Pathology-Inflammation Flashcards
Basics of apoptosis
Programmed cell death (ATP required) based on the extrinsic or intrinsic pathways, both of which activates cytosolic caspases
No significant inflammation (unlike necrosis)
Marked by cell shrinkage, nuclear shrinkage (pyknosis) and basophilia, membrane blebbing, nuclear fragmentation (karyorrhexis), and formation of apoptotic bodies
What is DNA laddering?
A sensitive index of apoptosis- during karyoorhexis, endonucleases cleave internucleosomal regions, yielding fragments in multiples of 180 bps.
Describe the intrinsic apoptotic pathway
Involved in tissue remodeling in embryogenesis.
Occurs when a regulating factor is withdrawn from a proliferating cell population (e.g. decreased IL-2 after a completed immunologic reaction causing apoptosis) Also occurs after exposure to injurious stimuli (e.g. radiation, toxins, and hypoxia)
Changes in cell regulators increase mitochondrial permeability and allow leakage of cytochrome C. BAX and BAK are proapopotic and Bcl2 is anti-apoptotic
How does Bcl-2 prevent apoptosis?
Prevents cytochrome c by binding to and inhibiting Apaf-1 which normally induces the activation of caspases.
NOTE: If Bcl2 is overexpressed (as in follicular lymphoma) then you see tumor formation
Describe the extrinsic apoptotic pathway
2 pathways: Ligand receptor interations (FasL binding to Fas (CD95)) and immune cell (cytotoxic T cell release of perforin and granzyme B).
Note that Fas-FasL interaction is needed in thymic medullary negative selection and defective interaction is a part of autoimmune disorders. As Fas crosslinks FasL, multiple Fas molecules coalesce, forming a binding site for a death domain-containing contianing adaptor protein, FADD. FADD binds inactive caspases, activating them
Overview of Necrosis
Enzymatic degradation and protein denaturation of cell due to exogenous injury causing intracellular components to leak and cause an inflammatory rxn (unlike apoptosis)
Coagulative necrosis
Seen in ischemia/infarcts in most tissues except brain
Liquefactive necrosis
Seen in bacterial abscesses, and brain infarcts due to increased fat content in which neutrophils release lyosomal enzymes that digest the tissue (enzymatic degradation first, then proteins denature)
Caseous necrosis
Seen in TB, systemic fungi (e.g. Histo capsulatum) and Nocardia
Macrophages wall off the infecting microrgansism and form granular debris surrounded by lymphocytes and macrophages
Fat necrosis
Seen in acute pancreatitis (saponification) and nonenzymatic breast trauma in which damaged cells release lipase, which breask down fatty acids in cell membranes
Gangrenous necrosis
Dry due to ischemia (coagulative) and wet due to superinfection (liquefactive)
What are some REVERSIBLE findings of cell injury?
ATP depletion
Cellular/mitochondrial swelling (decreased NaKATPase)
Nuclear chromatin clumping
Decreased glycogen
Fatty change
RIbosomal/polysomal detachment (decreased protein synthesis)
Membrane blebbing
What are some IRREVERSIBLE findings of cell injury?
Nuclear pyknosis, karorrhexis, and karyloysis
Plasma membrane damage (degradation of membrane phospholipids)
Lysosomal rupture
Mitochondrial permeability/vacuolization
What are the most susceptible regions of the brain to infarct?
ACA/MCA/PCA boundary areas (watershed)
These regions receive dual blood supply but are susceptible to iscehmia from systemic hypoperfusion (pyramidal and Hippocampal cells susceptible)
What are the most susceptible regions of the HEART to infarct?
Subendocardium (LV)
What are the most susceptible regions of the KIDNEY to infarct?
Straight segment of the proximal tubule (medulla)
thcik ascending limb (medulla)
What are the most susceptible regions of the LIVER to infarct?
Area around central vein (zone III)
What are the most susceptible regions of the COLON to infarct?
splenic flexure and rectum
What is the difference between red and pale infarcts?
Red: hemorrhagic occurring in venous occlusion and tissues with multiple blood supplies, such as liver, lung, and intestine (reperfusion injury)
Pale: Anemic infarcts occurs in solid organs with a single blood supple such as heart, kidney, and spleen
Atrophy is the reduction in size and/or no. of cells. What are some causes?
Reduction i endogenous hromones (e.g. post-meopausal ovaries)
Increased exogenous hormones (e.g. steroid use)
Decrease innervation (e.g. motor neuron damage)
Decreased blood flow/nutrients
Occlusion of secretory duts
What are the main clinical findings of inflammation?
Rubor (redness), pain, calor, (heat), tumor (swelling), and loss of function