Mediators of Inflammation😊

Mediators of Inflammation

Preformed Mediators

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  • Always present in the body.

1. Histamine and Serotonin:

  • They are 1st hormones to be released during inflammation

Histamine:

  • Richest source mast cells.
  • Special stain for mast cells (and basophils):
    • Toluidine Blue.
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Serotonin:

  • Richest source
    • Enterochromaffin cells (intestine).
  • Functions
    • Vasodilation.
    • Increased vascular permeability 
      • (hallmark event).
    • Bronchoconstriction 
      • (involved in asthma).

2. Lysosomal Enzymes:

  • Found in granules within lysosomes.

Granule Types and Contents:

Granule Type
Contents
Mnemonic / Notes
Primary Granules (Azurophilic Granules)
- Acid hydrolase
- Bacteria killer (Myeloperoxidase)
- Cathepsin
- Defensins
- Elastase
Mnemonic: ABCDE
Secondary
(
Specific) Granules
Type IV collagenase
(specific collagenase)
Lactoferrin
Mnemonic: Second, specific → Lac2 ferrin, Specific collagenase
Tertiary
(
C Particles)
Gelatinase
Mnemonic: C → G

Newly Synthesized Mediators

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  • Formed when infection occurs.

Nitric Oxide (NO):

  • Function: 
    • Vasodilation
    • ⛔ Platelet aggregation 
    • "Opens everything".

Platelet Activating Factor (PAF):

  • Function: 
    • Platelet aggregation
    • Vasoconstriction
      • "Activates everything", narrows things. Opposite to NO.

Chemokines:

Type
Structure
Example
Attracts
Mnemonic
CXC
(Alpha)
Two cysteines,
1 AA in between
IL-8
Neutrophils
CXC → X → Neutrophils

CXC → X → 8 and α
CC
(Beta → β (2C))
Two cysteines
Eotaxin,
MCP,
RAN
TES
Eosinophils,
Monocytes,
T-cells
CC → bike → MET accident
(Monocytes, eosinophils, T cells)
C
(Gamma)
Single cysteine
Lymphotactin
Lymphocytes
Single C looks like L and Îł
CX3C
3 AAs in between
Fractalkine
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x 3 = fraction → fractalkine

Cytokines (Interleukins, TNF, Interferons):

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  • Cause Fever: 
    • IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha

TNF-alpha:

  • Causes fever.
  • Causes decrease in appetite.
  • Associated with pathogenesis of septic shock.
  • Maintains granulomas in TB and Crohns Disease
  • Mnemonic:
    • Nananja thuni → ittal → Pani varum (fever),
    • Food kazhikkan pattilla (↓ appetite),
    • Kazhichal diarrhea avum (CD)
    • Shock (septic shock) adikkum currentl thottaal

Interleukin Functions:

Interleukin
Function
Mnemonic / Notes
IL-1
Causes fever (pyrogen).
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IL-2
Secreted by T Cells
Growth of helper, cytotoxic, regulatory T cells & NK cells
2 → T
IL-3
Bone marrow stem cell growth
(like GM-CSF)
3 → B
IL-4
Differentiates Th → Th2
B Cell
IgE class switching.
BEG (B cell, IgE, IgG switching)
4 help
IL-5
Promotes B Cell IgA class switching;
Eosinophil, basophils, mast cells activation
Type 1 hypersensitivity
“I have 5 BAEs”
(B cells, IgA, Eosinophils)
IL-6
Can start and stop inflammation

Regulates Acute Phase Reactants
—
IL-7
T-cell maturation
7 looks like T
IL-8
Neutrophil recruitment
“Clean up on aisle 8”
(Neutrophils = cleanup crew)
IL-10
Only anti-inflammatory
Inhibits Th1, ↓ MHC II, ↓ macrophage activation
AnTEN inflammatory
"
IL-10 & TGF-β both shut things down"
IL-12
Secreted by macrophages
Differentiates T cells → Th1,
activates NK cells
IL12 and IFN γ →
Granuloma formation in TB
IL-13
Promotes IgE,
alternative macrophage activation,
Mucus production
"thirtEEn promotes IgE"
  • TGF Îą →
    • Menetriers (foveolar cell hyperplasia)
  • TGF β →
    • Most Fibrogenic
  • IL12 and IFN Îł →
    • Granuloma formation in TB

IL-6:

Type
Examples
Positive APRs (↑ in blood)
CRP, Ferritin, Hepcidin, Haptoglobin, Fibrinogen, Procalcitonin (marker of sepsis), Serum Amyloid A (SAA)
Negative APRs (↓ in blood)
Mnemonic: TAN
(Transferrin, Transcortin, Transthyretin, Albumin)
Cytokines
Function / Role
IL-2, IL-12, INF-G
TH1 (Cell Mediated Immunity)
→ Granuloma
IL-4, IL-5, IL-13
TH2 (Humoral immunity)
IL-4
IgE synthesis
IL-5
Eosinophils activation
IL-1, IL-6, TNF-Alpha
Pro-inflammatory cytokines
IL-10, TGF-β, Lipoxin
Anti-inflammatory
IL-8, C5a, LTB4, 5-HETE, Kallikrein
Chemokines
C3b, IgG
Opsonin
C3a, c5a
Anaphylatoxins
  • Chemokines:
    • Bacteria () helps to form (Formyl methionine) LIC () for Tax (chemotax)
    • LIC 4 (L B4) 85 (IL8, C5a) years

Interferons:

Interferon
Source (LFT)
Function (ABG)
IFN-alpha
Leukocytes
Antiviral properties
IFN-beta
Fibroblasts
Multiple Sclerosis
IFN-gamma
Secreted by NK & T-helper 1 cells
CGD
  • Mnemonic: Interfere while taking ABG and LFT

Arachidonic Acid Metabolites:

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Eicosanoids

  • Formed from
    • arachidonic acid
      • omega-6 fatty acid
  • Examples:
    • Prostaglandins
    • Thromboxanes
    • Leukotrienes
    • Lipoxins etc.
  • Origin:
    • 20-carbon compound from phospholipids by phospholipase A2 & C.

COX (Cyclooxygenase) Pathway:

  • Forms prostaglandins, Thromboxane A2 (TXA2).
    • Sequence:
      • PGG2 → PGH2 (makes the rest PGs).
    • Mnemonic: alphabetical order G → H → D, E, F + I
      • From G → H forms
      • From H → I and DEF forms
        • Compare I and TXA2
          • I → Inhibit
          • TXA → Aggregate (thromb → vasoconstriction)
        • D → Dilate
        • E → eeeee for pain
        • F → Female → Carboprost
    • Derivatives from PGH2:
      • Derivative
        Function
        PGD2
        Vasodilation
        PGE2
        Pain (acts with Bradykinin)
        PGF2 alpha
        Acts on female reproductive system (e.g., Carboprost)
        Derivative
        Function
        PGI2 (Prostacyclin)
        • ↓↓ platelet aggregation
        • Cause
        vasodilation
        TXA2 (Thromboxane A2)
        • ↑↑ platelet aggregation
        • Cause
        vasoconstriction
    • Pharmacology Integration:
      • Item
        Function/Effect
        COX-1
        Gastroprotective
        COX-2
        Mediates inflammation
        NSAIDs / Aspirin
        ⛔ both COX-1 & COX-2
        ↳ risk of peptic ulcers
        Selective COX-2 Inhibitors (e.g., Coxibs)
        ⛔only COX-2
        ↳ ↓↓ GI side effects

LOX (Lipooxygenase) Pathway:

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5-LOX Pathway:

  • Forms leukotrienes
    • LT B4: 
      • Chemotaxis (part of LIC mnemonic).
        • Chemokines:
          • Bacteria () helps to form (Formyl methionine) LIC () for Tax (chemotax)
          • LIC 4 (L B4) 85 (IL8, C5a) years
    • LTC4, LTD4, LTE4:
      • Act on lung leukotriene receptors
        • bronchoconstriction (asthma)
  • Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists (⇏ C, D, E)
    (e.g., Montelukast, Zafirlukast):
    • ⛔ LTC4, LTD4, LTE4,
  • Zileuton ⇏ 5 LOX
    • stops entire pathway, incl. chemotaxis
    • Not preferred for asthma alone.

12-LOX Pathway:

  • Forms lipoxins.
  • Lipoxins: 
    • Anti-inflammatory action 

Complement System:

  • Plasma proteins (partly newly synthesized, partly preformed).
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Three Pathways:

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Pathways
Triggered by
Starts
Classical
Antigen-antibody complexes (IgM, IgG)
C1 (Also C2, C4)
Alternate
IgA
C3
Mannose Lectin
Bacteria/microorganisms
C2, C4

End Result:

  • Formation of MAC (Membrane Attack Complex).
    • Composition: C5b to C9 
    • Function:
      • Bacterial lysis
Mnemonic: A very rich man (Mannose Lecithin pathway) → has an Assistant (IgA → Alternate) group of class of subordinates (classical → antigens → IgG, IgM, Ag-Ab))
  • Man give money directly → 24 Lakh Mac
  • Assistant give → 3 L Mac
  • Class give → 1L mac
    • To children from 5th std to 9th std (5b → 9)
  • Mac koduth koduth theernnu poi (Mac deficiency) → avarkk Cap (capsulated) koduth
  • Man (Mannose → C2, C4) Complement cheythillenkil (complement deficiency → autoimmuune)
    • S = Swantham
    • L = Lakshyam
    • E = Ethire body Pravarthikkum

Complement Deficiencies:

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  • Most Common: 
    • C2 deficiency.
  • Early
    • C1, C2, C4 deficiency
    • A/w autoimmune disorder like SLE
  • Late
    • MAC deficiency
    • Infections by capsulated organisms
      • Disseminated Neisseria infection
        • (meningococcus)

Hereditary Angioedema (HAE)

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  • Also: Quincke's Disease
  • Autosomal dominant
  • Bradykinin mediated
  • NOT HISTAMINE MEDIATED
  • Defect: C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency
    • Leads to uncontrolled complement cascade
    • C1 inhibitor normally controls C1 pathway.
    • Deficiency → uncontrolled complement → episodic swelling (edema).
  • Types based on C1 inhibitor:
    • Type 1: Low C1 inhibitor protein concentration
    • Type 2: Loss of C1 inhibitor function (quantity normal)
    • Type 3: Normal C1 inhibitor → Factor 12?? (unknown defects)
  • Presentation:
    • Recurrent laryngeal edemas
    • Colicky abdominal pain
    • Recurrent angioedema
    • Positive family history
  • Evaluation:
    • Screening: Low C4 level
    • Specific: C1 inhibitor levels
  • Treatment:
    • Acute: Airway management
    • IV C1-esterase inhibitor concentrate (C1-INH)
    • Fresh frozen plasma (contains C1 inhibitor)
    • DOC: Danazol
    • Icatibant, Ecallantide
    • Lanadelumab
      • Ee kaatile Ee kallan Anade adyil
    • Prophylaxis: Tranexamic acid, anabolic steroids
    • Anabolic steroid Danazol may help.
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