PMI03-2014 Flashcards
Describe an acute inflammatory response.
Microvascular effects triggered by a variety of cell and plasma in and around these vessels, including local hormones and inflammatory mediators
Give examples of some inflammatory mediators.
Histamine
Bradykinin
Nitric oxide
Eicosanoids (prostaglandins, leukotrienes, thromboxanes)
Neuropeptides (substance P, CGRP)
Cytokines
Complement
VEGF
What type of molecule is histamine and what is it derived from?
Amine
From histidine
What type of molecule is bradykinin?
Peptide
What type of molecule are eicosanoids and what are they derived from?
Lipids
From arachidonic acid
What are the major sources of histamine in the body?
Mast cells and basophils
When is histamine typically released?
Allergic/type I hypersensitivity reactions
What do histamine/H1 receptors mediate?
Increased blood flow
Increased microvascular permeability
Itch
Give an example of a sedating H1 antagonist.
Chlorpheniramine
Diphenhydramine
Promethazine
Give an example of a non-sedating H1 antagonist.
Loratadine
Cetirizine
Terfenadine
Astemizole
Are H1 antagonists preferred to be sedating or non-sedating nowadays?
Non-sedating
What are the main pain neurons?
C and Aδ fibres
What do the pain neurons do?
Transmit sensory info to CNS/initiate reflexes = pain/itch
Release neuropeptides, including substance P and CGRP
What percentage of afferent C fibres in skin mediate itch?
5%
Describe the C fibres that mediate itch.
Respond to histamine and are unresponsive to mechanical stimuli
Slow conducting velocities of 0.5m/s (half that of normal C fibres)
What type of medication is an effective anti-itch agent?
Anti-histamine
What enzyme catalyses the formation of prostaglandins?
COX (cyclooxygenase)
What are the two types of COX and when are they present?
COX-1 = prevalent all the time
COX-2 = inducible and found at inflammatory sites
What is the chemical name of arachidonic acid?
5, 8, 11, 14-eicosatetraenoic acid
Which enzyme catalyses the formation of leukotrienes?
5-lipoxygenase
What does COX do?
Converts arachidonic acid to prostaglandins
What does 5-lipoxygenase do?
Converts arachidonic acid to leukotrienes
What cells release PGE2 and PGI2 and what do these molecules do?
Released by endothelial cells and white blood cells
Mediate increased blood flow and hyperalgesia (increased sensitivity to pain)
What cells release PGD2?
Mast cells
What common condition are leukotriene (LT) antagonists used for?
Asthma
What do LTC4 and LTD4 do?
Increase microvascular permeability
Bronchoconstriction
What does LTB4 do?
Chemotaxin = recruits neutrophils to inflammatory sites
What is the pathway of prostaglandin formation?
Arachidonic acid | PGG2 | PGH2 | PGI2 or PGE2 or PGD2 or PGF2α (or TXA2)
Mediated by COX (mainly)
Give an example of a cyclic endoperoxide.
PGG2
PGH2
What is an alternative name for COX?
Prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase