Pharmacology Flashcards
in the parasympathetic division of the ANS, what types of fibers are stimulated to regulate airway function
postganglionic cholinergic/ noncholinergic
what does the stimulation of postganglionic cholinergic fibres cause
bronchial muscle contraction and increased mucous secretion
what is bronchial muscle contraction mediated by
M3 muscarinic Ach (acetylcholine) receptors on airway smooth muscle cells
what is increased mucous secretion mediated by
M3 muscarinic Ach receptors on gland (goblet) cells
what does stimulation of postganglionic nonchlorinergic fibers do
bronchial smooth muscle relaxation
what mediates bronchial smooth muscle relaxation?
nitric oxide, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)
what does the sympathetic region of the ANS innervate to regulate airway fuction?
post-ganglionic fibers supply sub-mucosal glands and smooth muscle of blood supply
what does the sympathetic nervous system not innervate in humans
bronchial smooth muscle
what does stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system cause (4)
bronchial smooth muscle relaxation, decreased mucous secretion, increased mucociliary clearance, vascular smooth muscle contraction
what mediates bronchial smooth muscle relaxation
stimulation of the B(beta)2-adrenoceptors on ASM cells by adrenaline
what mediates decreased mucous secretion
B2-ADR on gland (goblet) cells
what mediates increased mucociliary clearance
B2-ADR on epithelial cells
what mediates the contraction of vascular sooth muscle
a(alpha)1-adrenoceptors on vascular smooth muscle cells
describe how transmitters/hormones cause contraction in ASM
activate GPCR which stimulates IP3 production and therefore IP3 receptors which move calcium secreted from calcium stores
describe how depolarisation causes contraction in ASM
activates voltage activated Ca2+ channel which then activates a second Ca2+ channel
how does calcium initiate contraction
binds to from calcium compounds which then activate myosin light chain kinase. MLCK then phosphorolates a myosin cross bridge which glides across actin to produce contraction
what does relaxation of ASM result form
dephosphorylation of myosin light chain by myosin phosphatase
what happens to the rates of de/phosphorylation in the presence of elevated intracellular calcium
phosphorylation exceeds dephos…
what does relaxtion require in terms of Ca+ concentration and how is this achieved
return to basal level via primary and secondary active transport
what is the activity of MLCK and myosin phophatase dependent on, give and example
extracellular signals e.g adrenoline and B(eta)2-adrenoceptor
define asthma
intermittent attacks of bronchoconstriction: recurrent and reversible (in the short term) obstruction to the airways in response to substances or stimuli
note asthma’s prevalence
5-10% of the population in industrialised countries
list common causes of asthma
allergens, exercise (cold, dry air), respiratory infections, smoke, dust, environmental pollutants
what pathological changes occur in chronic, poorly controlled asthma as a result of long standing inflammation
increased mass of smooth muscle (hyperplasia and hypertrophy), accumulation of interstitial fluid (oedema), increased secretion of mucus, epithelial damage (exposing sensory nerve endings), sub epithelial fibrosis
what is bronchial hyper-responsiveness
hyper sensitivity and hyper reactivity as a result of epithelial damage that has exposed sensory nerve endings
when can an immune response cause asthma
when there is an imbalance between TH1 and TH2 lymphocyte-mediated responses
in the development of allergic asthma what does the initial presentation of the allergen result in
an adaptive immune response
describe the induction phase of the adaptive immune response that leads to allergic asthma (2 steps)
antigen presentation; antigen presented to T CD4 cell
colonial expansion and maturation; TH0 cells differentiate into TH1 and 2 cells (preferably TH2 which produce a cytokine environment). TH2 cells activate B cells that mature to IgE secreting P cells
describe the effector phase of the adaptive immune response that leads to allergic asthma (2 steps)
Eosinophils differentiate and activate in response to IL-5 released from TH2 cells.
Mast cells in airway tissues express IgE receptors in repsonse to IL-4 and IL-3 released from TH2 cells
how is calcium involved subsequent to TH2 lymphocyte activation
cross link IgE receptors stimulates calcium entry into mast cells and release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores
what does the entry and release of calcium evoke (2)
release of secretory granules containing histamine and the production and release of other agents (leukotrienes) that cause ASM contraction
release of substances that attract cells that cause inflammation into the area
describe the phases of an asthma attack
immediate (mainly bronchospasms) late/delayed (mainly inflammatory response)
what are the products of mast cells and mono nuclear cells that result in bronchospasms and early inflammation in the immediate phase of an asthma attack
spasmogens, CysLTs, histamine
what is produced by mast cells and mono nuclear cells in the immediate phase that evokes the late/delayed phase
cytokines, chemotaxis
what inflammatory cells in particular is activated in the late phase
eosinophils
what pathologically happens in the late phase (*)
airway inflammation, epithelial damage, airway hyper responsiveness, bronchospasm, wheezing, mucous oversecretion, cough
what are the two categories of drugs used to treat asthma and
relievers and controllers/preventors
how to relievers work and give 3 examples
act as bronchodilators; short acting Beta2-adrenoceptor agonist (SABAs), LABAs, CysLT1 receptor antagonist
how to controllers/ preventors work and give 3 examples
anti-inflammatory agents; glucocorticoids, cromoglicate, humanised monoclonal IgE antibodies
what are controllers/preventors NOT used to treat
acute asthma attacks- long term usage reduces frequency of them
what should be used to treat an acute asthma attack
B2- agonist (can be supplemented with relievers)
why is the oral route avoided
to avoid adverse affects
what are the advantages of administering drugs through the inhalation route
smaller dose needed to acquire appropriate concentration in lungs
Explain how B2-adr agonists treat asthma as bronchodilators
act as physiological antagonists of all spasmogens (substance that induces spasms). Cause ASM relaxation via formation of protein kinase A which phosphorylates MLCK and myosin phosphatase + reduce intracellular Ca conc + activate potassium channels
name two SABAs
salbutamol and turbutaline
what are SABAs used to treat
mild intermittent asthma
name two LABAs
salmeterol and formoterol
what are LABAs used to treat and what do they not treat
nocturnal asthma (last 8 hours) don’t treat acute attacks
describe how LABAs should be used
not as monotherapy, must always by co-administered with a glucocorticoid
how do Cysteinyl leukotriene (CysLT1) receptor antagonist work
act competitively at the CysLT1 receptor. Cyslts (e.g LTC4, LTD4 and LTE4) which are derived from mast cells and infiltrating inflammatory cells cause ASM contraction, mucous secretion and oedema
how are CYsLT1 receptor agonists administered
orally
how do Xanthines work
combine bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory actions, inhibit mediator release from mast cells, increase mucous clearance
describe the role of glucocorticoids in the body
class of hormone- main hormone cortisol (hydrocortisone)- regulate numerous essential process e.g. inflammatory and immunological responses
why are synthetic derivatives of cortisol, rather than cortisol itself are used in the treatment of asthma
as have little or no mineralcocorticoid activity (regulation of retention of salt and water by kidney)
name an example of a CystLT receptor agonist
montelukast
name an example of a Xanthine
theophylline
why is the inhalation route of glucocorticoid administration favoured in the treatment of mild or moderate asthma
minimise adverse effect
how do glucocorticoids signal
via nuclear receptors specifically GRalpha
how do glucocorticoids enter cells
are lipophillic so enter through diffusion across cellular membrane
describe the molecular mechanism of glucocorticoid action within the cytoplasm
in cytoplasm bind with GRalpha which dissociates heat shock proteins. ctivated nucleus then translocates to nucleus via importins.
describe the molecular mechanism of glucocorticoid action within the nucleus
activated receptor monomers assemble into homodimers and bind to GLUCOCORTORICOID RESPONSE ELEMENTS (GRE) in the promoter region of specific genes
what does the transcription or inhibition of specific genes result in
alter mRNA levels, rate of synthesis of mediator proteins
what does the transcription or inhibition of specific genes result in that is specific to treating asthma
increase transcription of anti-inflammatory proteins and decrease transcription of inflammatory proteins
what are the four effects of glucocorticoids that are relevant to bronchial inflammation in asthma
prevent IgE production, decrease number of mast cells, prevent allergens, decrease formation of TH2 cytokines,
how and what inflammatory cells do corticosteroids affect
decrease in number; eosinophils, mast and dendritic
decrease cytokines from; T-lymphocytes and macrophages