MOD Flashcards
List the main methods of cell injury
- Hypoxia
- Toxins
- Heat
- Cold
- Trauma
- Radiation
- Micro-organisms
- Immune mecha`nisms
What is Hypoxia
Hypoxia is reduced O2. It is often due to Ischaemia, the interruption of blood supply. Ischaemia is used as a model for understanding the pathogenesis of cell injury:
Reversible Changes:
o Oxidative phosphorylation decreases
o Amount of ATP decreases
o Increased amount of anaerobic glycolysis, decreasing pH (Lactate)
o Low ATP means Na+ accumulates in the cell
o This means the cell swells via osmosis
o Detachment of ribosomes also leads to a decrease in protein synthesis
Irreversible Changes:
o Massive accumulation of cytosolic Ca2+
o Several enzymes activated resulting in cell death
Different cells react differently, e.g. a neurone can only withstand Ischaemic conditions for a few minutes, whereas fibroblasts can last for hours.
What are the structural changes seen in hypoxia
Structural Changes
Structural changes can be seen under the electron microscope
Reversible o Swelling o Chromatin clumping o Autophagy o Rinosome dispersal o Blebs (Little bumps on membrane surface where cytoskeleton has detached)
Irreversible o Nuclear changes o Lysosome rupture o Membrane defects o Endoplasmic reticulum lysis
LO 1.2 Define Necrosis and Apoptosis
Necrosis – Changes that occur after cell death in living tissue
Apoptosis – Programmed cell death
LO 1.3 Discuss Coagulative Necrosis
o More protein denaturation than enzyme release
o Cellular architecture is somewhat preserved, creating a ‘ghost outline’.
o Tends to be due to Infarcts (Infarct in the brain = Liquefactive)
LO 1.3 Discuss Liquefactive Necrosis
o More enzyme release than protein denaturation
o Tissue is lysed and disappears
o Tends to be due to infection
LO 1.3 Discuss Caseous Necrosis
o Tissue appears amorphous
o “Half way” between Coagulative and Liquefactive
o Caseous necrosis in the lung is very likely to be TB.
LO 1.3 Discuss Fat Necrosis
Occurs when cell death occurs in adipose tissue
LO 1.3 Discuss Gangrene
o Clinical term for grossly visible necrosis
‘Dry’ gangrene
o Coagulative
o E.g. umbilical cord after birth
‘Wet’ gangrene
o Liquefactive
o Infection -> Neutrophils -
> Proteolytic enzymes
What is an Infarct
Necrosis due to ischaemia
Can be white or red, depending on how much haemorrhage there is
White Infarct
o E.g. kidney
o Occlusion of end artery, no peripheral blood vessels, leaving the area entirely without blood
Red Infarct
o E.g. Bowel
o Occlusion of blood vessel leads to build up of blood, which all haemorrhages at once. Increased pressure decreases blood flow, leading to ischaemia and infarct.
LO 2.1 Discuss the major causes and biological purposes of acute inflammation
Acute inflammation is the response of living tissue to injury, initiated to limit the tissue damage.
Causes of Acute Inflammation:
o Microbial infections - E.g. Pyogenic Organisms
o Hypersensitivity reactions (acute phase)
o Physical agents
o Chemicals
o Tissue necrosis
LO 2.2 List the macroscopic features of acute inflammation
Calor – Heat
Rubor – Erytherma (Redness)
Tumor – Oedema (Swelling)
Dolor – Pain
And Loss of function
LO 2.3 Characterise the microscopic features of acute inflammation, including how they are brought about and relate to the macroscopic ones
- Vasodilation
Small adjacent blood vessels dilate with increased blood flow. - Gaps form in endothelium
Endothelial cells swell and retract; there is no longer a completed intact internal lining. - Exudation
Vessels become leaky. Water, salts and small plasma proteins leak through. (Exudate) - Margination and Emigration
Circulating neutrophils adhere to swollen endothelial cells. (Margination.)
Neutrophils then migrate through the vessel basement membrane. (Emigration). - Macrophages and Lymphocytes
Migrate in a similar way to Neutrophils.
LO 2.4 Briefly mention some of the chemical mediators of acute inflammation
Vasodilation -Histamine, Prostaglandins, C3a, C5a
Inc. Vascular Permability -Histamine, Prostaglandins, Kinins
Emigration of Leukocytes - Leukotrienes, IL-8, C5a
LO 2.5 Discuss the action of neutrophils
Neutrophils phagocytose microorganisms, by making contact, recognising and internalising them. Phagosomes are then fused with lysosomes to destroy the contents.
Neutrophils move to the site of injury by chemotaxis. An activated neutrophil may also release toxic metabolites and enzymes, causing damage to the host tissue.
LO 2.6 Discuss the systemic consequences of acute inflammation
Decreased appetite, raised heart rate, altered sleep patterns and changes in plasma concentration of Acute Phase Proteins, such as C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Fibrinogen and 1-antitrypsin.
The spread of micro-organisms and toxins can lead to Shock, a clinical syndrome of circulatory failure (See CVS Session 12)
Fever Endogenous pyrogens (substances that produce fever) IL-1, TNFA and prostaglandin are produced.
Leukocytosis
IL-1 and TNFA produce an accelerated release from marrow. Macrophages, T-Lymphocytes produce colony-stimulating factors.
LO 2.7 What may happen after the development of acute inflammation?
- Complete resolution
- Continued acute inflammation with chronic inflammation (Abscess)
- Chronic inflammation and fibrous repair, probably with tissue regeneration
- Death
Resolution
All mediators of acute inflammation have short half-lives and may be inactivated by degradation, dilution in exudate or inhibition.
Gradually all of the changes of acute inflammation reverse, and the vascular changes stop. Neutrophils no longer marginate, and the vessel permeability and calibre returns tot normal.
Therefore, the exudate drains via the lymphatics, fibrin is degraded by plasmin/other proteases and the neutrophils die.
Damaged tissue may then be able to regenerate, but if tissue architecture has been destroyed, complete resolution is not possible.
LO 2.8 Describe some possible complications of acute inflammation
Swelling
Blockage of tubes, e.g. bile duct, intestine
Exudate
Compression, e.g. cardiac tamponade
Serositis
Loss of fluid
E.g. burns
Pain and loss of function
Especially if prolonged
LO 2.9 Give a few clinical examples of acute inflammation - Skin Blister
Caused by heat, sunlight, chemicals
Pain and profuse exudate
Collection of fluid strips off overlying epithelium
Inflammatory cells relatively few, therefore exudate is clear
Resolution or scarring
LO 2.9 Give a few clinical examples of acute inflammation - Abscess
Solid Tissues
Inflammatory exudate forces tissue apart
Liquefactive necrosis in centre
May cause high pressure, therefore pain
May cause tissue damage and squash adjacent structures
LO 2.9 Give a few clinical examples of acute inflammation - Pericarditis
Inflammation of serous cavity
Pericardium becomes inflamed and increases pressure on the heart
LO 2.10 Discuss inherited disorders of the acute inflammatory process - general
Disorders of Acute Inflammation are rare diseases, but illustrate the importance of apparently small parts of this complex web of mechanisms.
Examples include: o A1 anti-trypsin deficiency o Inherited complement deficiencies o Defects in neutrophil function o Defects in neutrophil numbers
LO 2.10 Discuss inherited disorders of the acute inflammatory process - Hereditary Angio-Oedema
o Hereditary Angio-Oedema is caused by a deficiency of C1 inhibtor.
o C1 is a complement protein that cleaves C2 and C4 to form C3.
o C1 inhibitor does not only inhibit C1, but Bradykinin too. Uninhibited Bradykinin vastly increases the permeability of endothelia, causing Oedema.
o Hereditary Angio-Oedema is treated with C1 inhibitor infusion or fresh frozen plasma.
LO 2.10 Discuss inherited disorders of the acute inflammatory process - α1-antitrpysin Deficiency
o α1-antitrpysin inhibits Elastase.
o Without this inhibition elastase breaks down lung/liver tissue
o Causes emphysema and Liver Sclerosis.