GenPath RC Flashcards
Where does transmigration of leukocytes occcur?
Post capillary venules
What is the function of CD31/PECAM-1 in leukocyte recruitment?
Adhesion of leukocytes and migration through interendothelial gaps towards chemical gradient of chemokines
How do leukocytes pierce the basement membrane?
Secreting collagenases
What substances act as chemoattractants?
Exogenous and endogenous substances
Endogenous: cytokines (IL-8), complement system (C5a), arachidonic acid (AA, mainly leukotrienes B4 - LTB4)
What is the mechanism on how chemoattractant agents function?
Chemotactic agents bind to transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors on the surface of leukocytes
Signals from these receptors result in second messengers to be activated that induce polymerization of actin on the leading edge of the cell and localization of myosin filaments at the back
Leading edge of teh leukocyte then extends filopodia that pull back of the cell in teh direction of extension, much as an automobile with front-wheel drice
What cell type does Pseudomonas attract?
Neutrophils that are continuously recruited
Describe pathology of leukocyte activation
Activation results from signaling pathways that are triggered in leukocytes
—> results in increases in cytosolic Ca and activation of enzymes such as protein kinase C and phospholipase A2
List the main steps of phagocytosis
- Recognition and attachment of the particle to be ingested by the leukocyte
- Engulfement with subsequent formation of a phagocyte vacuole
- Killing of the microbe and degradation of the ingested material
List the three types of phagocytic receptors
- Mannose receptors
- Scavenger receptors
- Receptors for various opsonins that enable phagocytes to bind/ingest microbes
What is the macrophage mannose receptor?
A lectin that binds terminal mannose and fucose residues of glycoproteins and glycolipids
These sugars are typically part of molecules found on microbial cell walls whereas mammalian glycopproteins and glycolipids contain terminal sialic acid or N-acetylgalactosamine (therefore the mannose receptor recognizes microbes and not host cell)
What are scavenger receptors?
One of the phagocytic receptors
They bind and mediate endocytosis of oxidized or acetylated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) that do not interact w/ the conventional LDL receptor.
Bind a variety of of microbes in addition to modified LDL particles
What are macrophage integrins?
MAC-1 (CD11b/CD18)
Binds microbes for phagocytosis
What enhances phagocytosis of microbes?
Opsonins
Microbes are coated with opsonins for which the phagocytes express high-affinity receptors
Major opsonins are :
- immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies
- C3b breakdown product of complement
- certain plasma lectins, notably mannnose-binding lectin and collectins, all of which are recognized by specific receptors on leukocytes
What is phagocytosis dependent on?
Polymerization of actin filaments
What causes killing of microbes?
ROS (reactive oxygen species)
How are ROS produced?
Rapid assembly and activation of a multicomponent oxidase, NADPH oxidase (also called phagocyte oxidase), which oxidizes reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) and in the process, reduces oxygen to superoxide anion (O2-)
In neutrophils, this is triggered by phagocytosis and is called respiratory burst
How many proteins are in phagocyte oxidase?
7
Describe how ROS are produced and act on microbes
Activating stimuli –> the cytosolic protein components translcoate to the phagosomal membrane, where they assemble and form the functional enzyme complex
ROS are produced w/in the phagolysosome, where they can act on ingested particles without damaging the host cell
O2-* is converted into H2O2 mostly by spontaneous disputation
H2O2 is not able to kill microbes by itself, the azurophilic granules of neutrophils contain MPO, which in the presence of a halide such as Cl converts H2O2 to HOCL and destroys microbes by halogenation
What are the common antioxidants?
Enzyme superoxide dismutase
Catalase (detoxifies H2O2
Glutathione peroxidase
Copper-containing plasma protein ceruloplasmin
Iron-free fraction of plasma transferrin
What is the component of the disease process chronic granulomatous disease?
Inherited deficiencies of components of phagocyte oxidase
What are the types of granules in neutrophils?
Primary (larger, azurophil)
Secondary (smaller)
What are in primary granules of neutrophils?
MPO
Bactericidal proteins (lysozyme, defensins
Acid hydrolases
Neutral proteases (elastase, cathepsin G, nonspecific collagenases, proteinase 3)
What are in secondary granules of neutrophils?
Lysozyme Collagenase Gelatinase Lactoferrin Plasminogen activator histaminase ALP
*lysozyme is in both primary and secondary granules
What are the neutral proteases in neutrophil primary granules?
Elastase
Cathepsin G
Nonspecific collagenases
Proteinase 3
What are the functions of acid proteases and neutral proteases?
Acid proteases: degrade bacteria and debris w/in phagolysosomes - acidified by membrane-bound proton pumps
Neutral proteases degraded various extracellular components such as collagen, basement membrane, fibrin, elastin, and cartilage —> tissue destruction that accompanies inflammatory processes
…..Neutral proteases can also cleave C3 and C5 complement proteins and release a kinin-like peptide from kininogen
What is the function of neutrophil elastase?
Degrade virulence factors of bacteria and thus combat bacterial infections
What types of enzymes do macrophages contain?
Acid hyrdolases Collagenase Elastase Phospholipase Plasminogen activator
Contrast enzymes in neutrophils and macrophages
Both: collagenases, elastase
Macrophages: acid hydrolases, collagenase, elastase, phospholipase, plasminogen activator
Neutrophils
- Primary: MPO, lysozyme, defensins, acid hydrolases, neutral proteases (elastase, cathepsin G, nonspecific collagenases, proteinase 3)
- Secondary: lysozyme, collagenase, gelatinase, lactoferrin, plasminogen activator, histaminase, ALP
Additional granules that neutrophils have that macropahges don’t
- MPO, lysozyme, defensins, cathepsin G, proteinase 3, gelatinase lactoferrin, histaminase, ALP
Macrophages have phospholipase that neutrophils do not have
What is the name of an antiproteases to combat the destructive effects of lysosomal enzymes from neutrophils?
Alpha1-antitrypsin (major inhibitor of neutrophil elastase)
Alpha2-macroglobulin
What does alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency lead to?
Sustained action of leukocyte proteases
—> increased risk of emphysema due to destruction of elastic support fibers in the lung b/c of uncontrolled elastase activity
Function of defensins?
These are cationic arginine-rich granule peptides that are toxic to microbes
Function of lysozyme?
Hydrolyzes the muramic acid N-acetylglucosamine bond found in the glycopeptide coat of all bacteria
Function of lactoferrin?
Iron-binding protein present in specific granules
Function of major basic protein?
Is a cationic protein of eosinophils
Limited bactericidal activity, but is cytotoxic to many helminthic parasites
Describe MOA of NET formation
Starts with ROS-dependent activation of an arginine deaminase that converts arginines to citrulline
—> leading to chromatin decondensation
MPO and elastase enter the nucleus and cause further chromatin decondensation —> rupture of the nuclear envelope and release of chromatin
Consequence of released nuclear chromatin in NETs?
Histones and associated DNA postulated as a source of nuclear antigens in systemic autoimmune diseases (eg lupus)
Role of IL-17 in acute inflammation?
Produced by Th17 lymphocytes
Induces secretion of chemokines that recruit other leukocytes
In absence of Th17 cells develop cold abscess (lack warmth/redness)
Mediators involved in termination of acute inflammation
Removal of infectious agent cuts off inflammatory mediator production
Switch in type of arachidonic metabolite produced from proinflammatory leukotrienes to antiinflammatory lipoxins and release of antiinflammatory cytokines (TGF-beta, IL-10) from macrophages and other cells
List mediators of acute inflammation
Vasoactive amines
Lipid products (prostaglandins and leukotrienes)
Cytokines
Products of complement activation
Histamine source and action?
Source: mast cells, basophils, platelets
Action: Vasodilation, increased vascular permeability, endothelial activation
Prostaglandins source and action
Source: Mast cells, leukocytes
Action: Vasodilation, pain, fever
Leukotrienes source and action
Source: Mast cells, leukocytes
Action: Increased vascular permeability, chemotaxis, leukocyte adhesion and activation