Serum Proteins and Diagnosis

Question 1

What’s in Blood?

Answer 1

55% Plasma

45% Red blood cells

Question 2

define Haematocrit?

Answer 2

the ratio of the volume of red blood cells to the total volume of blood.

40‐54 % for men
37 – 47 % for women

Question 3

Define Plasma?

Answer 3

cell-free liquid component

Question 4

Define serum?

Answer 4

the cell‐free, clotting
factor‐free component.
Or the liquid component
after clotting has occurred

Question 5

Name some cellular components of blood?

Answer 5

Red blood cells
White blood cells: Granulocytes, Monocytes, Lymphocytes
Platelets

Question 6

What is plasma made up of?

Answer 6

Proteins
Anions: Cl‐, HCO3‐, PO43‐
Cations: Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+
Small molecules:
glucose, amino acids (Gln, Ala),
lactate, glycerol, urea, ketones

Question 7

Name Transport function of plasma protein

Answer 7

Transport: Non specific transport protein - Serum albumin

Specific transport protein- eg cortisol biding

Question 8

Function of plasma proteins:

Name examples of inflammatory response and control infection proteins?

Answer 8

Immunoglobulins “Complement” proteins- proteins that can be activated directly by pathogens or indirectly by pathogen-bound antibody to help fight infection
“Acute‐phase”
proteins. : are a class of proteins whose plasma concentrations increase (positive acute-phase proteins) or decrease (negative acute-phase proteins) in response to inflammation

Question 9

How is extracellular fluid controlled by plasma proteins?

Answer 9

Osmotic control

Question 10

What is the body’s response to heamostasis? ( body’s response to blood vessel injury and bleeding)

Answer 10

clotting factors

Question 11

Where is serum albumin synthesised?

Answer 11

liver

Question 12

What is serum albumins molecular weight?

Answer 12

65 kDa 9 (kilo daltons)

Question 13

What percentage of [serum protein] does serum albumin take up?

Answer 13

35 – 55 mg.mL‐1, approx 50 % of total [serum protein]

Question 14

What is serum albumins secondary function?

Answer 14

colloid osmotic effect-
Oncotic pressure, or colloid osmotic pressure, is a form of osmotic pressure exerted by proteins, notably albumin, in a blood vessel’s plasma (blood/liquid) that usually tends to pull water into the circulatory system.
Increased concentration increase osmotic pressure so water enters

Question 15

How long is plasma half life?

Answer 15

~20 days

Question 16

what is hypualbuminaemia?

Answer 16

low albumin so reduced osmotic pressure leads to
oedema.
Causes :
‐ chronic liver disease
‐ malnutrition (kwashiorkor)
‐ nephrotic syndrome
‐ dilution effects

Question 17

Name other transport proteins in plasma?

Answer 17

Ligand Transport protein
• Iron-  Transferrin
• Copper-  Caeruloplasmin
• Hormones - Thyroid hormone binding globulin
Cortisol binding globulin
Sex hormone binding globulin
and many more
• Lipids-  Lipoproteins
• Free haemoglobin-  Haptoglobin

Question 18

When ligands are bound to conjugate transporter do they have any biological activity?

Answer 18

no

Question 19

What kind of immune response do infections give?

Answer 19

polyclonal

Question 20

what type of Immunoglobulin does allergic reactions increase?

Answer 20

igE

Question 21

During inflammation what do acute phase proteins do?

Answer 21

e.g. C‐reactive protein (CRP): binds to bacterial cell

walls to activate complement system

Question 22

What determines blood volume of plasma proteins?

Answer 22

Blood volume ‐ concentration/dilution effects.
• Synthesis – liver and cells of the immune system.
• Catabolism – uptake and degradation of proteins by
cells.
• Loss – kidney, gut.

Question 23

what is paraproteinaemia caused by?

Answer 23

multiple myeloma- this can lead to appearance of protein in blood

Question 24

is the [cellular enzyme] in serum high or low?

Answer 24

low

Question 25

How can enzyme activity in serum be increased?

Answer 25

cell proliferation or

damage. e.g. Cancer, acute viral infection, cell death, trauma

Question 26

What is an isoenzyme?

Answer 26

a form of enzyme only found in one part of the body?

Question 27

How can damage be localised?

Answer 27

1. isoenzyme determination

2. protein profiling

Question 28

which type of lactate dehydrogenase found in plasma is indicative of myocardial infarction?

Answer 28

heart type

muscle and heart types of lactate dehydrogenase

Question 29

why can serum enzyme activity be lower than normal?

Answer 29

reduced synthesis or congenital deficiency

Question 30

what does congenital deficiency mean?

Answer 30

disease or physical abnormality present from birth