Systems Pharmacology PED2006 Flashcards
What are the 2 main parts of the GI tract
Lower and upper part
Describe the upper tract of the GI tract
Mouth oesophagus stomach and duodenum
Aid in the ingestion and digestion offood
Describe the lower tract of the GI tract
Small and large intensities
Digestion is completed and absorption of nutrients
Describe the circular muscle of the gut
Between the inner and outer part of the gut
Circular structures that are able to narrow and restrict the lumen
Describe the longitudinal muscles
Muscles arranged lengthwise
Constriction causes of intestines
What are sphincters
Valves formed from circular muscle
Constriction determines the closure or natural opening of a passage
What causes peristaltic waves
The circular and longitudinal muscles constrict and release in coordinated waves
What factors are involved in peptic ulcer formation
Imbalance between aggressive and defensive factors
Breakdown of the mucosal barrier and excess acid secretion
What are the 3 major pathways for regulating acid secretion
Neural stimulation via vagus nerve
Endocrine stimulation via gastric release
Paracrine stimulating by histamine release
What are anatacids used for
Gastritis and duodenal ulcers
Describe antacid composition
Basic compounds composed of a metal ion and a base
What are the 3 principal secretagogues
Histamine
Acetylcholine
Gastrin
How is the action of the secretagogues synergistic
A small dose of one potentiates the response bought about by a small dose of another
What receptor does histamine activate in the parietal cells
H2 receptors
Why do H2 receptor antagonist do not interfere with other receptors in different tissues
Highly selective
What affect do H2 antagonists have on gastric secretion
Reduce gastric acid secretion
Decrease H+ concentration in gastric lumen
Decrease volume of acid secretion
Why do H2 antagonists in the gut develop rapid tolerance
Due to elevation of cAMP in parietal cells
how do the secretagogues increase acid within the stomach lumen
Activate by cAMP pathway (histamine)
Activate calcium sensitive pathways (muscarinic and gastrin receptors)
Triggers H+/K+ ATPase pump
Active transport of H+ into lumen
How do proton pump inhibitors work
Selectively block the action of the H+/K+ ATPase pump
How are PPIs specific
Requirement for an acidic condition in order to activate, trap and protonate the drug
How is acid secretion affected by PPIs
Inhibition is permanent and is only resumed after the insertion of new molecules
Why are PPIs better than H2 antagonists
More rapid in producing relief
Don’t develop tolerance as rapidly
No difference in inhibiting nocturnal vs day acid secretion
What is the 2 cell hypothesis
Ach and gastrin stimulate mast cells to make more histamine
What is the 1 cell hypothesis
Mast cells make more histamine
Lead to more proton pump stimulation
How its the frequency of stomach contractions controlled
Pacemaker cells in the fundus region
Critical in setting a slow depolarisation of the tissue to start contraction
How is the force of stomach contraction controlled
Increases vagal afferent activity to create stronger muscle contraction
Decreased by adrenergic activity
How does gastrin affect contraction of the stomach
Increases the force of contraction
Also increases the volume of HCL
Describe receptive relaxation
When the stretch receptors in the stomach turn off the afferent vagal nerve
Slows down smooth muscle contraction
Allows food to enter the large intestine
What is emesis
Forceful evacuation of stomach contents
What controls emesis
In the medulla:
Vomiting centre and chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ)
Why are alkaloids not the standard procedure to vomit when something toxic has been ingested
Patients can inhale the vomit as the sphincter that closes of the lungs doesn’t shut
What are H1 receptor antagonists effective in treating
Ocular issues e.g motion sickness
Not centrally active agents as they act on vestibular nuclei
Whats a side effect to H1 antagonists
Cause drowsiness and sedation
Helps with motion sickness and they don’t register the ocular disruption
Describe the use of muscarinic antagonists in treating emesis
Potential to interact w other systems
No CNS effects
Anti cholinergic affects e.g dry mouth, blurred vision and slight sedation
When are D2 receptor antagonist used to treat emesis
Severe forms of emesis
Given to only those who’s emesis is caused by the CTZ
Therefore CNS side effects
When are 5-HT3 antagonists used to treat emesis
Very severe forms of sickness
What is the mechanism of opiates in anti-diarrhoeals
Increase activity of receptors
Hyperpolarisation = inhibition of ACH release
No stimulation and contractility
Reduced bowel motility
What are the cons of using opiates in treatments
Can be misused and are a class of drug where you have to take more each time to be bale to stimulate the receptor the next time
How can the abuse potential of opiates be reduced in anti-diarrhoeals
The use of synthetic analogues e.g codeine
Less likely to cause dependent and no CNS effects
Use atropine to discourage base to make the patient feel queasy
Describe bulk forming laxatives
Contain undigestable cellulose components
Therefore retain fluid and increase fecal bulk
Stimulate stretch receptors = peristalsis
How do osmotic laxatives work
Salt present in gut lumen
Osmosis sucks in water into fecal matter
Softer bulkier stool
How do stimulant laxatives work
Stimulate the intramural plexus i.e neuronal firing
What is the downfall of using stimulant laxatives
Degree of colonic atrophy over time
If nervous system stimulated too often it can’t stimulate on its own
How doe fecal softners work
Coats the stool in non ionic surfactant
Reduces surface tension of stol
Allows the penetration of fluid in the stool
Describe dopamine
Inhibitory neurotransmitter
2 dopamine receptors: D1 and D2
Describe noradrenaline
Endogenous catecholamine
Excitatory: A1 and B1
Inhibitory: A2 and B2
Describe 5-HT
Strong inhibitory action in most CNS areas
What are benzodiazepines
Widely used anxiolytics
Relatively safe and effective
See for: anxiety and insomnia
What receptors do benzodiazepines target
GABA receptors
Describe the mechanism of action for benzodiazepines
Binding of GABA = opening of ion channel allowing Cl- through the pore
Influx of Cl- causes hyperpolarisation decreasing neurotransmission
BZs increase frequency of channel opening
Describe barbiturates
Used to sedate patients or to induce and maintain sleep
Replaced by benzodiazepines
Why are barbiturates controlled substances
Induce tolerance and physical dependence
Associated with very severe withdrawal symptoms
What is the mechanism of action for barbiturates
Enhances GABAergic transmission
Prolongs to duration of pore channel opening
Decreases neuronal activity
Describe SSRIs
Group of antidepressants that inhibit serotonin reuptake
What are SNRIs
Antidepressants that inhibit NA and serotonin uptake
What are TCAs
Antidepressants that block NA and serotonin reuptake into the presynaptic neurone
What is the mechanism of action for TCAs
Inhibit neurotransmitter reuptake
Blocking of receptors
What are MAOIs
Antidepressants that ir/reversibly inactivate the MAO enzyme
Permits neurotransmitters to accumulate within the presynaptic neurone
What are the 2 types of depression
Unipolar
Bipolar
Describe unipolar depression
Depression with no evidence for genetic cause
Older at first occurrence in response to distressing circumstances
Describe bipolar depression
Depression and mania
Evidence for genetic cause
Biochemical disorder
Apathetic and inert
What is the monoamine hypothesis for depression
That it is a result of under activity of monoamines
Especially 5-HT
What is the evidence for the monoamine theory
Antidepressants such as TXA and MAOI facilities monoaminergic transmission
Urinalysis and CSF concs of MOPEG is reduced in depressed patients
What is the evidence against monoamine theory
Amphetamine and cocaine has no affect in depressed patients despite causing a release of NA and inhibits its re-uptake
What is a theory for the 2-3 week delay in effectiveness
Quick increase in [5-HT] which inhibits 5-HT firing
Autoreceptors become desensitised after exposure
What are the advantages of SSRIs over TCA and MAOI
Lack of anticholinergic and cardiovascular side effects
No weight gain
Low acute toxicity
No food reaction
What are the symptoms of schizophrenia
Hallucinations/delusions
Blurred emotions/ lack of feeling
Loss of motivation
Social withdrawal
Describe the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia for positive symptoms
Too much dopamine in the subcortical and limbic regions of the brain may cause positive schizophrenic symptoms
Describe the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia for negative symptoms
Negative symptoms are associated with less dopamine in the prefrontal cortex
What is a evidence for the dopamine theory of schizophrenia
Amphetamines that release of DA produce a syndrome that mimics the +tive symptoms of schizophrenia
Abnormally high DA content in post morgen amygdala
What is the serotonin hypothesis for schizophrenia
5-HT dysfunction is involved in the pathophysiology of the disease
What are the 3 types of phenothiazines derivatives
Aliphatics
Piperazines
Piperidines
What is the role of phenothiazines
First generation antipsychotic mediations
Used in the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and other psychotic disorders
What os the mechanism of action for neuroleptics
Inhibit dopaminergic neurotransmission
Antipsychotic effects due to blockade of D2 receptors
What are the limitation of conventional antipsychotics
1/3 of patients fail to respons
Limited efficacy against negative and affective symptoms
High proportion of relapse
Name a few atypical antipsychotics
MARTA (multi acting receptor targeted agents)
SDA (serotonin-dopamine antagonists)
Selective D2/D3 antagonists
What is excitotoxicity
Release of excitatory neurotransmitters that can damage nerve cells e.g glutamate
How does excitotoxicity happen
When NMDA and AMPA receptors are over activated
Allows high level of Ca2+ to enter the cell
Activates proteases
Impaired mitochondrial function
Produces free radials
What diseased could excitotoxicity be involved in
Stroke
Parkinson’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease
What is a defence mechanism against excitotoxicity
Mitochondrial energy metabolism
ATP production sustains membrane potential an Ca2+ uptake by ER
What is oxidative stress
When products of oxidative phosphorylation create free radicals
They damage certain cellular components
How does a mutation in a gene cause Parkinson’s
Causes excessive production of A-synuclein that aggregates to form Lewy bodies
Clearance of the plaques is reduced as well
Describe the effect on the brain due to Parkinson’s
Degeneration of the basal ganglia and the substantia nigra
Reduced amount of DA
Correlated with a loss of cell bodies of dopaminergic neurons
What are the different treatments of Parkinson’s
Drugs that replace dopamine
Drugs that mimic the action of dopamine
MAO-B inhibitors
Drugs that release dopamine
Acetylcholine antagonists
What is the need for pain with short latency
Warn the organism that it is in danger so it will alter the situation
What is the need for pain with long latency
Immobilise the organism so that recover from injury can occur
What is nociception
The process whereby noxious peripheral stimulation are transmitted to the CNS
What are polymodal nociceptors
Main peripheral sense organs that respond to noxious stimuli
Majority are non-myelinated C fibres
Respond to thermal, mechanical and chemical stimuli
What happens when there has been an injury to tissue
Release of chemicals that sensitive or activate receptors
Neurone release substance P which stimulates mast cells and blood vessels
Histamines released from mast cells and bradykinin released from blood vessels add to pain stimulus
What is an opioid
Any substance which produces morphine-like effects that are antagonised by naloxone
Not necessarily similar to morphine
What is an opiate
Chemical compounds that are extracted from natural plant manner
Has a close structural similarity to morphine
What are endogenous opioids
Opioid peptides and their receptors
Involved in central and peripheral nervous systems
Involved in pain modulation, reward and response to stress
What are the 4 major opioid peptides
Leucine enkephalin
Methionine enkephalin
Dynorphins A
Dynorphins B
What are the 3 types of opioid receptor that mediate the main pharmacological effects of opiates
Mu
Delta
Kappa
How do the opioid receptors mediate the effects of opiates
GCPR that inhibit ardently cyclase = inhibit cAMP production
Bind to g-protein on ion channels to promote K+ channel opening = inhibitory effects
Bind to Ca2+ channel to inhibit ca2+ channel opening = reduces neurotransmitter release
What opioid receptor subtype accounts for the dysphoric effects
Sigma
What opioid receptor are most analgesic opioids agonists for
Mu
What does tolerance to opioids mean
An increase in the dose needed to reduce a given pharmacological effect
Describe tolerance in opioids
Develops rapidly
Extends to most effects
Tolerance to one opioid doesn’t necessarily mean tolerance to another
What are some important used of opioids
Relieve of mild to moderate pain
Relief of severe pain
Anxiety relief
Cough suppression
Euphoriant in terminal illness
What is morphine metabolised to
Morphine 6-glucuronide = pharmacologically active
What is drug dependence
When the administration of drug is sought compulsively
Continuous use despite the adverse psychological or physical effects produced
What supports the dopaminergic pathway involved in drug addiction
Higher frequency mutation A1 of the D2 receptor gene in alcoholics and drug abusers
How does nicotine cause dependence
Causes excitation of mesolimbic pathway and increased DA release in nucleus accumbens
What is the CNS effect of smoking
Activation of nicotinic Ach receptors = channel opening = neuronal excitation
What are the peripheral effects of nicotine
Effects on autonomic ganglia and peripheral sensory receptors in the heart and lungs
Describe the tolerance to nicotine
Rapid tolerance to the periphery caused by a desensitisation of nicotinic Ach receptors due to an increase in nicotinic Ach receptors in the brain
What are pharmacological approaches to treatment of nicotine dependence
Nicotine replacement therapy
Champix
Clonidine
How can alcohol cause neurological syndromes
On chronic basis
Due to thiamine deficiency
Alcoholics absorb their energy from alcohol and not their diets
How is drinking alcohol effective against atheroma formation
When consumed at sensible levels it increases plasma HDL
How can ethanol consumption protect against ischaemic heart disease
Inhibits platelet aggregation if drank in moderation
Possible due to inhibiting arachidnonic formation
How is ethanol metabolised in the blood stream
Ethanol -> acetaldehyde -> acetic acid
What is the tissue between the air sacs of the lungs called
Interstitium
Describe the structure of type 1 epithelial cells
Flat cells with broad cytoplasmic flaps
Have a perinuclear zone
Basement membrane fusing the alveolar epithelium to capillary endothelium
What is the function of type 1 epithelial cells
Site of gas exchange
What is the function of type 2 epithelial cells
Manufacture and release surfactant which reduces the surface tension
Which type of epithelial cell is capable of regeneration
Type 2
Why can type 1 cells not regenerate
No mitotic potential
What is the major cellular host defence mechanism in the alveolar space
Macrophage
How can alveolar macrophages leave the lungs cells
Must migrate to the nearest bronchiole
Exit via:
- the mucocilary escalator
- interstitium
- blood vessels or lymph
How does fibroblasts cause interstitial fibrosis
Fibroblasts not normal intestinal components
After disease, large amounts of collagen and elastin laid down
How do fibroblasts contribute towards interstitial fibrosis
Not normal interstitial components
After disease insult, large amounts of collagen and elastin laid down
How is a diagnosis of a pulmonary disease and disorders confirmed
Integration of pulmonary history and physical examination
Chest roentgenograms
Pulmonary function and blood gas laboratories
Describe lung function in restrictive lung disease
FEV1 and FVC decrease to same extent
FEV1 is still 70-80% of FVC
Absolute values are lower
Describe lung function in airflow obstruction
FEV1 decreases
FVC may be reduced but to a lesser extent
FEV1 is therefore <65%of predicted FVC
What is the purpose of bronchodilators
Oppose bronchoconstriction
Reduces resistance to air flow in respiratory tract
What are the 5 major groups of bronchodilators
Short acting anticholinergic
Long acting cholinergic
Short acting B2 agonists
Long acting B2 agonists
Theophyllines
What is the mechanism of action for bronchodilators
Competitive antagonist of muscarinic Ach receptors
Block vagal control of smooth muscle tone
Reduce reflex bronchoconstriction in response to irritants
How do anticholinergic effect goblet cells
Reduce mucus secretions
Why are anticholinergics not the first choice in asthma
Only reduce vagally mediated bronchoconstriction
No effect on inflammatory mediated bronchoconstriction
What are the side effects on anticholinergic bronchodilators
Dry mouth
Urinary retention
Constipation
What is the mechanism of action for B2 agonists
Reduce intracellular calcium to reduce bronchoconstriction
What is the difference between short acting and long acting B2 agonists
Short: acute symptoms and act within minutes, effects last 4-5 hours
Long: requires regular administration and effect achieved after several doses, effects last up to 12hrs
What are the side effects of B2 agonists as bronchodilators
Headache
Anxiety
Nausea
Tremor
Nervousness
Tachycardia
Why are B2 agonists bronchodilators typically administered by inhalation
Reduce chance of side effects due to non specificity:
Tachycardia, fine tremor, nervous tension and headache
What are examples of short and long acting B2 agonist bronchodilators
Short: salbutamol
Long: salmeterol
Describe the mechanism of action for Theophyllines
Inhibit phosphodiesterase = prevents cAMP breakdown
Promotes lowering of [intracellular Ca2+]
Prevents bronchoconstriction
What is the cons of theophyllines
It is an irritant so must be injected slowly
Dose required is between 10-20mg/L nut adverse effects can occur at this range - severity increases with conc
What are the side effects of theophyllines
Peripheral: nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea
CNS: headache insomnia and irritability
What is the purpose of anti-inflammatories when treating respiratory disorders
Suppress inflammation
Reduce mucus secretion, oedema and reactivity
How are glucocorticoid steroids beneficial in treating respiratory disorders
Reduce formation, release and action of inflammatory mediators
Inhibits virtually all aspects of the inflammatory cascade
Describe the mechanism of action for glucocorticoid steroids
Bind intracellular steroid receptors
Translocation of active receptor to nucleus = gene modulation
Downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines
Production of anti-inflammatory proteins
Why are glucocorticoid steroids the most important anti-asthma drug
Prevents exacerbations
Prevents remodelling i.e preserves lung function