Lecture 17 Platelet Pharmacology Flashcards
What is the main target of platelet drugs
Arterial thrombosis
What is the problem with targeting thrombosis
Blood clots that stop bleeding are essential for life yet thrombus formation is a problem
Describe the shape and structure of a platelet
Platelets are much smaller than red and white blood cells. They are flat but with channels that increase their surface area
What is different about the shape of an activated platelet
Upon activation there is a change in the shape of the platelet which transitions from smooth and discoid to spiculated and with pseudopodia. This increases the surface area of the platelet and also increases the efficiency with which they interact
Which receptor on the surface of the platelets binds to fibrinogen to trigger aggregation
Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa
What can be said about the number of receptors that trigger aggregation in response to platelet activation. What is the effect of this on the platelet
At rest there are 50000 to 100000 copies of the receptor on each resting platelet however following platelet activation there is an upregulation of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptors. This results in an increased affinity of the receptor for fibrinogen which acts to link the receptors on several platelets together causing aggregation
What is the other name for gp IIb/IIIa
Integrin αiibβ3
How can the gp IIb/IIIa receptor be used as a therapeutic target
Antagonists of gp IIb/IIIa can be used therapeutically to stop clot formation
Give some examples of gp IIb/IIIa antagonists
Abciximab Tirofiban Eptifibatide
What are the downsides of gp IIb/IIIa antagonists
They have a narrow therapeutic window as they aren’t effective at low doses and high doses cause to greater risk of bleeding. The increased risk of major bleeding actually offsets their benefit in reducing ischaemic events
How are gp IIb/IIIa antagonists administered
Intravenous
Aspirin is an effective and strong antiplatelet drug T of F
F – it is a weak APT
Which two isoforms of its enzyme target does aspirin inhibit
Constitutive COX1 (housekeeping gene) and inducible COX2 (inflammatory gene)
Which COX isoform is important for aspirins action as an antiplatelet drug
COX1 is expressed in platelets and is involved in aggregation
At low doses aspirin selectively inhibits which COX isoform
COX1 – higher concentrations inhibit COX2 as well
What is the main role of COX2
Inflammation
What is the role of COX
Phospholipids are metabolised by phospholipase A2 to arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid is then metabolised by COX to produce prostaglandins H
What is the other name for COX enzymes
Prostaglandin H synthases
Describe the subunit composition of COX
COX is made up of two identical subunits each with two catalytic sites; a peroxidase site and a cyclooxygenase site
What is the molecular mechanism of action of aspirin
The acetyl group from aspirin forms a covalent bond with a serine residue in the COX enzyme. This prevents the arachidonic acid that was made at the plasma membrane from entering the COX channel and reaching the cyclooxygenase site
What is meant when aspirin is referred to as a suicide inhibitor
Because it forms a covalent bond aspirin binds permanently to the enzyme and hence the duration of aspirin’s effects depends on ability of the body to synthesise new COX enzymes. In the case of platelets which have no nucleus this isn’t possible and hence aspirin lasts for the lifetime of the platelet itself
How long does aspirins effect on platelets last
7 to 10 days
What is the specific effect of inhibiting COX1 on platelet function
By preventing the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin H aspirin blocks the pathway that leads to platelet thromboxane A2 release. Thromboxane A2 activates platelets via binding to the TPα surface receptor
What does this data show about the efficacy of aspirin
This data shows that aspirin reduced the number of vascular deaths compared to placebo. This reduction in vascular mortality was comparable to the clotbuster drug streptokinase
What is meant by aspirin resistance
The continued secretion of thromboxane A2 by platelets in response to appropriate agonist stimulation (such as arachidonic acid and collagen) despite therapy with aspirin at a standard dose
High platelet reactivity despite aspirin therapy signifies aspirin resistance T or F
F
True aspirin resistance is rate T or F
T
Explain the interaction of aspirin with ibuprofen
Unlike aspirin ibuprofen reversibly binds to the COX1 enzyme. Therefore if ibuprofen is taken before an aspirin the inhibition of COX1 activity (TxB2 levels) is lessened. This is because aspirin is metabolised within hours so by the time its able to exert its effect and displace ibuprofen its begun to be metabolised. Hence this is a negative interaction that decreases the efficacy of aspirin