Histology Case Studies

Question 1

Wheezing is associated with pathology in which part of the respiratory system? [1]

Which diesease associated with? [2]

Answer 1

Upper airways
COPD (long term) & Asthma (intermittant wheezing)

Question 2

What type of drug would be in a inhaler to initially reduce inflammatory response in asthma? [1]

Answer 2

Steroids inhaler: reduce inflammatory response

Question 3

Why does a the lung look like this with uncontrolled asthma? [3]

Answer 3

Goblet cells causes secretion of too much mucous: plugs the airways. Causes collapse of alveoli: atelectasis

Question 4

What is responsible for the accumulation of eosinophils in asthma? [3]

Answer 4

Eosinophils are attracted by chemotactic factors released by mast cells and by the chemokine eotaxin, produced by bronchial epithelial cells.

Eosinophil accumulation is also favored by IL-5, a T-cell derived cytokine.

Question 5

What role do eosinophils play in causing tissue damage?

Answer 5

The major basic protein of eosinophils causes epithelial damage and shedding.

Question 6

Explain changes in cell types due to smoking xx [3]

Answer 6

• loss pseudostratified epitheluim, with transition into a fully squamous epithelium and expression of early markers of carcinogenesis.
• change to squamous = metaplastic change (reversible)
• change to squamous that is irreversible = dysplastic