Cell Death & Necrosis Flashcards
Is cell degeneration reversible or irreversible cell injury?
Reversible
Is cell necrosis reversible or irreversible cell injury?
Irreversible - too far gone
What is nearly all cell damage mediated by?
Damaged membranes or enzyme systems
What can be seen under the microscope with cell death/ degeneration?
Changes in individual cells and groups of cells
What can clinical biochemistry detect with damaged/ dead cells?
Leaked intracellular substances in body fluids - Often Enzymes
What is the underlying mechanism for cell injury?
Disruption of the Na+/K+ active membrane pump - Na+ can then move into the cell - Water follows Na+ - Cell appears to swell
What is severe cell swelling?
When the whole cell and organelles swell and are damaged - this means cellular function is impaired because the organelles no longer work as well/ at all
How can membrane damage be self- perpetuating?
- Intracellular Ca2+ from the cytoplasm and the organelles leaks out and activates phospholipases – lyse membrane phospholipids - Cytoskeleton damage - Free radical damage - Broken down membrane fragments have a detergent effect and stop other membranes from working properly
What are some of the causes for cell damage?
- Physical trauma - Hypoxia - Free radical damage - Immune reactions - Genetic Defects - Nutrition - Microbiological agents - Aging
Describe Hypoxia in terms of cell damage…
- Lack of O2 - Mediated by decreased ATP production - Caused by: – respiratory disease – Anaemia – Damage to RBCs – CO poisoning – Haemorrhage – Trauma – Cardiac Dysfunction – Constriction – Thrombosis
What are free radicals?
A single unpaired electron in an outer shell - Highly reactive - Very unstable - Autocatalytic - start off with one and it makes heaps Involved in cell injury, aging anf macrophage killing
How are free radicals formed?
- Action of radiant energy - Normal cellular reactions - Inflammation - Enzyme metabolism of certain chemicals - Reperfusion injury (hypoxic tisse gets blood flow back = lots of FRs) - Also from O2, N, C - catalysed by Fe2+
What are the most common free radicals?
Oxygen derived free radicals
What are the consequences of free radicals?
- Lipid degradation of membranes by oxidation of unsat Fatty Acids - Damage to cell proteins - Breaks in DNA strands - Damage to mitochondria Can damage cells at every level!
What are some protective mechanisms against free radicals?
- Natural decay of free radicals - Anti-oxidants - Enzymatic inactivation
What changes the morphologic appearance of cell degeneration?
- Swelling and Eosinophilia - Fatty Change
Describe cell swelling?
- Cytoplasm appears swollen, cloudy, granular or vacuolated - Reversible - Increased cell size may affect organ function
Describe Eosinophilia…
One morphological appearance of cell degeneration - Cells stain pinker - Ribosomes appear blue
Describe Fatty Change?
One morphologic appearance of cell degeneration - a.k.a. lipidosis, fatty degeneration, steatosis, fatty infiltration - Increased amounts of TAGs in cells - Normal in some tissues - Liver most often affected
Why is the liver most often affected by Fatty Change?
Because it is the main organ involved in fat metabolism - fat arrives from the diet and from adipose tissue
What is the pathogenesis of fatty liver?
- Increased energy demand by foetuses in late pregnancy combined with decreased ewe intake caused by stressors or compression of digestive organs by uterus = Negative energy balance 2. HYPOGLYCAEMIA 3. Secretion of glucocorticoids by adrenal glands + mobilisation of fat stores 4. OAA build up in blood - no ACoA due to previous hypoglycaemia 5. OAA used as substrate for ketone body formation = KETONAEMIA and KETONURIA 6. Increased deposition of TAGs into liver that can’t be oxidised = FATTY LIVER - FFA’s released from Adipose are transported to liver - re-esterified to TAGs - oxidised to ACoA - ACoA into TCA cycle to produce energy or ketone bodies
What happens to the TAGs sent to the liver in mobilisation of adipose?
- Stored as TAGs - Oxidised to Acetyl- CoA - Used to make membranes, Steroid hormones - Exported in bloodstream stuck to lipids as VLDL
How does fat accumulate in the liver?
When more is entering than being removed - Increased dietary intake of fat OR moderate body fat supplies and decreased intake - Decreased metabolism of fat in the liver OR decreased transport of liver due to decreased apoproteins
What is the underlying mechanism of fatty liver disease?
Decreased mitochondria

















