirin
Irreversibly inactivates COX, through acetylating Ser530, rather than forming hydrogen bond with Arg120.
- Aspirin is acetylsalicylate and by donating an acetyl group to COX - salicylate is formed, reversible COX inhibitor.
- Reduce the risk the platelet aggregation: platelets express COX-1 and TX synthase = major source of TXA2 (induces platelet aggregation and vasoconstriction), whereas endothelial cells predominantly produce PGI2 (inhibits platelet aggregation + vasodilatation)
- Acetylated COX-1 can be replaced by newly synthesised protein in endothelial cells, but TXA2 production by platelet is switched off for their lifetime (10 days)
- Overall, anti-thrombotic effect + lower risk of stomach ulcers, but PPIs are co-prescribed
- Acetylation of COX-2, results in COX-2 no longer producing intermediates for PG + TXA2 synthesis but instead 15R-HETE (stereoisomer of 15S-HETE).
- 5-LO converts 15R-HETE to aspirin triggered lipoxin (ATL) –> anti-inflammation and pro-resolution
How can asthma and COPD be distinguished using immune cells?
Bronchial biopsies from asthmatics are characterised by activated mast cells and eosinophils, biopsies from those with COPD are enriched with neutrophils and macrophages. In COPD fibroblast proliferation is common leading to small airway fibrosis which explains the irreversible nature of airway narrowing in COPD.
- Alveolar tissue destruction + epithelial cell proliferation is also observed in COPD.
Treating COPD…
Short acting bronchodilators are ineffective due to limited reversible nature of bronchoconstriction. Instead, LABAs such formoterol + indacaterol are used in combination with long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA) e.g. tiotropium
Additive effects of LABA-LAMA combination inhalers?
LABA - B2 adrenoreceptor activation - ↑ AC activity - ↑ cAMP/PKA activity - MLCK phosphorylation and inactivation
LAMA - M3 inhibition - prevention of PLC activation and IP3 generation
Why are inhaled corticosteroids ineffective in treating COPD
Reduction in expression and activation of histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2); due to superoxides and nitric oxides produced from cigarette smoking and activate immune cells –> results in formation of peroxynitrate which nitrates HDAC2 at active site leading to inactivation, ubiquitination and degradation.
- Lowered levels of HDAC2 - increased acetylation of GR-alpha which prevents it from inhibiting NF kB driven inflammation