Week 10 SAIDs and Inflammation Flashcards
Innate immune system activation = inflammation
Innate immune cells recognise and are activated by molecular patterns associated with injury (ischaemia, trauma) or infection
- Cellular damage (cell contents): - e.g. K+, DNA, H+, ATP, warning proteins
= (DAMPs)
and / or - Pathogen (non-self)
components, e.g.
- viral proteins,
- bacteria cell wall
=> PAMPs
Innate immune system definition and purpose
a “non-specific” first line body defence response to cell injury or infection
purpose:
- localise and eliminate the injurious agent
- remove damaged tissue components
- body can begin to heal
5 cardinal signs of inflammation
redness
heat
swelling
pain
decreased function
(systemic = fever)
Acute inflammation (2 phases)
- Vascular phase
- cellular phase
Vascular phase
1.Injured cells, sensory neurons & resident immune cells release chemical mediator
2. Chemical mediators induce vasodilation (warmth) & increase capillary permeability => influx of plasma proteins that propagate inflammation (swelling, redness)
3. Plasma proteins lead to blood clotting, complement system and kinin production
4. The ‘complement system’ plus inflammatory mediators (chemokines) attract phagocytic white blood cells (e.g. monocytes and neutrophils) to the injury site =>
Cellular phase
Neutrophils & macrophages enter infl. tissue through the leaky blood capillaries
Phagocytic cells :
- ingest invading pathogens, dead cells and cellular debris
- release cytokines (enhance inflamm.) & ‘pyrogens’ & induce fever.
Chronic inflammation
Inflammation that lasts for 2 weeks or more.
*Results from an inability of the inflammatory response to remove the cause of inflammation
*Eg. chronic inflammatory diseases include
- arthritis (osteo / rheumatoid),
- Crohn’s disease & IBD
- asthma / COPD
- tuberculosis
*Can be dominated by lymphocytes & monocytes/macrophages
*Persistent inflammation causes local tissue damage and high fibroblast activity at the site causes local deposition of fibrin and formation of ‘fibrotic’ (dead/ cell-free) tissue (scarring)
inflammatory
mediators
eicosanoids = (Greek for “20” as derived from C20 fatty acids) arachidonic acid metabolites, including prostaglandins (PGs) and leukotrienes (LTs), thromboxane
- histamine = stored in mast cells (the major role of histamine in inflammation is to mediate allergic reactions)
- platelet activating factor (PAF) and C5a
Except for histamine, inflammatory mediators are not stored; they are synthesized and released in response to inflammatory stimuli, thus inflammation takes time.
What is the inflammatory synthetic process?
Inflammatory stimulus
->
Arachidonic acid - esterified to membrane phospholipids
->
[phopholipase A2]
->
free cytosolic Arachidonic Acid
=
Prostanoids: PGs, prostacyclin (PGI2),
thromboxanes.
Inflammatory mediator overview
Products of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes: prostaglandins (PGs), prostacyclin (PGI2)
COX = cyclo-oxygenase enzyme
LOX = lipoxygenase enzyme
CYP = cytochrome P450
PG = prostaglandin
LT = leukotriene
EET = epoxyeicosatrienoic acid
HETE = hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid
Prostaglandins (PGs)
Inflammatary roles:
- vasodilation
- altered platelet function
- hyperalgesia (abnormally increased sensitivity to pain)
- bronchoconstriction
- uterine contraction
- fever
How do prostanoids bring about their effects?
- G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), Table 33-1;
- Great diversity in receptor structures and G-protein interactions.
- e.g. PGE2, PGI2 and PGD2 each cause local vasodilation and reduced BP; PGF2a causes constriction of pulmonary arteries and veins, no change in BP.
- These effects may differ by tissue, e.g. contraction of GI and uterine smooth muscle, increased gastric secretions.
Endogenous agents which reduce PLA2 activity
Endogenous corticosteroids are made in the adrenal cortex:
* Mineralocorticoids are involved in water and electrolyte balance (aldosterone);
* Glucocorticoids have widespread effects on
metabolism, as well as mechanisms of
defense (hydrocortisone (“aka” cortisol)).
Exogenous glucocorticoids are most commonly used for their anti-inflammatory effects, hopefully with reduced mineralocorticoid activity
– very lipophilic.
- Common drugs used are hydrocortisone, prednisolone, and dexamethasone.
SAIDs
Glucocorticosteroids
Steroid hormones
e.g. Prednisolone - synthetic GCS
Hydrocortisone - endogenous GCS
Physiological role
= glucose homeostasis under stress
SAIDs reduce inflammation, but also have strong immunosuppressive and wider effects on the body
=> most potent anti-inflammatories BUT many side effects
Main anti-inflammatory mechanisms:
- increase synthesis of anti inflammatory proteins
- decrease synthesis of pro-inflammatory mediators
Main anti-inflammatory mechanism of action of SAIDs
Lipocortin-1 inhibits phospholipase A2
AND
Reduces the expression of COX enzymes
Overall result is the reduced production of prostaglandins + a lot more.