Red Cells Flashcards
RBC lifecycle
EPO released by kidneys when it senses low oxygen tension
Stimulates RBC production in bone marrow
120 life span
Must pass through the sinusoids of MPS (mononuclear phagocyte system) where it is trapped and phagocytosed if deformed from ageing
RBC broken into haem (bilirubin/iron) and Globin (amino acids)
What does RBC breakdown into
Haem - bilirubin and iron
Globin - amino acids
How is an erythrocyte made and order of development
Pluripotent stem cell stimulated by specific IL to “pick” the erythroblasts lineage. This happens after EPO binds to stem cells to stimulate the process
BFU-E then CFU-E
Pro erythroblasts, erythroblasts, reticulocyte, erythrocytes
Order of expansion from haemopoietic stem cells to erythrocytes
Haemopoietic stem cells
Proerythroblasts
Basophilic erythroblasts
Polychromatic erythroblasts
Reticulocytes - 7-10 days to get here
Erythrocytes
What do the erythroblasts do in the bone marrow
Proliferate
Iron uptake from macrophages
Hb production
Removal of organelles via macrophages
What is an erythroid island
Erythroblasts surround a macrophage in the bone marrow
Where is haem and Globin produced
Globin produced on polyribosomes
Haem produced in mitochondria
What is the MPS
Mononuclear phagocyte system also known as the reticuloendothelial system where monocyte derived cells phagocytose bacteria, present antigens and make cytokines and find old RBC
What happens to RBC as they age
Membrane lipids and proteins are damaged and lost
Enzymes decrease
CD47 decrease
CD55/59 decrease
Increased phosphatidylserine
Increase rigidity and surface changes
What is CD47
An adhesion molecule which stops phagocytosis of cells
Decreases as RBC age
What is CD55/59
Decay acceleration factor which degrades activated complement proteins
Where are RBC phagocytosed
Splenic cords, marrow and liver sinusoids through the MPS
How does the splenic cords remove old RBC
old RBC are rigid with cell surface changes so they cannot pass through the endothelial cells in the splenic sinuses and are macrophages by RBC
Hb triangle
Hb
MCH RBC
Ht triangle
Ht
MCV RBC
MCH triangle
MHC
MCHC MVC
What are the 3 most important RBC indices
- Hb
- MCV
- MHC
Then RBC for disorders
Define anisocytosis
Abnormal cell size
Define ansiochromia
Variation in colour between cells
Poikilocytosis
Variation in cell shape
Polychromasia
More blue colour
Conditions relating to hypochromic microcytic
Iron deficiency
Thalassaemia
HbE
Anaemia of chronic disease
Lead poisoning
Conditions for normochromic normocytic
Renal disease
Anaemia of chronic disease and lead poisoning (tendency for microcytic)
Blood loss
BM failure
Haemoglobinopathies
Conditions for macrocytic anaemia
Megaloblastic: B12/folate deficiency
Non-Megaloblastic: liver disease, drugs, alcohol, reticulocytosis, aplastic anaemia
Most common cause of anaemia
Iron deficiency
Causes of iron deficiency
Chronic blood loss (period, GI bleeding from tumour or ulcerations)
Increased demand in pregnancy/children/recovering from blood loss
Dietary deficiency
Malabsorption disorders
Iron cycle
Most goes to the bone marrow to make erythrocytes, this is recycled using transferrin
Iron lost chronic blood loss/urine/poo/hair/skin/nails
How to diagnosis iron deficiency anaemia
Blood film - microcytic hypochromic, pencil and targeting so poikilocytosis also o along with increased central pallor
Check ferritin levels - should be increased
False ferritin elevation seen when
In inflammation - recent or current
Cancers maybe
Acute liver injury
Anaemia of chronic disease appears like what on blood film
Normochromic with a tendency to be microcytic
What happens widely in anaemia of chronic disease
- Hepcidin is up-regulated in the liver so iron sequestered in macrophage so less for RBC production
- Inhibits EPO release in kidneys so less stimulation in BM
- Inhibits erythroid production
- Augments hemophagocytosis
Is normal RBC breakdown extravascular or intravascular
Extravascular
Where does normal RBC breakdown happen
Phagocytosis of old/damaged RBC in the splenic cords/marrow/liver sinusoids. This is the mononuclear phagocyte system. If the RBC cannot pass through the narrow endothelium it is phagocytosed
What does RBC breakdown into
Globin - amino acids
Iron - binds to transferrin
Protoporphyrin - bilirubin then liver into faeces/urine
Extravascular haemolysis
Destruction via macrophages in organs
Due to RBC abnormality
Intravascular haemolysis
Lysis of cells in blood vessels
Accompanied by extravascular haemolysis
What happens to Hb in intravascular haemolysis - oxidation route
Excess is oxidised to Fe3+ where the Globin chain is recycled
Methaem and albumin make methaemalbuminaemia
Intravascular haemolysis - haptoglobin route
Hb binds with haptoglobin and is cleared by macrophages in the liver
Intravascular haemolysis- kidney route
Filtered by glomeruli
Reabsorbed by renal tubules until saturated = haemoglobinuria
Iron from breakdown is absorbed by renal tubules and stored as Haemosiderin = haemosiderinuria
What does increased haemolysis lead too
Haemolytic anaemia
Hereditary causes of haemolytic anaemia
Membrane abnormalities
Some Haemoglobinopathies
Enzymopathies
Acquired causes of haemolytic anaemia
Antibodies directed at self RBC
Infections like malaria
Secondary to severe renal/liver disease
Mechanical/chemical/physical agents
Microangiopathic (TTP/HUS/DIC)
PNH - cells missing CD55/59
What does chronic haemolysis present as
Jaundice - as more RBC breakdown = more bilirubin
RBC production increases as there is never enough (6-8 times increase)
Erythroid hyperplasia
But mild haemolysis may be asymptomatic
Clinical features of haemolytic anaemia
Pallor
Jaundice = icteric sclera (yellow eyes), increase risk of gallstones
Splenomegaly (cell trapping)
Chronic hereditary haemolytic anaemia effect
Aplastic crisis
Infection with parvovirus B19, Hb will rapidly decline as erythropoiesis stops but haemolysis continues
Lab features in haemolytic anaemia
Increased unconjugated bilirubin, LDH, urinary urobilinogen
Haptoglobins are absent as Hb binds and then is cleared
Haemoglobinuria, Haemosiderin, methaemalbuminaemia
Reticulocytosis
Low folate levels
Erythroid hyperplasia (myeloid:erythroid ratio decreases)
Poikilocytosis
What are RBC membranes made of (%)
52% protein for protection and structure
40% lipids for elasticity and strength
8% carbs for protection
Name two RBC surface proteins
CD55 and CD59
What does CD55 do
Degrades complement
What does CD59 do
Inhibits lysis
MAC inhibitory protein
What do RBC membrane lipids do
Confers elasticity and cholesterol confers tensile strength
Phospholipids redistribute when membrane is disrupted
What do integral proteins do on RBC membrane
Transport and osmotic tension
Adhesion and receptors
List skeletal proteins in inner RBC membrane
Ankyrin, protein 4.1/4.2, actin, alpha and beta spectrum form a horizontal scaffold
What do skeletal proteins do
Interact with integral proteins for lateral structure and to maintain biconcave shape
What happens during RBC deformation (skeletal proteins)
Spectrin helices and bonds open and close during RBC deformation
Abnormalities cause poikilocytosis which decreases lifespan and deformability