Haemopoiesis

Question 1

Lifespan of:

a) red cells
b) neutrophils
c) platelets

Answer 1

a) 120 days
b) 7/8 hours
c) 7-10 days

Question 2

Nucleated precursor between neutrophils and blasts

Answer 2

Myelocytes

Question 3

Interface of bone and bone marrow

Answer 3

Endosteum

Question 4

What is the myeloid erythroid ratio?

Answer 4

Proportion of neutrophils and precursors to nucleated red cell precursors

Question 5

What is the normal range of M:E ratio?

Answer 5

1.5:1 to 3.3:1

Question 6

When would the M:E ratio typically be increased?

Answer 6

In infection as normal response, in myelogenous leukaemia

Question 7

Regulatory factors in haemopoiesis (3)

Answer 7

Activation of lineage-specific transcription factors
Chemical influences e.g. cytokines
Location in marrow (e.g. erythroid maturation around “nurse” macrophage islands)

Question 8

Neutrophil maturation is regulated by…

Answer 8

Granulocyte colony stimulating factor

Question 9

The study of antigen expression using specific antibodies

Answer 9

Immunophenotyping

Question 10

How does immunophenotyping work? (2)

Answer 10

Antibody against antigen of interest is bound to a fluorochrome; flow cytometry used to analyse fluorescence