Prostaglandins (Younger)

Question 1

What can cause an asthmatic episode?

Answer 1

Leukotrienes

Question 2

Prostaglandins and related compounds (leukotrienes and thromboxanes) are all collectively called ______.

Answer 2

Eicosanoids

Question 3

Eicosanoids differ from hormones by these 4 ways:

Answer 3

synthesized in all cells
act locally (not systemically)
extremely short half-lives
extremely small concentration to elicit a desired effect

Question 4

This promotes the likelihood of blood coagulation. Specific example of a prostaglandin?

Answer 4

Procoagulant, thromboxane

Question 5

Endothelial cells play what role in blood coagulation:

Answer 5

Anticoagulant/ Vaso Dilation / (eicosanoid: prostacyclin )

Question 6

Platelets play what role in blood coagulation:

Answer 6

Vasoconstriction/ procoagulant/ (eicosanoid: thromboxane)

Question 7

What is the most common precursor of eicosanoids

Answer 7

Arachidonic acid

Question 8

What is activated to release Arachidonic acid?

Answer 8

Phospholipase A2

Question 9

What enzyme is used to make leukotrienes (asthma assoc) from arachidonic acid?

Answer 9

Lipoxygenase

Question 10

What enzyme is used to make prostacyclin and thromboxanes?

Answer 10

Cyclooxygenase

Question 11

2 important enzyme targets for anti-inflammatory drugs:

Answer 11

Phospholipase A2 (blocks synthesis of arachidonic acid)
Cyclooxygenase (NSAIDS- Non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs)

Question 12

What is a steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is used to minimize inflammatory reactions?

Answer 12

Glucocorticoids- reduces discomfort with inflammation (promotes inhibition of phospholipase A2)

Question 13

What are COX1 and COX2?

Answer 13

They are enzymes that mediate pain, heat, redness, swelling.

Question 14

NSAIDS (Aspirin) are targeting what as inhibitors?

Answer 14

NSAIDS like aspirin etc. target COX1 and COX2 of cyclooxygenase

Question 15

What might happen as a result of blocking the cyclooxgenase step in eicosanoid metabolism?

Answer 15

Increased leukotrienes (which can induce an asthmatic response)

Question 16

Aspirin is a ________ inhibitor of cyclooxygenase?

Answer 16

suicide

Question 17

Platelets under aspirin control can they synthesize new cyclooxygenase?

Answer 17

no they can’t synthesize new cyclooxygenase because they have no nucleus

Question 18

True/False: Aspirin inhibition only lasts a few days in platelets, they will regenerate more cyclooxygenase.

Answer 18

False, aspirin inhibits it until the platelet dies.

Question 19

Endothelial cells have a nucleus so they can synthesize new ___________.

Answer 19

Cyclooxygenase and prostacyclin

Question 20

Aspirin does what big picture with risk of heart disease?

Answer 20

Reduces the risk of un-wanted blood clotting in those with increased risk of cardiovascular disease

Question 21

Endothelial cells release ______ into blood plasma.

Answer 21

prostacyclin

Question 22

Plasma prostacyclin binds to receptors which activate _____ systems on platelets.

Answer 22

cAMP, which release granules to promote thromboxane release from arachidonic acid leading to aggregating agents being released and COAGULATION

Question 23

If you inhibit the 2 Cox enzymes (COX 2 inducible and COX1 constitutive) it permits the back-flow into making more _______?

Answer 23

Leukotrienes