Pharamcology of pituitary drugs Flashcards
What is acromegaly?
A disorder caused by excess growth of hormones, increasing the growth of body tissues and causing metabolic dysfunction (occurs in adults)
What are the characteristics of Acromegaly?
- Swelling of soft tissues in hands and feet
- Enlarged bones in the skull, hands, and feet
- Joint pains
- Headaches
- Barrel chest
- Cardiomegaly
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Diabetes
- HTN
What is the target of pharmacotherapy (acromegaly)?
Decrease the production of GH, activity of GH and release of IGF-1
What is hyperprolactinemia?
PRL is elevated: galactorrhea in non-breastfeeding women or in men, pituitray microadenoma or adenoma
What is the target of pharmacotherapy in hyperprolactinemia?
Decrease PRL formation, dopamine like molecules
What are the different types of pituitary drugs?
Somatostatin analogues
GH receptor antagonists
Dopamine agonists
What is the function of somatostatin analogues?
Enhance somatostatin -mediated inhibition of GH release
What are examples of somatostatin analogues?
Octreotide
Lanreotide
Pasireotide
What is the function of GHR antagonists?
Antagonists, competitive inhibitors, at GH receptors
What are examples of GHR antagonists?
Pegvisomant
What is the function of dopamine agonists?
Enhance D2 dopamine receptor activity
What are examples of dopamine agonists?
Bromocriptine
Cabergoline
Quinagolide
What is somatostatin?
A small polypeptide is also found in neurons throughout the body, intestine, stomach, and pancreas (SST14 and SST28)
What is the function of somatostatin?
Inhibits the release of not only GH but also insulin , glucagon and gastrin
How many isoforms of somatostatin are there?
5, all coupled to G proteinsn
Which isoforms of somatostatin are expressed in the anterior pituitary?
SST1, 2, 3, 5 (all expressed from 4), but they are all expressed to different extents
What are the SST analogues?
They are synthetic analogues of SST
What is the half-life of SSt analogs like in comparison to SST?
Longer half-life than SST
SST –> 1 to 3 minutes
Which receptors do SST analogues bind to preferentialy?
SST2 and SST5 receptors
What is the MOA of SST analogues?
- Hormone Secretion Inhibition: Inhibition of adenylyl cyclase (AC)
- Anti-Proliferative and Growth-Inhibitory Effects: Pathways involved in cell proliferation inhibition:
–> Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase (PTP)
–> Akt pathway inhibition - Induction of apoptosis
- Anti-angiogenesis
What is the hormone secretion inhibition action of SST analogues?
- Activation of SSTs reduces intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels, which leads to decreased calcium influx ([Ca²⁺]) into the cell.
- The reduction in calcium levels inhibits exocytosis of secretory vesicles, resulting in decreased hormone secretion.
What are the anti-proliferative and growth-inhibitory effects of the SST analogs (PTP)?
- PTP activation dephosphorylates signaling molecules that promote cell division.
- This reduces mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity, leading to a decrease in proliferation markers like Ki-67 and inducing cell cycle arrest.
What are the anti-proliferative and growth-inhibitory effects of the SST analogs (Atk pathway inhibition)?
- Upregulation of p21 and p27 (cell cycle inhibitors), resulting in cell cycle arrest.
- Downregulation of Zac1, a transcription factor that promotes growth, further inhibiting cell proliferation.
What is the induction of apoptosis action of SST analogs?
Increase caspase-8 activity, promoting programmed cell death (apoptosis)
What is the anti-angiogenesis action of SST analogs?
Reduced VEGF production decreases blood vessel formation, suppressing the tumor’s abilty to grow and spread
What is the PK of Octeoride?
Subcutaneous x2 daily, half-life of about 90 minutes, duration of action is about 12 hours
If Octeoride is given IM, how often should it be given?
Long-acting, slow-release form, given once every 4 weeks
What receptors does Octeoride bind to?
SST2 > SST5 > SST3 but not SST1