Question

D) Assume the asthma patient has a chronic disease form of asthma. At the cellular level, which cells are now likely to have migrated into the lung tissue? (4pts) Name 2 types:

E) What factors do the cells named in part D secrete that may lead to air sac damage or damage to the elasticity of the lung tissue? (2pts) Name 2 factors:

F) The patient is now treated with NUCALA (Mepolizumab) for the asthma that they have. What exactly does NUCALA do to lessen the disease? Focus on which cells it may alter the behavior of and how it works. (2pts)

G) The patient also is prescribed Advair. Focusing on the immune system altering component of Advair, fluticasone, what class of drug is it and what does it do at a general level? (2pts)

Answer 1

Answer :

D. A condition in which a person's airway become inflammed, narrow and swell and produce extra mucus, which makes it difficult to breath.Chronic asthma is (long-term asthma) condition that affects the airway in the lungs. The airways are tubes that carry air in and out of lungs. Asthma affects people of all ages and often starts during childhood.

Mainly two types of cells that are migrated into the lung tissues in chronic asthma ,those are macrophages cells and esinophils.

E. Cytokines direct and modify the inflammatory response in asthma and likely determine it's severity. Th2- derived cytokines include IL-5 , which is neede for easinophil differentiation and survival, and IL -4 which is important for Th2 cell differentiation and with IL-13 is important for IgE formation. Key cytokines include IL-1 and tumor necrosis factor - (TNF-) , which amplify the inflammatory response, and granulocyte-macrophage coclony-stimulating factor (GM-CFS) ,which prolongs eosinophil survival in airways.

F. NUCALA is a different kind of treatment for severe asthma.NUCALA may decrease airway inflammation that can cause severe asthma attacks. Nucala targets interleukin-5 (IL-5) which regulates the levels of blood eosinophils (the type of white blood cells that helps trigger asthma). Genetically engineered,Nucala keeps IL-5 from binding to eosinophils and, thereby lowers the risk of a severe asthma attack.

Mechanism of action of Mepolizumab.

Nucala binds to IL-5 with a dissociation constant of 100 pM, inhibiting the bioactivityof IL-5by blocking its binding to the alpha chain of the IL-5 receptor complex expressed on the eosinophil cell surface. Inflammation is an important component in the pathogenesis of asthma and EGPA (eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis).

G. Advair is a combination medication containing flutocasone propionate and salmeterol. It is used in the management of chronic asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). It is used by inhaling the medication to the lungs. It contains two medication :

• fluticasone - it is belongs to a class of drugs known as corticosteroids. It works by reducing the irritation and swelling of the airways.
• Salmeterol - it is belongs to the class of drugs known as long acting beta agonists. It works by opening airways in the lungs to make breathingeasier.