S3 Flashcards
What is hemopoiesis?
the production of blood cells (red blood cells, platelets and most white blood cells) occurring in the bone marrow
Where does hemopoiesis occur in infants and adults?
In infants, it takes place throughout the skeleton
In adults: pelvis, sternum, skull, ribs and vertebrae.
What is a trephine biopsy?
bone marrow biopsy
Can look at architecture of the bone marrow
What are the five major lineage pathways that arise from haemopoietic stem cells?
Thromopoeisis Granulopoiesis Monocytopoiesis Lymphopoeisis Erythropoiesis
What is haemopoietic stem cell differentiation determined by?
Hormones
Transcription factors
Interactions with non-haemopoietic cell types e.g. endothelial cells
What are two important hormone that control haematopoiesis?
Erythropoietin secreted by kidney stimulates RBC production
Thrombopoietin produced by liver and kidney regulates production of platelets
Describe the properties of haemopoietic stem cells
Self renewal
Can differentiate given appropriate stimuli= common myeloid progenitor cells or common lymphoid progenitor cells
Extramedullary haematopoiesis- can be physiologic or pathologic
Name sources of HPSC
Bone marrow aspiration
GCSF mobilised peripheral blood stem cells collected by leucopharesis
Umbilical cord stem cells
What is the reticuloendothelial system?
Part of the immune system
Made up of monocytes in blood and network of tissues that contain phagocytic cells
Describe the types of macrophages and the tissue where it is found
Kuffer cell- liver Tissue histocyte- connective tissue Microglia- CNS Peritoneal macrophage- peritoneal cavity Red pulp macrophage- spleen Langerhans cell- skin and mucosa
Describe the red pulp of the spleen
Sinuses lined by endothelial macrophages and cords
Describe the white pulp of the spleen
Similar structure to lymphoid follicles
What are the functions of the spleen?
Sequestration and phagocytosis-old/abnormal RBC removed by macrophages
Blood pooling= platelets and RBC can be rapidly mobilised during bleeding
Extramedullary hameopoiesis= pluripotential stem cells proliferate during haematological stress or if marrow fails
Immunological function = 25% of T cells and 15% of B cells are present in spleen
What would cause splenomegaly?
an increased workload (e.g. overworking red or white pulp)
Back pressure due to portal hypertension.
Infiltrated by foreign cells – cancer cells of blood origin (e.g. leukaemia) and other cancer metastases; infectious diseases (e.g. malaria, schistosomiasis and HIV).
Accumulation of waste products of metabolism.
Extramedullary haemopoiesis
Expanding as infiltrated by other material e.g. sarcoidosis
How do you examine the spleen?
You will be able to palpate an enlarged spleen below the costal margin, when palpating up from the right iliac fossa (which is abnormal).
Can feel spleen edge moving towards your hand on inspiration
As it is no longer protected by the ribs, the risk of rupture is increased=haematoma.
What is hypersplenism?
a common disorder characterised by an enlarged spleen which causes rapid and premature destruction of blood cells
Name mild clinical cases of splenomegaly
Infectious hepatitis
Endocarditis
Infiltrative disorders e.g. sarcoidosis
Autoimmune diseases
Name moderate clinical cases of splenomegaly
Lymphoma Leukaemias Myeloproliferative disorder Liver cirrhosis with portal hyper tension Infections e.g. glandular fever
Name massive clinical cases of splenomegaly
Chronic myeloid leukaemia
Myelofibrosis
Malaria
Schistosomiasis
What is hyposplenism?
Reduction in the Function of the Spleen
Name causes of hyposplenism
Splenectomy (surgical removal of the spleen) - this may be required due to splenic rupture from trauma; cancer or to treat diseases such a hereditary spherocytosis.
Diseases that destroy splenic tissue (e.g. sickle cell disease and coeliac disease).
Autoimmune disorders- systemic lupus, RA
What are Howell-Jolly bodies?
red blood cells with remnants of DNA still in the cytoplasm). These are indicative of damage as a functioning spleen would remove these as they passed through
What are patients with hyposplenism at risk of?
increased risk of developing sepsis, especially from encapsulated organisms (Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae & Haemophilus influenzae).
=White pulp can no longer remove the bacteria and therefore they remain in the body, allowing them to cause further infection.
Patients are usually given various vaccinations to compensate for this.
On which chromosomes are globin gene clusters found?
Chromosome 11 and chromosome 16
At what age does feral Hb switch to adults Hb?
~3-6 months of age
What is haemolytic anaemia?
Changes to plasma membrane cause cells to become less deformable and more fragile
Spleen recognises cells as ‘abnormal’ and removes them from circulation
This can cause haemolytic anaemia where red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be made
What proteins are involved in hereditary spehrocytosis?
Band 3 – A Cl-/HCO3- exchanger (integral protein) which links to protein 4.2 and ankyrin.
Ankyrin – Links integral membrane proteins to the underlying spectrin-actin cytoskeleton.
Protein 4.2 – ATP-binding protein which may regulate the association of band 3 with ankyrin.
Spectrin – Crosslinks with actin, forming a molecular scaffold that links the plasma membrane to the actin cytoskeleton.