chempath tutorial 1 - enzymes & proteins

Question 1

What is the most abundant plasma protein?

Answer 1

Albumin

Question 2

What plasma protein findings are associated with cirrhosis of the liver?

Answer 2

Low albumin

Question 3

What plasma protein findings are associated with nephrotic syndrome?

Answer 3

Low albumin (lost from damaged kidneys), raised alpha-2 globulin

Question 4

What plasma protein findings are associated with severe malnutrition, and why?

Answer 4

Low albumin and other proteins due to insufficient dietary protein precursors

Question 5

What plasma protein findings are associated with multiple myeloma?

Answer 5

Excessive monoclonal antibodies due to malignant B cells

Question 6

What plasma protein findings are associated with chronic infection?

Answer 6

Elevated IgG

Question 7

What plasma protein findings are associated with fluid loss/haemoconcentration?

Answer 7

high albumin concentration and other proteins concentration

Question 8

What is the significance of the commonly meausured plasma enzyme?

Answer 8

Shows tissue damage and where it is occurring, because when it is damaged enzymes can leak into the bloodstream when they would otherwise not exist there.

Question 9

What are the 3 isotypes of creatine kinase in the body, and where are they found?

Answer 9

CK-MB = cardiac
CK-MM = skeletal
CK-BB = brain

Question 10

What does an elevated plasma CK-MB level indicate?

Answer 10

Damage to cardiomyocytes

Question 11

What is the significance of elevated alpha-1-antitrypsin in the plasma?

Answer 11

Suggests an acute inflammatory state - released to prevent excess damage from proteases

Question 12

What is the significance of low levels of alpha-1-antitrypsin in the plasma?

Answer 12

Suggests a genetic deficiency - increases the risk of emphysema/COPD

Question 13

What is the shape of antibodies?

Answer 13

Y-shaped

Question 14

What type of protein are antibodies?

Answer 14

Immunoglobulins

Question 15

What are the structural components of antibodies?

Answer 15

Light chain & heavy chains, joined by disulfide bonds

Question 16

What is antibody neutralisation?

Answer 16

The process through which antibodies bind to and prevent toxins or pathogens from doing harm to the host

Question 17

Which type of antibody are immunoglobulins produced as, before the differentiate?

Answer 17

IgM

Question 18

What is the main class of antibody?

Answer 18

IgG

Question 19

Which immunoglobulin is pentameric?

Answer 19

IgM

Question 20

What are the 5 classes of Immunoglobulin?

Answer 20

MADGE - IgM, IgA, IgD, IgG, IgE

Question 21

Which immunoglobulin provides passive immunity to breast-fed infants?

Answer 21

IgA

Question 22

What is the function of IgE?

Answer 22

Allergic responses, neutralising parasites

Question 23

What is a paraprotein/monoclonal protein?

Answer 23

An abnormal immunoglobulin/antibody produced by a single clone of B cells, where all of the molecule proteins are identical, and the presence/concentration can therefore be detected in the plasma.

Question 24

Which disease do paraprotein/monoclonal proteins occur most frequently in?

Answer 24

Multiple myeloma

Question 25

What factors affect the plasma levels of enzymes?

Answer 25

tissue damage/injury (particularly the heart, kidneys, liver, muscles and pancreas), drugs, infection/inflammation

Question 26

What are the possible diseases that underly increased Alkaline Phosphotase (ALP)?

Answer 26

bone disease (increased osteoblast activity), Liver (impaired bile flow)

Question 27

What are the possible diseases that underly increased Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)?

Answer 27

Liver diseases, such as hepatitis or cirrhosis (indicates acute liver cell damage)

Question 28

What are the possible diseases that underly increased lactate dehydrogenase?

Answer 28

Detects most large tissue breakdowns/cell damage, but particularly haemolysis

Question 29

What are the possible diseases that underly increased Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase?

Answer 29

RBC haemolysis, liver diseases (impairment of bile flow, liver damage)

Question 30

What are the possible diseases that underly elevated creatine kinase levels?

Answer 30

Muscle damage or disease

Question 31

What are the possible diseases that underly increased lipase?

Answer 31

Pancreatitis, biliary system issues

Question 32

What are the possible diseases that underly elevated amylase?

Answer 32

Pancreatitis, biliary system issues

Question 33

What are the possible diseases that underly increased Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)?

Answer 33

Liver disease (indicates acute liver cell damage), muscle/heart/erythrocyte damage

Question 34

What is gel electrophoresis, and how is it used to measure plasma proteins?

Answer 34

A process used to seperate plasma proteins based on their electrical charge, by placing a sample in a gel matrix and applying a voltage, so that negatively charged proteins move towards the positive electrode and vice versa.