First Pass Miss Exam 1 Flashcards
How does RAS work?
It sits attached to the membrane, with a GTP binding domain.
Normally, its inactive form has GDP bound. Once activated by tyrosine kinase phosphorylation with a bridging protein, it has GTP bound.
GTP-bound Ras can activate RAF / MAPK and mTOR cascades to signal cell proliferation
How does the cell progress from G1 to S phase? When is the restriction point?
- Growth factors lead to accumulation of cyclin D via MYC.
- Cyclin D activates CDK which start phosphorylating Rb, allowing E2F to begin producing cyclin E (think E for E2F).
- G1 restriction point -> point of no return where cyclin E has accumulated enough that the cell cycle will move forward without more growth factor / cyclin D
- Hyperphosphorylated Rb has now completely lost control of E2F, which stimulates cyclin A from E2F-targeted genes
What actually initiates mitosis?
Phosphorylation of the cyclin B / CDK complex and accumulation of these complexes in the nucleus. These processes can be inhibited by G2/M checkpoint mechanisms.
G1 - cyclins D -> E
S - cyclin A
G2 - cyclin B
M - cyclin B
DEAB
What major cyclins are present at each phase of the cell cycle?
What is the function of the p53 protein at the G1/S checkpoint?
Upregulates DNA repair and also induces p21, a CDK inhibitor protein to arrest a cell cycle
-> will suicide if DNA repair is successful, otherwise upregulates BAX, and suppresses cyclins / Bcl-2
How does a growth factor like PDGF induce cyclin D formation?
PDGF -> dimerize than autophosphorylate RTK’s, activate Ras via bridging proteins, which can activate mTOR and MAPK pathways. MAPK / mTOR induce expression of MYC. MYC-MAX induces transcription of cyclin D.
What are the two types of physiologic hyperplasia and give examples of each?
- Hormonal induced
- > proliferation of breast epithelium in puberty / pregnancy
- > smooth muscle of uterus in pregnancy - Compensatory
- > regeneration of liver after hepatectomy
- > enlargement of contralateral kidney after unilateral nephrectomy
What is the example of connective tissue metaplasia?
Skeletal muscle -> bone after trauma, calsed myositis ossificans
Since they are both derived from mesoderm
What causes cardiac hypertrophy and what are its basic mechanisms?
Increased workload due to valvular stenosis or hypertension
Mechanisms:
Mechanical / trophic signals lead to transcription of normal as well as re-expression of fetal / neonatal genes which are more efficient and increase cardiac capacity / reduce workload
What is the most common reason for autophagy?
Macroautophagy - for survival in low nutrient conditions (during atrophy)
-> vs heterophagy, which is done to foreign materials by professional phagocytes like PMNs / MACs
What happens to the intermediate filaments in alcohol hepatitis?
Tend to form aggregates with breakdown of cytoskeletons
What are the pathways which typically cause accumulation of endogenous and exogenous substances in cells?
Endogenous:
Cellular reaction rate imbalances (excess production or decreased removal)
Defects in cellular reactions (abnormal synthesis, metabolism, or transport)
Exogenous:
Lack of metabolic / secretory pathways for removal
How does bilirubin appear as a pigment under the microscope? How to distinguish from lipofuscin?
A green to golden-brown pigment. Although it can be brown and near the nucleus at times, typically it is found in the bile ducts / bile canaliculi, and is much more globular in appearance (lipofuscin is very granular)
How does glycogen appear on H&E and how can it be definitively told apart from cholesterol / TAGs?
Small, clear, cytoplasmic vacuoles
- > can be told apart by periodic acid schiff stain for carbohydrates
- > accumulates in GSDs like Pompe’s and diabetes mellitus
What is transferrin saturation? What is the normal amount?
Serum iron levels (variable) divided by iron binding capacity (level of transferrin)
Normally, about 1/3 of transferrin iron-binding sites are filled
What are some things that can cause intrahepatic / extrahepatic cholestasis?
Intrahepatic - metastases of the liver, destruction of bile ducts, cirrhosis, etc
Extrahepatic - Gall stones stuck in bile duct (choledocholithiasis), malignancies pushing on bile duct (i.e. pancreatic cancer), etc
What are the deleterious cell reactions which can occur with a depletion of ATP?
- Increased H20 / Na in cell -> Decreased function of Na/K ATPase
- Drop in cellular pH leading to chromatin clumping -> glycolysis / fermentation
- Influx of Ca+2 -> failure of Ca+2 ATPase
- Abnormal protein synthesis -> loss of RER integrity (mostly due to swelling because of the above effects)
What is the mechanism of carbon tetrachloride toxicity (CCl4)?
CCl4 is metabolized by CYP450s in the liver to make CCl3 radical, which starts the lipid peroxidation of membranes in the cell.
- > decreases RER protein synthesis in liver, leading to apoprotein deficiency and fatty change of liver
- > also damages mitochondria / cellular membranes leading to cellular death longterm
How does the appearance of the cytoplasm change in necrosis and why?
- Increased eosinophilia
- > RNA degraded by lysosomal enzymes
- > Decreased pH due to lactic acidosis
- > denatured proteins accumulate - Dense, clumped, irregular appearance
- > decreased glycogen which normally gives cell a granular appearance
- > disrupted cytoskeleton from enzymatic activation
What are the causes of liquefactive necrosis? What is the exception?
- Pyogenic bacterial infections with acute inflammatory infiltrate, and release of WBC lysosomal enzymes which enzymatically digest tissue.
- Exception - caused by hypoxia / ischemia in CNS due to high lipid content and a small amount of PMNs
What is fat necrosis and where does it typically occur?
Necrosis from inappropriate release and activation of pancreatic lipases, leading to breakdown of membranes / intracellular TAGs to free fatty acids + MAGs.
-> leads to saponification (soap formation) of calcium bound to free fatty acids
-> typically occurs in pancreas (acute pancreatitis)
What are the first steps in induction of the intrinsic pathway?
Sensor proteins are activated due to stressors like DNA damage or excessive misfolded proteins.
Pro-apoptotic proteins like BAX and BAK replace anti-apoptosis protein BCL-2 in mitochondrial membrane
-> increasing mitochondrial membrane permeability
What is the gross and microscopic appearance of fat necrosis?
Gross - white, chalky patches of fatty on pancreas usually
Microscopic - hazy, basophilic outlines of adipocytes with acute inflammation associated.
-> looks like coagulative necrosis + basophilic hue from the calcium
What is the main mechanism of the extrinsic apoptosis pathway?
FasL on T-cells binds Fas receptor on cell to die.
- Binding of FasL
- Fas receptors cross-link
- Binding of Fas-associated death domain (FADD) adaptor protein
- Activation of Caspase 8 and executioner caspases
What do caspases do in the execution phase?
They are proteases which rapidly, sequentially activative other caspases
- Degradation of cytoskeleton and matrix
- Endonuclease activation - specific internucleosome DNA cleavage sites (can be seen as a ladder on gel electrophoresis)
What is the mechanism by which cytotoxic T cells induce apoptosis?
If they detect foreign antigen on MHC Class 1:
- Instrinic pathway: Use perforins to open up the cell, which mediates entry of granzymes.
Granzymes activate caspases and also Bid protein, which stimulates cytochrome C release from mitochondria
- Extrinsic pathway: Use FasL to bind Fas on target cell
How are cell membranes modified in apoptosis and what is the purpose of this?
Phosphatidylserine becomes expressed on the outside rather than interior of cells
- > enhanced macrophage recruitment and phagocytosis
- > efficient removal of apoptotic cell without inflammation
Why does the necroptosis pathway exist?
Programmed necrosis:
If the caspase-8 pathway is inhibited (i.e. by a pathogen evasion mechanism or a tumor mutation), apoptosis will still occur via necrosis
-> necrosome causes metabolic alterations (via mitochondrial changes) that decrease ATP production and increase ROS production -> necrotic cell death
How does pyroptosis work and what cytokines are involved?
Microbial infections / certain autoimmnue processes results in activation of inflammosome within macrophages and dendritic cells, leading to release of IL-1 and IL-18 via Caspase-1 mediated pathway as well as necrotic cell death. This leads to massive immune recruitment.
How can apoptosis be seen on morphology?
Cells are often hard to find and coexist with necrosis
- > rounded, condensed, hypereosinophilic cell which is reduced in size, with peripherally compacted nuclear chromatin
- > will form dense, membrane-bound apoptotic bodies
What factors contribute to cumulative nonlethal cellular injury?
- > repetitive damage by oxygen derived free radicals from Ox-Phos
- > Repeated damage and decreased repair of DNA
- > Decreased normal folding of proteins / accumulation of misfolded proteins
What is the pathogenesis of dystrophic calcification?
In cell injury / necrosis, there is increased membrane permeability leading to accumulation of calcium within cells, as well as membrane dysfunction leading to formation of extracellular vesicles which also hold calcium.
- > phosphate binds intracellular and extracellular calcium
- > development of calcium phosphate crystals in and around necrotic tissue (i.e. bicuspid aortic valve)
What tissues are more susceptible to metastatic calcification?
Normal organs with alkaline interstitium (calcium precipitates in basic conditions)
- > places which secrete acids
- > stomach, kidneys, lungs
What are calcifications often confused with grossly?
Fat necrosis, or even caseous necrosis
Calcifications are much harder
What are two unique variants of dystrophic calcification?
- Psammoma bodies - circular, onion-like concretions with concentric layering
- Ectopic bone - i.e. myositis ossificans, a typical of connective tissue metaplasia
What are the four mechanisms of how vascular permeability is increased in acute inflammation, and which is most common?
Adaptation-related:
- Formation of gaps between endothelial cells of venules - most common
- Endothelial transcytosis
Injury-related:
- Injury to endothelium of microcirculation
- Secondary to angiogenesis - forming blood vessels are immature / leaky
What two mediators cause hyperemia?
Histamine, NO
What are the two mechanisms behind forming gaps between endothelial cells? What mediates this?
- Immediate response -> endothelial cell contraction mediated by histamine, bradykinin, and leukotrienes
- Delayed, longer-lasting response -> retraction of endothelium due cytoskeletal changes mediated by cytokines (IL-1, TNF, and IFN-y)
How does rolling occur? What upregulates this
Leukocytes transiently attach to E-selectins on endothelium in a low affinity interaction to slow them down via their sialylated carbohydrate ligands (sialyl-Lewis) receptors.
P selectins are upregulated via histamine, and secreted by Weibel-Palate bodies
E selectins are upregulated via TNF, and IL-1
What mediates adhesion?
Firm attachment, high affinity interaction between VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 (integrin ligands) of endothelial cells and integrins on leukocytes. These are upregulated via IL-1 and TNF.
ICAM = integrin cell adhesion molecule
How do chemokines influence leukocyte trafficking?
They are secreted in the interstitium, are transcytosed and expressed on the vessel interior via the endothelium. These are presented by endothelium and act as coreceptors for leukocytes. Furthermore, they bind GPCRs as chemotaxic agents which induces actin polymerization and movement of immune cells
What acute inflammatory substances are the “early responders” present in preformed stores, and what releases them? What do they do generally?
Vasoactive amines - cause vasodilation and increased vascular permeability
- Histamine - mast cells
- Serotonin - activated platelets
What are the pathways by which complement is activated?
- Classical - Binding of C1 to IgG or IgM - General Motor Classic cars
- Lectin - C1 binds the lectin which binds mannose (MBL) on the pathogen
- Alternative - C3b directly binds to the pathogen and is stabilized by factor B and properdin to C3 convertase for further opsonization, and also make C3bBb3b = C5 convertase
What are the anaphylatoxins of the complement pathway and how do they exert their effects?
C3a and C5a -> cause vasodilation and increased vascular permeability by directly stimulating mast cell release of histamine
C5a is also a neutrophil chemoattractant
What is the kinin system and how is it activated?
A system of plasma proteins which are activated in inflammation (much like complement)
Activated when Hageman factor (Factor 12) contacts collagen, which facilitates its conversion to 12a. Hageman factor will form kallikrein from prekallikrein, as well as 11a from 11
What are the four functions of kallikrein?
Kallikrein - 4 functions
- Chemotactic agent like C5a or IL-8
- Converts HMW kininogen to bradykinin
- Converts plasminogen to plasmin (as does tPA)
- Increases conversion of 12 (Hageman factor) to 12a (with HMWK as cofactor) -> positive feedback loop
How does thrombin contribute to inflammation?
In addition to converting fibrinogen to fibrin, Thrombin (2a) binds to receptors on many cell types, increasing the inflammatory response by causing expression of adhesion molecules, production of cytokines, and generation of prostaglandins.
Also, further upregulates the intrinsic coagulation pathway.
What are the general functions of the prostaglandins? What induces them?
Bradykinin-like -> vasodilation, increased vascular permeability, pain
inhibit platelet aggregation
PGE2 - FEvEr
Induced by cytokines like IL-1, TNF, and thrombin which lead to increased cytosolic Ca+2 -> PLA2 activation, giving substrates for COX1/COX2 (inducible)
TXA2 = vasconstriction and platelet aggregation
What leukotriene is a chemoattractant for neutrophils and where is it produced?
LTB4 - produced by neutrophils only as a chemoattractant for other neutrophils
- > made by lipoxygenases
- > all other leukotrienes are made by neutrophil / platelet interaction
What are the leukotriene / lipoxin functions?
Leukotrienes - smooth muscle contraction -> cause vasoconstriction, increased vascular permeability, and bronchospasm
Lipoxins - made via lipoxygenase pathway as well, anti-inflammatory
How is PAF made and what does it do?
Platelet activating factor (PAF)
Made from phospholipids (not A2) in many cell types
- Stimulates platelet AND leukocyte activation
- Has leukotriene-like effects -> bronchoconstriction, increased vascular permeability
What are the important inflammatory cytokines mediating local effects and what do they do?
TNF and IL-1, produced primarily by macrophages
- Endothelial cell activation (E-selectin, ICAM/VCAM)
- Leukocyte stimulation (increased cytokine secretion / response)
- Stimulation of fibroblasts transition into repair phase
What are the acute vs chronic effects of cytokines TNF, IL-1, and IL-6?
Acute - fever (IL-1), anorexia, fatigue, production of APPs (IL-6), (systemic inflammatory response syndrome - SIRS, including leukocytosis)
Chronic - cachexia - due to increased lipid / protein mobilization from chronic inflammation - mostly mediated via TNF.
Is nitric oxide considered proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory, and how does it work?
Mixture, although production is increased during inflammation by macrophages / endothelial cells
Proinflammatory properties:
- Vasodilation
- Antimicrobial activity - substrate for production of peroxynitrite free radicals
Anti-inflammatory:
Reduction of platelet and leukocyte adhesion
What is substance P?
A pro-inflammatory neuropeptide, increases pain response in CNS / PNS
Substance P(AIN)
(along with bradykinin and prostaglandins)
What substance is thought to mediate the invasion of the immune system into hypoxic tissue?
Hypoxia-induced factor 1alpha
What is suppurative inflammation and what causes it?
Also called purulent inflammation, often caused by pyogenic bacteria
It is a dense collection of inflammatory cells with exudative edema and cell debris (does not always destroy tissue structure to cause necrosis)
- > extended period = liquefactive necrosis
- > fibrin capsule around liquefactive necrosis = abscess
What are the two broad categories of macrophages? How are they activated and what is their function?
M1 - classically activated - via TH1 cells and IFN-y, function in inflammation and microbial killing
M2 - alternatively activated - via TH2 cells, release anti-inflammatory factors like IL-10 and TGF-beta, and stimulate fibrosis / tissue repair via growth factors
Give two general causes of granulomatous inflammation, as well as the underlying pathogenesis.
Hallmark of granulomatous inflammation is activated M1 macrophages - epitheloid histiocytes. May be accompanied by lymphocytes and giant cell aggregates.
T cells will secrete IL-2 for further T cell response, and IFN-y to keep macrophages active. Macrophages release IL-12 to activate more Th1 cells.
- Organisms resistant to killing which will cause a Type 4 hypersensitivity: i.e. TB, histoplasmosis
- > causes caseating necrosis - Particulate material which cannot be degraded -> nonabsorbable sutures, uric acid crystals
- > causes non-caseating necrosis
What is fibrinous inflammation? How does it appear histologically?
Acute inflammatory process where extravascular fibrin deposition predominates -> often on tissue surfaces in body cavities
Appears similar to serous inflammation as it is sparsely cellular, but very eosinophilic due to fibrin buildup extravascularly. It results from increased vascular permeability more than serous, allowing clotting factors to seep out and form fibrin.
May ultimately result in the formation of granulation tissue with subsequent fibrosis
How is uric acid proinflammatory?
Indication of necrosis / cell death, can lead to production of the IL-1 after activation of the inflammasome
What is a leukemoid reaction?
Reactive neutrophilia (left shift with band forms) which is so strong it looks like leukemia -> often in severe infection, will appear with Dohle bodies and toxic granulation
What are the functions of haptoglobin, ferritin, and hepcidin and are they positive or negative APPs?
Haptoglobin - binds free hemoglobin
Hepcidin - decreases iron absorption and transport (kills da iron)
Ferritin - binds free iron, need more so you can store more, with assistance via ceruloplasmin (copper carrier enzyme which oxidizes it to Fe+3, mobile form)
- > decreases microbes ability to take up free iron
- > positive APPs
What is the erythrocyte sedimentation rate? Does this increase or decrease in inflammation and why?
Distance that RBCs settle in a vertical column of anticoagulated blood in one hour
Decreases in inflammation because of elevated fibrinogen levels (+APP), leading to increased thombosis risk
Why are transthyretin and cortisol-binding globulin negative APPs?
Decreased levels reduce hormone binding capacity -> temporary increase in action of free hormone (T4 and cortisol)
Why are albumin, transferrin, and retinol-binding proteins negative APPs?
Mostly to delegate more amino acids towards +APP synthesis
-> transferrin also needs to be decreased to reduce circulating iron levels for microbes
What are the two types of stem cell pools and which one is utilized most commonly for tissue expansion? What is their primary difference?
- Tissue stem cells -> most common
- Restricted differentiation capacity, i.e. basal cells of epithelium, base of intestinal crypts - Multipotent adult progenitor cells
- broad differentiation capacity
- identified in many tissues, including bone marrow
What two factors are needed for angiogenesis as well as tissue regeneration and healing?
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)
What three growth factors are used for the stimulation of proliferation of mesenchymal cells? What cell types would these be?
Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) (healing near wound site)
Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)
Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta)
Includes fibroblasts, smooth muscle, and endotheliums
What is the function of TGF-beta?
Transforming growth factor beta
- > strong stimulus for fibrosis (induces fibroblast motility, proliferation, and ECM production)
- > terminates the inflammatory response, solidifies formation of scar
What is the primary determining factor of whether tissue regeneration can occur?
After the insult, is the ECM framework intact? If so, tissue regeneration can occur. Otherwise the cells will grow back by mass, but not the same way they were before (compensatory hyperplasia)
What type of insult would produce an injury that requires healing with fibrosis?
- Severe injury - damage to ECM or deep structures where stem cell pool is destroyed
- Chronic inflammation
- Involvement of permanent cell types
What typically causes reactive lymphocytosis and what types of lymphocytes are present (one of these is abnormal and common)
Most common in viral infections
- > polyclonal lymphocytes with unique surface antigen receptors
- > atypical lymphocytes - activated CD8 cells which are large and amorphous
How does angiogenesis in granulation tissue commence, and how does this relate to fibroblast proliferation?
VEGF and FGF cause migration and proliferation of endothelial cell precursors from bone marrow, as well as sprouting off of existing blood vessels (most common).
Since primitive vessels are leaky prior to maturation -> exudative edema occurs. The edema serves as a good matrix for fibroblasts to migrate in develop connective tissue.
What secretes all these growth factors? How are they secreted?
All these growth factors are secreted in a paracrine fashion by fibroblasts, macrophages, and endothelial cells
What are the hallmarks of scar formation (vs granulation tissue)
- Decreased number of proliferating endothelial cells and fibroblasts
- Increased deposition and development of ECM, especially fibrillar collagens (will be much more blue than granulation tissue on trichrome)
- Connective tissue remodeling (Type 3 collagen -> Type 1 collagen, higher tensile strength, less pliability)
What factors might be in play to impede wound healing?
- Most common -> persistent infection, local or systemic (i.e. S. aureus)
- Inadequate circulating or drainage
- Decreased immune response due to immunosuppressive drugs or immundeficiency
- Malnutrition (protein or vitamin C deficiency (needed for collagen))
- Wound disruption - i.e. mechanical stress or foreign bodies present
What is “proud flesh”?
A form of excessive wound repair in which “overabundant granulation tissue” extends far above the skin surface, preventing the skin from being re-epithelialized
What stain is used to visualize amyloid, and what two types of microscopy? How does the stain work?
Congo-red stain -> dye intercalates between the beta-pleated sheet structure of the amyloid fibrils, which are each composed of sets of beta pleated sheets forming filaments, which are crossed at 90 degrees
Light microscopy -> stain will appear red-orange
Polarization microscopy -> appears green or yellow (if you turn it perpendicularly 90 degrees it will change to the other color, since the beta sheets are crossed and 90 degrees offset)
What component is conserved in all amyloid proteins?
Serum amyloid P component -> stabilizes the protein
How is AE formed?
Endocrine amyloid -> formed from proteins like calcitonin, islet amyloid polypeptide, and atrial natriuretic factor (ANF)
What are the three major biochemical types of amyloid?
AL - amyloid light chain
AA - amyloid-associated
Abeta - Beta-amyloid