Unit 1 Flashcards
What is hematology?
The study of the blood and blood forming tissues
What is the composition of blood?
55% plasma
45% formed elements
What are “formed elements”?
Include erythrocytes, leukocytes, and thrombocytes
Describe erythrocytes
- normal range 4.5-.5.9 million per mm3 in adults
- biconcave shape
- diameter 7 microns
- cells for transport of O2 and CO2
- life span is 120 days
Describe leukocytes
- normal range 4.4-11.3 thousand per mm3 in adults
- five types
- size 8-20 microns
- involved in fighting infection, combating allergic reactions, and immune responses
- except for lymphocytes white cells life span is approximately 10 days
Describe thrombocytes
- smallest cells in the blood
- normal range 150,000-400,000
- active role in coagulation and hemostasis
Describe the cellular membrane
- semipermeable separation between the cellular components, the organelles and the surrounding environment
- made up of: proteins, phospholipids, cholesterol, traces of polysaccharide
Describe the Fluid Mosaic Model
- dynamic fluid structure with globular proteins floating in lipids
Describe lipids of the cellular membrane
- as phosopholipids
- arranged in two layers
—> polar (charged) phophates ends are toward inner and outer surfaces with the fatty acid ends toward the interior of membrane
—> protein molecule may be incorporated into the lipid bilayer or associated with either the outer or inner surface membranes
—> polysaccharides (plycoproteins or glycolipids) are attached to the membrane
What is the function of lipid bilayer of the cellular membrane?
- Impermeability of membrane
What is the function of the protein in the cellular membrane?
- acts as transport molecule, for the rapid penetration of polar and non-lipid soluble substances.
-Determines and protects shape and structure of membrane (attached to microtubules and micro filaments)
What is the function of carbohydrates (polysaccharides) of the cellular membrane?
- surface antigen - functions in recognition of and interaction between cells
What are the extrinsic proteins in human blood cells?
Spectrin
Actin
Describe the cytoplasmic membrane, as a unit
- maintain cellular integrity of the interior of the cell by controlling and influencing the passage of materials in and out of the cell.
- This function is accomplished through the major membrane processes of osmosis, diffusion, active transport and endocytosis
Describe Osmosis
- net movement of water moelcules through a semipermeable membrane
- normally water molecule move in and out of cell membrane at an equal rate producing no net movement
- if concentration gradient exists, movement of water moelcules will be greater from areas of low solute to areas of higher solute concentration
What is the basic principle underlying the erythrocyte fragility test?
Alterations int he erythrocyte membrane can be observed by placing RBC’s in varying concentrations of Nacl
What is osmostic pressure?
Pressure exterted by water molecules inside membrane at equilibrium
Describe low sodium concentration during osmosis
The net movement of water is into the cell which will cause the cell to lyse
Describe high sodium concentration of osmosis
The net movement of water is out of the cell which will cause cell creanation
Describe diffusion
- Passive process through a semipermeable membrane (also referred to as dialysis), where substance move down a concentration gradient from areas of high solute concentration to areas of low solute concentration by dissolving in the lipid portion of the membrane
- requires no energy
What is diffusion dependent on?
1) solubility of molecules in liquids
2) temperature
3) concentration gradient via hydrophilic regions (where proteins create a pore like opening)
4) calcium ions affect permeability of membranes. Increase in Calcium in fluid around cell of accumulation of calcium in cytoplasm of cell can decrease permeability
Describe active transport
- sodium-potassium pump, fundamental transport system. Na ions pumped out of cell into extracellular fluid- where concentration of Na is higher- need ATPs
- movement of molecules from area of lower concentration against a concentration gradient to an area of higher concentration
- requires energy
Describe endocytosis
- process of engulfing particles or molecules with formation of membrane-bound vacuoles in the cytoplasm
What are two types of endocytosis?
Pinocytosis
Phagocytosis
Describe pinocytosis
- the uptake (engulfment) of liquids by the formation of tiny vesicles from the cellular membrane and their subsequent pinching off.
- literally “ cell drinking”
Describe phagocytosis
- engulfment and destruction of particles- the vacuole containing the particle is fused with lysosomes and digestive enzymes are emptied into the vacuole for it destruction
- cellular eating - cell ingests solid particles and digests them
Briefly describe reactive and neoplastic growth
- size and shape of cells constant but features can vary because of infectious diseases or malignancy
What is anaplasia?
Bizarre cytologic features associated with poorly differentiated malignant tumors
What is atrophy?
- decrease in number or size of cells - leads to decrease in size of organ or tissue mass
What is dysplasia?
Abnormal cytologic features - often is a premalignant change
What is hyperplasia?
Increase in number of cells in a tissue
What is hypertrophy?
Increase in size of cells - leads to increase in organs size
What is metaplasia?
Change from one adult type to another
What is necrosis?
The death of groups of tissue cells caused by environmental factors such as lack of oxygen
What are cytoplasmic organelles?
Functional units of a cell that can only be viewed with an electron microscope.
- staining with Wrights stain aids in differentiating features of the cells
Describe cytoplasm
- 70-90% water
- contains proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, minerals, salt and water
- background for all chemical reactions that takes place in the cell
- embedded in cytoplasm are the organelles
What are the organelles of the cell?
- centrioles
- endoplasmic reticulum
- Golgi apparatus
- lysosomes
- microbodies
- microfilaments
- microtubules
- mitochondria
- ribosomes
Describe centrioles
- involved in cell division
- two cylindrical organelles found near the nucleus in a tiny round body called centrosome
- they serve as points of insertion of the spindle fibers during cell division
- has 9 (triplet) groups of microtubules
What happens to the centrioles during mitosis?
- separate from each other
- form thin cytoplasmic spindle fibers that connect to each individual chromosome
- pull apart to help equal distribution of chromosomes into two daughter cells
Describe the endoplasmic reticulum
- lace like network, two kinds:
—> rough
—> smooth - network of tubular structures crisscrossing across the cell
- some connect the nuclear membrane to the cell membrane
- channel for transport
- acts as a storage area
Describe rough endroplasmic reticulum
- containing ribosomes - protein production
Describe smooth endoplasmic reticulum
- no ribosomes present - site of lipid synthesis (cholesterol) and breakdown of fats into smaller molecules that can be used for energy
Describe the Golgi Apparatus
- appears unstained area next to nucleus
- arranged in layers of membranes resembling stacks of pancakes
- part of the Golgi apparatus and adjacent portions of the ER produce lysosomes
- products of Golgi apparatus are exported from cell when a vesicle fuses with the plasma membrane
- horseshoe-shaped or hook-shaped organelle with associated stack of vesicles
What are the functions of Golgi Apparatus?
1) it is the site for concentrating secretions of granules, packing and segregating carbohydrate components of certain secretions
2) synthesizes carbohydrates and combines them with proteins
3) abundant in gastric glands, salivary glands, and pancreatic glands
Describe lysosomes
- contain hydrolytic enzymes for digestion of phagocytized products, waste management of the cell
- digest protein molecules
- helps to digest old, worn-out cells, bacteria and foreign matter
- If they rupture, the lysosome will digest the cell’s proteins causing it to die
- “suicide bags”
- three types: primary, secondary, and tertiary
Describe microbodies
- small intracytoplasmic organelles
- contain oxidase enzymes that produce H202 (hydrogen peroxide)
- oxidative activity is important aspect of phagocytosis
Describe microfilaments
- consists of protein actin and larger myosin filaments
- AIDS in amoeboid movement of phagocytic cells
- smallest components of cytoskeleton.
Describe microtubules
- hollow protein fibers— formation is rapid, reversible self assembly of filaments function:
—> cell shape- cytoskeleton
—> organelle movement
—> passive role in intracellular diffusion - mitotic spindle is composed of microtubules
Describe the mitochondria
- rod-shaped, energy producing organelles
- makes energy in the cell
- cells that have the most mitochondria have a greater need for energy
- contain enzymes that break down glucose to ATP (adenosine triphosphate) the energy molecule
- “powerhouse”
- not found in mature erythrocytes
Describe ribosomes
- small dense granules that contain RNA and protein
- exist singly or in clusters in cytoplasm or on ER (making it rough ER)
- site of protein synthesis (with mRNA)
- show lack of membranes
- presences of many ribosomes produces cytoplasmic basophilia (blue color) when stained with Wright stain
Describe glycogen
- storage form of carbohydrate
- can be seen with special stain periodic acid-Schaffer (PAS)
- increased glycogen concentrations in neutrophils related to need for high energy to carry out of body defenses
Describe Ferritin
- storage form of iron
- found in telolysosomes (iron-rich dense bodies)
- siderosomes is term used to refer to iron-saturated hemosiderin
- found in macrophages of spleen and bone marrow
- plays role in recycling and storage of iron for hemoglobin synthesis
- smaller than glycogen
Describe nucleus
- 10-15 um
- control center of cell
- membrane has inner and outer layer, outer layer continuous with ER
- contains one or more nucleoli which contains RNA and is site of synthesis and process of the different types of RNA
- contains chromatin- uncoiled DNA
Describe Chormatin
- genetic material composed of nucleic acids and proteins
- DNA has two functions
- proteins associated with nucleic acids
—> histones
—> nonhistones
—>together = nucleosome - demonstrates characteristic patters when stained - distinctive feature of cell types
- divide into two types
—> heterochromatin
—> euchromatin
DNA + protein = ?
Chromatin
What are the functions of DNA?
1) dictate nature of proteins that can be synthesized- controlling cell
2) transmit information for cellular control from one generation to next
Describe histones associated with with nucleic acid
- positively charged
- essential to structural integrity to chromatin
Describe nonhistones associated with nucleic acid
- Less positively charged
- play role in genetic regulation and organization of DNA and histones
Describe heterochromatin
- condensed, dark staining area
- genetically inactive
- associated with nucleolus
- more restricted function of a cell the more heterochromatin present
Describe euchromatin
- uncoiled, pale-staining area
- genetically active
Describe chromosomes
- genetic material that exists as diffuse elongated chromatin fibers prior to mitosis
- during cellular division that stands condense into short visible structures
- number is constant within each species —humans have 46 chromosomes arranged into 23 pairs, one member of each pair inherited from the father and the other inherited from the mother
- 22 pairs are autosomes (body chromosomes) and pair represents the sex chromosomes, either XX or XY
- chromosomes can be grown, harvested, stained, and banded to produce a Karotype
What are 3 chromosomal alterations?
1) deletion
2) translocation
3) trisomy
Describe deletion of chromosomes
Loss of a segment of a chromosome
Describe translocation of chromosomes
Segment of one chromosome breaks from its normal location and attaches to another chromosomes during meiosis
Describe trisomy
- One of the homologous chromosomes fails to separate from its sister chromatid and leads or a set of three chromosomes instead of a pair
- trisomy 21 = Down syndrome
Describe mitosis
1) interphase: DNA replication
2) prophase: chromatin coils: nuclear membrane disintegrates, centrioles move to opposite ends of the cell
3) metaphase: chromatids move to equatorial plate
4) anaphase: chromatids separate and move to opposite poles
5) telophase: two daughter cells form and nucleolus and nuclear membrane reappear
Describe meiosis
1) cell division unique to gametes
2) gametes have only one homologous of the 23 pair (haploid number 1n)
3) phases differ from mitosis- two cell divisions
4) during phase I of meiosis— homologous sister chromatids undergo process of synapsis (lining up end to end) to allow for crossing over- an exchanging of genetic information
What are two metabolites important to hematologists?
Glycogen
Ferritin
What is epigenetic?
- refers to stable changes in gene function that are transmitted from from one cell to its progeny
- epigenetic changes play important role in normal cellular development and differentiation
What is genome?
Total genetic material stored in an organisms chromosomes
Describe cytogenetics
Contributes to understanding inborn or acquired genetic problems by providing providing a low-power screening method for detecting isolated or missing chunks of chromosomes
What is used today to identify changes ranging from a single chromosome disorder to alterations involving the interchange of DNA between chromosomes?
Molecular methods
What can molecular methods detect in chromosomes?
Abnormalities in:
- erythrocytes
- leukocytes
- coagulation factors
What are disorders that are caused by erythrocyte abnormalties?
- sickle cell disease
- Alpha- and Beta- thalassemias
What are disorders caused by leukocyte abnormalties ?
- acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)
- acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
- chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
- lymphoma
What disorders are caused by coagulation factor abnormalties?
- hemophilia A
- hemophilia B
- factor V Leiden defect
What is a karyotype?
- chromosomes pairs are numbered according to relative size and position of their centromeres and placed in groups according to letters
What chromosome banding technique is NOT obsolete?
- digestion of chromosomes with the enzyme trypsin, followed by Giemsa staining, that produces G bands
What is the Philadelphia chromosome?
- First chromosomal abnormality discovered in a malignant disorder
- example of translocation from chromosome 22 to 9
What is the period of time between mitoses?
Interphase
What is the phase of actual cell division in mitosis?
M phase
What are the three subphases of interphase?
- G1
- S phase
- G2
Describe G1 phase
- lasts 6-8 hours
- nucleolus (nucleoli) becomes visible
- chromosomes are extended and active metabolically
- cell synthesizes RNA and protein in preparation got cell division
- as stage comes to an end, cellular metabolic activity slows
Describe the S phase
- last 6 hours
- time of DNA replication
- metabolic and growth activities to a minimum
- shorter chromosomes are replicated first
- protein portion is also duplicated
- by end of S phase, each chromosome homologue has doubled but is held together by a single centromere
Describe G2 phase
- relatively short, 4-5 hours
- second period of growth
- DNA can function again to maximum in preparation for cell division
By end of G2 phase, proteins have been constructed and both the DNA and RNA are doubled. Centrioles ave divided, forming a pair of new centrioles at right angles to each other.
Describe prophase
1) replicated strands of chromatin become tightly coiled
2) the identical halves, chromatids, are joined at the centromere
3) the nucleolus and nuclear envelope disintegrates, the fragments scattering in the cytoplasm
4) the centrioles (composed of microtubules) separate and migrate to the opposite poles of the cell.
5) microtubules aggregate to form mitotic spindle that is attached to centrioles
Describe Methphase
1) identical sister chromatids move to the center of the spindle
2) each chromatid pair is attached to a spindle fiber and aligned along the equator of the cell.
3) point of attachment is the centromere
Describe anaphase
- begins as soon as chromatids pull apart and lasts until newly formed chromosomes reach the opposite poles of the spindle
- chromatid pains are separated, with one half of each pair being pulled at their centromere by the spindle fibers toward each pole.
Describe Telophase
1) the chromosomes arrive at opposite poles of the cell early in phase. One of each kind of chromosomes arrives at each of the poles of the cell.
2) the nucleolus and nuclear membrane reappear and spindle fibers disappear during this phase
3) because the chromosomes uncoil and become lo nger and thinner, the chromosome structural formation disappears
4) the DNA and proteins (nucleoproteins) now assume their distinctive chromatin arrangement
What is cytokinesis?
Division of cytoplasm
Describe cytokinesis
- follows telophase
1) cytoplasm around the two new nuclei becomes furrowed and the cytoplasmic membrane pinches in.
2) pinching in is accomplished by the contraction of a ring of microfilaments that forms at the furrow.
3) at completion, two new and identical daughter cells have been formed
Describe the G0 phase
Some cells continue through the mitotic cycle repeatedly, but others lose their mitotic ability and enter a protracted state of mitotic inactivity
What is apoptosis?
Cell death
What are the types of apoptosis?
- Active (programmed cell death and necrosis)
- passive (cell death without known regulatory mechanisms
What are some characteristics of apoptosis?
- chromatin condensation and fragmentation
- cell shrinkage
- elimination of dead cells by phagocytosis
Describe physiological cell death
Usually occurs by apoptosis
Describe pathological cell death
Results from acute cellular injury, which produces rapid cell swelling and lysis
How do cells prevent apoptosis?
With specific growth factor:
- one mechanism is increased synthesis of anti-apoptotic proteins
What is apoptosis caused by?
Activation of intracellular proteases, known as caspases.
What are the two pathways of apoptosis?
- intrinsic
- extrinsic
Describe intrinsic pathway of apoptosis
- focuses on mitochondria as initiators of cell death
Describe extrinsic pathway of apoptosis
Relies on TNF family death receptors for triggering apoptosis
What disorders are associated with decreased apoptosis?
- leukemias
—> chronic lymphocytic leukemia
—> SLE
—> follicular lymphomas
—> cancers with p53 mutations
What disorders are associated with increased apoptosis?
- AIDS
- aplastic anemia
What are gametes?
Ova or sperm
What is synapsis of meiosis I?
- Sister chromatids lining up end to end
- allows for easy exchange of genetic material through crossing over.
What is genomics?
The study of the entire genome of an organism
Describe functional genomics
The study of actual gene expression or gene profile of a specific cell at an exact gene expression or gene profile of a specific cell at an exact stage of cellular differentiation or functional activity
Describe proteomics
- the study of the composition, structure, function, and interaction of proteins produced by a cell
Describe genotype
- the specfic genetic makeup of an individual, usually in the form of DNA. it codes for the phenotype of that individual.
Describe phenotype
- an individual organisms EXPRESSED total physical appearance and constitution or a specific manifestation of a trait, such as a size or eye color, that varies between individuals
How are phenotypes determined?
- by genotype, or by the identity of the alleles that an individual carries at one or more positions on the chromosomes
- by multiple genes and influenced by environmental factors
Describe dominant gene
- refers to allele that causes a phenotype that is seen in a heterozygous genotype (ex: brown eye color = Bb)
- a person only needs to inherit one copy of the gene for the trait to be expressed
Describe recessive gene
- an allele that causes a phenotype (visible or detectable characteristic) that is only seen in a homozygous genotype (ex. Blue eye color = bb)
- a person must inherit two copies of this gene for the trait to be expressed
- thus both parents have to carriers of the recessive trait in order for a child to express that trait
- if both parents are carriers, there is a 25% chance with each child to show the recessive trait
What is a gene?
- A segment of DNA that is arranged along the chromosome at a specific position called a locus
- the functional unit of a chromosome
- responsible for determining the structure of a single protein or polypeptide.
What are alleles?
- Genes at specific locus that differ in nucleotide sequence
What are exons?
Coding sequences
What are introns?
Intervening sequences
What is polymorphism?
- the change in the DNA sequence that does not result in a functional abnormality
What is a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)?
A region of DNA that differs in only a single DNA nucleotide
Describe sickle cell disease
- hemoglobin S has a difference in one amino acid on the beta Chain.
- individuals heterozygous for this trait
Describe hemoglobin C disorder
A substitution of lysine for glutamic acid in beta chain occurs
What procedures allow determination of the exact sequence of amino acids on each of these two chains?
Electrophoresis
Chromatography
Describe oncogenes
- genetic alteration that causes cancers including leukemias and lymphomas, along with tumor suppressor genes and microRNA genes in affected cells.
- usually somatic cell events but germ-line mutations can predispose a person to inherited or familial cancer
- ex: Burkitt’s lymphoma
Describe protooncogenes
- viral oncogenes have normal counterparts in human genome
- ID of these established the fact that the human genome carries gene with the potential to dramatically alter cell growth and to cause malignancy when altered or activated to an oncogene
What are the functions of protooncogenes?
1) growth factors
2) growth factor receptors
3) signal transducers
4) transcription factors
What does activation of protooncogenes result from?
- mutations
- gene rearrangement or gene amplification
What is a hematopoietic neoplasm?
When a normal hematopoietic precursor cell, stem cell or more differentiated progenitor cell, acquires a cancer-inducing mutation
Describe tumor protein, p53
- specific tumor suppressing genes (p53 genes) inhibit cell growth in normal cells
- transcription factor encoded by TP53 gene
- guardian of the genome because it conserves stability by preventing genome mutations
What are some hemolytic malignancies demonstrating specific genetic alteration of p53?
- acute myeloid leukemia
- chronic lymphocytic leukemia
- chronic myelogenous leukemia
- myelodysplastic syndrome
- non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Describe Minimal residual disease (MRD)
- low level of disease cells
- molecular techniques are more sensitive to low number of cells. Can permit for early detection which means earlier intervention
What is apoptosis stimuli?
- deprivation of survival factors such as growth factor or loss of extra cellular matrix
- signals from death cytokines such as TNF
- cell damaging stress
What is the stimuli for necrosis?
- toxins
- massive injury
- severe hypoxia
What is a main characteristic of necrosis?
Conditions of ATP depletion
Describe overall cell size that is undergoing necrosis
Enlarged due to swelling
Describe overall cell size of cell undergoing apoptosis
Reduced by shrinkage
Describe the plasma membrane of a cell undergoing apoptosis
Intact but lost phospholipid asymmetry
Describe the plasma membrane of a cell undergoing necrosis
Disrupted with the loss of integrity
Between apoptosis and necrosis, which one is associated with inflammation?
Necrosis
What are cells?
- smallest organized units of living tissues, have the ability to individually perform all the functions essential for life processes
What is the largest organelle?
Nucleus
What is hematopoiesis?
- Process of blood cell production, differentiation and development
What are the hematopoietic organs?
- bone marrow
- liver
- spleen
- lymph nodes
- thymus
Describe fetal hematopoiesis
Also takes place in yolk sac, aorta-gonad-mesopnephrons (AGM) regions fetal liver and bone marrow
What are the 3 types of stem cells?
1) Totipotential stem cells
2) Pluripotential stem cells
3) multipotential stem cells
Describe totipotential stem cells
- present in the first few hours after ovum is fertilized
- most versatile type of stem cell
- can develop into any human cell type, including development from embryo into fetus
Describe pluripotential stem cells
- present several days after fertilization
- can develop into any cell type, except they cannot develop into a fetus
Describe multipotential stem cells
- derived from pluripotential stem cells
- can be found in adults but are limited to specific types of cells to form tissues. For example, bone marrow stem cells can produce all types of blood cells, bone cartilage and adipose cells
What are the phases of hematopoiesis?
1) embryonic phase
2) fetal hepatic phase
3) medullary ( or myeloid) phase
Describe the embryonic phase of hematopoiesis
- primitive hematopoiesis takes place in the yolk sac in the blood islands
- begins day ~19 post conception and continues until week 8 of gestation
- cells produced: erythrocytes, macrophages, and platelets
- erythrocytes contain Gower and Portland hemoglobin
Sites: from the yolk-sac to the hepatic (liver) phase to the bone marrow
Describe Fetal hepatic phase of hematopoiesis
- begins at 5-7 weeks post conception and continues until approximately 24 weeks of gestation (6th month)
—> peak hematopoiesis is ~3 months of gestation - cluster of erythroblasts, granulocytes, and monocytes colonize the fetal liver to eventually mobilize to the bone marrow
- microenvironment conducive to hematopoiesis is created by different cell populations that produce cytokines and chemoattractants to the liver
- spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes contribute to hematopoiesis during this phase
Describe the medullary phase
- bones are large enough to have marrow cavities
- 5th month, the bone marrow takes on its role and the chief organ of hematopoiesis in the adult with the liver and spleen acting as supplementary organs of hematopoiesis (EPO), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), and granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) are present
- M:E ratio is 3:1 at this stage
- hemoglobin F and Hemoglobin A are present at this stage
Describe definitive erythropoietin
- begins 1-2 days later than primitive hematopoiesis
- process starts with with the formation of self-renewing HSCs in AGM
What is self-renewal?
HSCs have the ability to proliferate without differentiation
What is the first fully developed organ in the fetus?
Thymus
What are important characteristics of hematopoietic organs?
1) the anatomic structure consists of different tissue types and component cells
2) the stroma consists of various cells and extracellular macromolecules that occupy the hematopoietic tissue with hematopoietic cells. Stroma is the microenvironment where hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) grow and differentiate
3) The HPCs are the HSCs and their offspring that become blood cells of multiple specific lineages
Describe yellow marrow
- adipose tissue - inactive
- replaces red bone marrow in many bones
Describe red marrow
- cellular - active
- active production of of most type of leukocytes, erythrocytes, and thrombocytes
- in children, red bone marrow is located throughout the skeletal system
- activity occurs in central portion of skeleton
What does bone marrow consist of?
- hematopoietic cells
- fat tissue
- osteoblasts
- osteoclasts
- stroma
What do hematopoietic cells consist of?
- erythroid
- myeloid
- lymphoid
- megakarocyte
- marrow stromal cells
- mast cells
- macrophages
- bone cells
What is hepatosplenomegaly?
Enlargement of the spleen and liver
Describe bone marrow
- ## found within central cavities of axial and long bones. It consists of hematopoietic tissue islands and adipose cells surrounded by vascular sinuses interspersed with a meshwork of trabecular bone,
Describe hematopoiesis
- takes place in marrow consisting of stromal cells and extracellular matrix
- must be supported by microenvironment that is able to to recognize and retain hematopoietic stem cells and provide factors required to support proliferation, differentiation, and maturation of stem cells along committed lineages
- stimulated by erythropoietin
What does the hematopoietic microenvironment consist of?
- adventitial reticular cells
- endothelial cells
- macrophages
- adipocytes
- bone lining cells (osteoblasts)
- elements of the extracellular matrix
Describe erythropoiesis
- occurs in distinct anatomical sites called erythropoietin islands, specialized niches in which erythroid precursors proliferate, differentiate, and enucleate
- each island consists of an iron-laden macrophage surrounded by a cluster of erytrhoblasts
- within each island, cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix adhesion, positive and negative regulatory feedback, and central macrophage function occur
Describe granulopoiesis
- myeloid cells account for 23-85% of the nucleated cells in normal bone marrow
- early cells are located in the cords and around bone trabeculae
- neutrophils in the BM reside in the proliferating pool and the maturation storage pool
- need 3 to 6 days in the proliferating pool to mature
- if needed, the cells from the storage pool can enter peripheral circulation and have life span of 6-10 hours
Describe megakaryopoiesis
- take places adjacent to the sinus endothelium
- protrude through the vascular wall as small cytoplasmic processes to deliver platelets into blood
- take approximately 5 days to develop
What primarily produces erythropoietin (EPO)?
- kidney
- minor amounts from liver
Describe the 4 phases of hematopoietic cells
- according to maturity
1) primitive - multipotential cells. The most immature group of capable of self-renewal and differentiation into all blood cell lines
2) intermediate cells (committed progenitors). This group consists of committed progenitor cells destined to develop into distinct cell lines
3) precursors: give rise to mature cells; morphologically distinguishable in bone marrow and peripheral circulation
4) mature cells. The most developed group with specific physiologic functions
Describe Hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs)
- exists in the bone marrow in a highly organized, 3-D microenvironment composed of an diverse population of stromal cells and extracellular matrix rich in fibronectin, collagens, and various proteoglycans
What are the 5 growth factors for blood development?
1) G-CSF (granulocyte - colony stimulating factors)
2) GM-CSF (granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factors)
3) M-CSF (monocyte colony stimulating factors)
4) erythropoietin
5) IL-3
Describe lymphopoiesis
- unlike other cell lines, lymphocytes and plasma cells are produced in lymphoid follicles
- plasma cells are located along the vascular wall
- lymphoid cells typically account for 1-5% of the nucleated cells in the normal BM
Describe marrow stromal cells of the bone marrow
The meshwork of stromal cells is composed of reticulum cells, histiocytes, adipose cells, and endothelial cells
Describe mast cells of the bone marrow
- tissue mast cells, a connective tissue cell of mesenchymal origin, are normally observed in bone marrow
- form from HPCs in response to stem cell factor (KIT ligand, which is ligand for CD117)
- major effector cells of allergic reactions that are activated by exposure to antigen that cross-links allergen-specific IgE
- contain heparin, histamine, serotonin and proteolytic enzymes.
Describe macrophages of the bone marrow
Also called reticulum cells or histiocytes, appear as large cells in the bone marrow
- these cells constitute a physiological system, mononuclear phagocyte system
- macrophages and monocytes migrate freely into the tissues from the blood to replenish and reinforce the macrophage population
- most important step in the maturation of macrophages is cytokine-driven conversion of the normal resting macrophages to the activated macrophages.
- can be activated by IFN-gamma and G-CSF
Describe bone cells of the bone marrow
- osteoblasts are bone-matrix-synthesizing cells that resemble plasma cells and are usually observed in groups
Describe the thymus
- populated by primitive lymphoid cells from the yolk sac and liver.
- lymphoid cells physically push the epithelial cells apart
- T-cell progenitors migrate to the thymus from the bone marrow for further differentiation
- CD34+ progenitor cells develop in the thymic cortex
- lymphocytes in the thymus = thymocytes
- lymphocyte precursors differentiation is under influence of thymosin
- also regulates immune function by secretion of multiple soluble hormones
Describe cortex of thymus
- characterized by a blood supply system; unique because it only consists of capillaries.
- function is to act as a densely populated “waiting zone” of progenitor T cells
- before cells enter the cortex,the lack CD4 and CD8 surface markers. As they get closer to the medulla, the cells will progress to mature T cells that express their CD4 and CD8
Describe cytokines
- Proteins produced by many different type of cells
- bind to their receptors on the surface of a target cell
- induce intracellular signaling to the target cell for survival, proliferation, or differentiation responses to initiate a signaling pathway
- includes: interleukins, colony-stimulating factors, and interferons
What are the secondary lymphoid tissues?
- lymph nodes
- spleen
- gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT)
- thoracic duct
- bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT)
- skin-associated lymphoid tissue and blood,
- lymphocytes circulate in the peripheral blood and lymphatic tissues and through secondary lymphoid organs
Describe the spleen
- highly vascular
- major function of removing aging and damaged blood cells and particles, such as antigen-antibody complexes and opsonized microbes from the circulation and initiate adaptive (antibody) immune response to blood-borne antigens
- also stores platelets and participates in immune defense. About 1/3 of body pool of platelets are here
- contains largest amount of lymphocytes and macrophages int he body
- has red pulp, white pulp, and the marginal zone
- only lymphoid organ that has majority B lymphocytes instead of T lymphocytes
Describe red pulp of spleen
- sinusoids of the red pulp are lined by discontinuous epithelium, allowing passage of cells between the cords and the sinuses
- sinuses lined with macrophages which create filter that blood can seep through
- these sinuses trap red cell inclusions, older RBCs (older than 120 days) for recycling, and platelets
- the reservoir for platelets
What is “pitting”?
- The spleens ability to pluck out particles from intact erythrocytes without destroying them.
- blood cells coated with antibody are susceptible to pitting by splenic macrophages
- reduces the surface to volume ratio and results in formation of abnormally shaped spherocytes
Describe white pulp of the spleen
- initiating immune reactions involving both cellular and humoral immunity
- lymphoid cells form a cylindrical cuff around splenic arterioles, and these are mainly T cells.
Describe splenomegaly
- also called hypersplenism
- enlargement of the overall size of the spleen. Causes some degree of extreme reduction of erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets in circulating blood
- can result in pooling of 80-90% of platelets and produces peripheral blood thrombocytopenia
What are some disorders of the spleen?
- thrombocytopenia
- Gauchers’s disorder (macrophage accumulate large quantities of indigestible substances)
- Neoplasm (malignant cells occupy much of the splenic volume
- hepatosplenomegaly
- tumor cells - will show hypersplenism which is complication of sickle cell anemia
—> functional splenectomy or autosplenectomy