Medical Physiology Block 7 Week 2 Flashcards
Describe the location of the thyroid gland.
located in the anterior neck, lying like small bow ties across the front of the trachea (left and right lobes and a small connecting branch known as the isthmus)
How are thyroid hormones made? Where are they stored?
Thyroid hormones are made by iodinating tyrosine residues on thyroglobulin and are stored as part of thyroglobulin molecules in thyroid follicles
What is the structure of T3?
two iodines on inner ring and single iodine on outer benzyl ring
How do follicular cells of the thyroid obtain iodine?
iodide anion is absorbed by gastrointestinal tract; A specialized sodium/iodide cotransporter (NIS) is located at the basolateral membrane of the thyroid follicular cell (secondary active transport; TSH-dependent)
What happens when iodide leaves the follicular cell for the colloid lumen?
Iodide leaves the follicular cell and enters the lumen of the follicle across the apical membrane (maybe through pendrin anion exchanger); Thyroid peroxidase, on the luminal surface of secretory vesicle oxidizes iodide to iodine
iodination of thyroglobulin (simultaneously secreted by the follicular cell) in the follicular lumen; conjugation of iodinated tyrosines to form T4 and T3 linked to thyroglobulin (internal rearrangement); fluid-phase endocytosis of iodinated thyroglobulin into the follicular cells from the thyroid colloid; proteolysis of the iodinated thyroglobulin in the lumen of the lysoendosome; secretion of T4 and T3 into the circulation
How is thyroid hormone transported in the blood?
more than 99% bound to thyroid-binding globulin, albumin, transthyretin in the circulation (produced by the liver)
T/F: most of the thyroid hormone secreted by follicular cells is T3?
F
What conditions can change the concentration of thyroid-binding globulin? Does the concentration of free thyroid hormone in the circulation change in pathologic conditions?
Pregnancy, oral estrogen therapy, hepatitis, and chronic heroin abuse can all elevate the amount of TBG; steroid hormone and nephrotic syndrome decrease levels of TBG; No
Do target tissues modify the thyroid hormones?
Yes; A 5’/3’-monodeiodinase (cytoplasmic) removes iodine from the outer benzyl ring (yields T3; type 1: high concentrations in the liver, kidneys, and thyroid; type 2: pituitary, CNS, and placenta), whereas a 5/3-monodeiodinase removes iodine from the inner benzyl ring (yields Rt3)
Why is T3 more active than T4?
T4 is bound more tightly to plasma proteins; T3 and T4 are present at similar concentrations in the cytoplasm of target cells; TR has 10 fold greater affinity for T3
Describe the thyroid hormone receptor.
Receptors are bound to chromatin (heterodimer of TR and RXR)
What are the actions of thyroid hormone on target tissues?
increase basal metabolic rate by stimulating futile cycles of catabolism/anabolism (heat production or oxygen consumption): hepatic gluconeogensis (antagonist increase in insulin signaling), increased muscle proteolysis (some protein synthesis), increased lipolysis (some lipogenesis); increased sodium/potassium pump activity (accompanying ion leak prevents electrolyte imbalance); thermogenin (UCP) in brown fat produces heat; increased sensitivity to beta adrenergic signaling; (regulates myosin heavy chain)
What happens in instances of thyroid hormone deficiency during development?
cretinism: profound mental retardation, short stature, delay in motor development, coarse hair, and protuberant abdomen; Development of hypothyroidism at any time before fusion of the epiphyses of the long bones leads to growth retardation or arrest
Does exogenous thyroid hormone affect brain development?
No; unless this treatment is begun days after birth
Describe in detail the TRH-TSH-thyroid hormone axis.
TRH binds to a GPCR (Gq; raises intracellular calcium; some activation of PLA; may stimulate secretion of prolactin); TSH binds to receptors on the basolateral membrane of thyroid follicular cells (Gs)
Describe the structure of TSH.
glycoprotein (alpha chain is identical to other trophic glycoproteins produced by the anterior pituitary; beta chain is unique to TSH)
Describe negative feedback mechanisms associated with thyroid hormone.
5’/3’-monodeiodinase type 2-dependent (or requires plasma T3)
direct: inhibits the synthesis of the alpha and beta TSH genes (T3 response element in promoter); indirect: decreases number of TRH receptors
Does T3 cross the placenta?
Yes
Describe the synthesis of insulin.
gene on short arm of chromosome 11; transcribed as preproinsulin (cleaved to proinsulin in the lumen of the ER); excision of c peptide occurs in secretory granules (alpha and beta chain linked by disulfide bonds; associates with zinc); most of the secreted insulin is extracted by the liver (c peptide gets excreted in urine)
What are secretagogues for insulin?
glucagon, glucose, arginine and leucine amino acids, small keto acids, and hexoses (fructose)
How does glucose trigger insulin secretion from beta cells?
Glucose enters the Langerhan cells through GLUT2 transporter; glucose is metabolized (glucokinase is rate limiting step); closure of ATP-dependent potassium channel results in membrane depolarization; activates voltage-gated calcium channels; calcium influx followed by calcium induced calcium release from ER; exocytosis of insulin
What signaling pathways modulate insulin secretion?
CCK and acetylcholine through Gq g alpha protein; beta adrenergic, alpha adrenergic, glucagon, and somatostain through Gi/Gs g alpha protein
Does experimentally raising the extracellular potassium concentration increase insulin secretion?
Yes
What primes beta cells in the pancreas to secrete insulin?
acetylcholine from the vagus nerve during cephalic phase and incretins (GLP-1 and GIP)
Does beta adrenergic stimulation increase insulin secretion? alpha?
yes (mostly through epinephrine); no (mostly through norepinephrine)
What is the rationale for insulin signaling to be silenced during exercise?
Suppression of insulin secretion during exercise may serve to prevent excessive glucose uptake by muscle, which if it were to exceed the ability of the liver to produce glucose, would lead to severe hypoglycemia, compromise the brain, and abruptly end any exercise.
Describe the insulin receptor.
Where does insulin bind?
receptor tyrosine kinase; heterotetramer (two extracellular alpha chains and two membrane-spanning beta chains; two chains joined by disulfide bonds; synthesized as a single polypeptide that is later cleaved)
cysteine residues on alpha chain
What are downstream signaling molecules of the insulin receptor?
insulin receptor substrates (IRS molecules) and SH2 family proteins (Src domain)
PI3K phosphorylates a membrane lipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP 2 ) to form PIP 3 (leads to major changes in glucose and protein metabolism): Both phosphorylated SHC and activated GRB2 trigger Ras signaling (MEK and MAPK)
phosphorylates glycogen synthase; recruits GLUT4; suppresses FOXO1 transcription to inhibit gluconeogenesis (metformin)
Can insulin stimulate the IGF-1 receptor?
Yes (at high concentrations)
What happens to the insulin receptor in cases of hyperglycemia?
hyperglycemia decreases receptor synthesis and increases receptor degradation (decreases sensitivity or insulin resistance);
In cells from the type 2 diabetic, a maximum response to insulin is reached, but only at a much higher insulin concentration
What is the effect of insulin on the liver?
glycogen synthesis, glycolysis, lipogenesis, and protein synthesis