Immune system Flashcards
what are the main functions of the circulatory system
- transportation
- all substances essential for cellular metabolism including RBCs, digestive and waste products - regulation
- hormonal and thermo - protection
- from injury (clotting) and pathogens (immune)
What are the constituents of blood
- plasma
- formed elements (includes RBCs and Buffy coat)
- RBCs are the most abundant blood cells
- buffy coat consists of WBCs and platelets
what are the types of WBCs
- neutrophils
- eosinophils
- basophils
- lymphocytes
- monocytes
what is hematopoiesis
the formation of blood cells from HSCs
- liver = major hematopoietic organ of the fetus
- bone marrow = major hematopoietic organ after birth
differentiation of progenitor HSC
- progenitor HSC either becomes a common myeloid progenitor or common lymphoid progenitor
- common lymphoid progenitor will further divide into lymphocytes
- common myeloid progenitor will further divide into all other blood cells
what is Erythropoiesis
- the production of RBCs in red bone marrow
- consists of stepwise differentiation of a progenitor cell - the erythroblast
- stimulated by the hormone erythropoietin
- during early stages the nucleus is expelled
pathway of erythropoiesis
erythroblast - normoblast - reticulocyte - erythrocyte
what is the significance of the nucleus being removed from erythrocytes
- RBCs rely on anaerobic glycolysis for ATP production
- they carry oxygen but we don’t want them to use it for energy since O2 has to reach other places
structure of hemeglobin
- 4 globulin proteins each with a heme group containing a Fe atom
- 2 alpha and 2 beta chains
- the Fe atom combines with oxygen in the lungs and releases oxygen in the tissues
Iron in hemegloblin
- each hemoglobin contains 4 iron atoms therefore can carry 4 O2
- the Fe atom in heme gets recycled from senescent RBCs by phagocytosis in the spleen and liver (hemolysis)
- this Fe travels in the blood to bone marrow attached to transferrin
- Fe can enter RBCs via receptor-mediated endocytosis
what is transferrin
- a protein carrier that transports molecules such as iron through the blood
what is leukopoiesis
- the formation of blood cells other than RBCs (so WBCs and platelets - leukocytes)
- uncommitted stem cells in the bone marrow give rise to these cells
how lymphocytes generated
- lymphoid progenitor cells (different that progenitor cells of other blood cells)
what do CDCs measure
- hematocrit: % total vol packed RBCs
- hemoglobin: O2 capacity of RBCs
- RBC count
- WBC count
what does blood plasma contain
- water ( ~92%)
- dissolved solutes
- trace elements
- gasses
- organic molecules (~7%)
what are the organic molecules found in blood plasma
Majority: plasma proteins (fibrinogen, globulins and albumins)
Minority: AAs, glucose, lipids, hormones, enzymes, etc.
what are albumins
- plasma protein (55-60%)
- provide the osmotic pressure needed to draw water from the interstitial fluid into capillaries
- help to transport hormones
What are globulins
- plasma protein
- alpha and beta transport lipids and fat-soluble vitamins
- gamma globulins are antibodies
what is fibrinogin
- plasma protein (least abundant)
- important for clot formation
which is the only plasma protein not produced in the liver and why
Gamma globulins
- since they are antibodies, they would respond to antigens in the liver (bad)
What is the compliment pathway
- a defence system of serum proteins to kill a pathogenic cell
what are the ways which pathogens can be attacked
- could be attacked by by innate immune cells (macrophages, neutrophils - OPSONIZATION)
- can be attacked by complement - a defence system of serum proteins
Basis of the complement pathway
- there are 9 complement proteins (C1-9) that are inactive in plasma
- they become activated by the attachment of antibodies to antigens (bacteria)
- specific to the invader
complement proteins can be subdivided into 3 categories…
- Recognition (C1)
- Activation (C4, 2 and 3)
- Attack (C5-9: complement fixation)