Skildum: Liver Biochemistry 1 Flashcards
Describe the organization of the liver.
Blood enters the liver through the hepatic a. and portal v (gut)., enters the sinusoids where it interfaces w/ the hepatocytes and exits to the central hepatic vein. (central to peripheral)
Hepatocytes form bile, which enters the bile caniculis and exits through the bile ducts. (peripheral to central)
What is the function of the hepatic stellate cell?
Storage sites of lipids, especially esterified vitamin
What happens when stellate cells are activated?
Lose vit A stores> maintain vit A stores and deposit collagen in the space of disse in response to oxid. stress
What are the hepatic pit cells?
Liver associated lymphocytes
NK cells that protect against VIRUSES and tumor cells
What are hepatic endotheiial cells?
Leaky cells that are perforated by fenestrae and have no basement membrane
What are Kupffer cells?
endocytic phagocytic mphages of the liver that protect the body from BACTERIA
*also mediate liver damage in response to oxidative stress or alcoholism
What is the source of inflammatory mediators that contribute to liver injury?
Kupffer cells
How do substances enter the liver and leave the liver?
Enter: through the blood Leave: through the blood or bile duct
One of the main functions of the liver is to receive and process nutrients. What does the liver do w/ excess protein and carbohydrates?
Converts Protein and carbs>
blood proteins–> cells (serum albumin)
cell glucose–> glycogen (liver)
TG–> VLDL
What are characteristics of the liver that allow it to act as a biochemical sieve to neutralize toxins?
Liver is the FIRST place that ingested things go and acts as a BIOCHEMICAL SIEVE to neutralize toxins.
- low PRESSURE
- high surface area
What is the pathway in the liver to detoxify xenobiotics and metabolites essentially making them more SOLUBLE?
RH> Phase I Reactions> R-OH> Phase II Reactions> Secondary metabolite suitable for excretion
What happens in phase I reactions (cytp450)?
Adds OH groups to substrates (makes metabolites more soluble> excrete primary metabolites)
What happens in phase II reactions?
add to the hydroxyl group: sulfate methyl groups glutathione glucoronate
further increases solubility
*activation can also occur in phase I and phase II
What is an important phase I metabolizing enzyme? What are characteristics of this enzyme?
Cytochrome P450
57 genes; 9 families
all use NADPH; all use O2
overlapping substrate specificity (may act on more than 1 toxin)
expression induced by their substrates (ingesting 1 toxin can increase the capacity to neutralize other drugs)
R+ O2 + (NADPH+ Fe-heme)> ROH, H20
CYP3A4 is an enzyme that metabolizes many drugs, including statins. If two CYP3A4 substrates are ingested how are they metabolized?
The one w/ the HIGHER affinity will be metabolized faster
What juice contains an inhibitor of Cyp 3A4?
Grapefruit> will increase conc of drugs that are metabolized by that enzyme
What drugs are metabolized by CYP3A4?
lovastatin (greatest affinity>fastest)–> conc of other drugs will increase
Simvastatin
atorvastatin
How does vinyl chloride (input for plastic) damage the liver?
CYP2E1 (phase I reactant) coverts it to a reactive EPOXIDE>
DNA cell damage>
Acute toxicity/death to liver cells>
chronic exposure>
ANGIOSARCOMA (malignant neoplasm of endothelial cells)
Phase II>
glutathione S transferase makes it excretable through bile
What is the MC cause of acute liver failiure?
Acetaminophen
What are sxs of early acetaminophen toxicity?
Nausea
vomiting shortly after ingestion
What are sxs of acetaminophen toxicity 24-48 hrs after ingestion?
Aminotransferase levels increase
Lactate dehydrogenase increases
Prothrombin time increases
What are sxs of acetaminophen toxicity 72-96 hrs after ingestion?
Jaundice Hepatomegaly Bilirubin increases (indicates acute kidney injury) Encepholopathy / Coma Hypotension Hypoglycemia; metobolic acidosis Death by general organ failure