White Blood Cells Flashcards
1
Q
What are some basic functions of white blood cells?
A
- responsible for immunity, primarrily through phagocytic means
- phagocytosis is the ingestion & destruction of foreign & unwanted materials
2
Q
what the ref range for WBC’s?
A
- adult reference change - WBC 4-11 X 10^9 /L
3
Q
What is Leucocytosis?
A
- high white blood cell count
4
Q
What is Leucopenia ?
A
- low white blood cell count
5
Q
Briefly describe the production of WBC’s?
A
- Exception of T cells, all WBCs are produced & mature in the bone marrow
- the bone marrow contains a reservoir of immature WBCs which can subsidise the peripheral blood population, when required
- bone marrow contains more WBCs than RBCs
6
Q
Describe Granulocytes
A
- contains cytoplasmic granules
- Effector cells - mature, fully functional cells
- in health, only mature effectors are present in the peripheral blood
- reserves of developing cells remain in the bone marrow
7
Q
Describe Neutrophils
A
- approx 10^11 neutrophils produced daily by the bone marrow
- short lived - 5 days circulating in the peripheral blood & marginating in reticuloendothelial tissues
- primary cellular component of innate immune system
8
Q
Describe the Neutrophil Response
A
- highly sensitive to chemotactic stimuli
- rapid migration to site of inflammation
- marginating cells are available for immediate mobilisation
- ‘first responders’ of the immune system
9
Q
What is the ref range for neutrophils ?
A
2 - 8 x 10^9 /L
- 50-70% of WBCs
10
Q
Define Neutrophilia
A
- high neutrophil count
11
Q
Define Neutropenia
A
- low neutrophil count
12
Q
Describe neutrophil morphology
A
- 3-5 nuclear lobes joined by chromatin bridges
- Azurophilic cytoplasmic granules
13
Q
What are some examples of primary neutrophil granules?
A
- Myeloperoxidase (MPO)
- Lysozyme - gram +
- Elastase - gram +
- acid hydrolases
14
Q
What are some examples of secondary neutrophil granules?
A
- lactoferrin -iron binding
- bacteriostatic & bactericidal
15
Q
What are some examples of tertiary neutrophil granules?
A
- Gelatinase (MMP) -> Digests vessel basement membrane, facilitates migration
16
Q
Describe Eosinophils
A
- develop in the bone marrow, mature effector cells released into peripheral blood
- bone marrow reserce but no marginal reserve in periphery
- minor granulocyte species
- contribution to hypersensitivity reactions
17
Q
What’s the ref range for Eosinophils?
A
0.0 - 05 x 10^9 /L
18
Q
Define Eosinophilia
A
high count of eosinophils
19
Q
Describe Eosinophil Morphology
A
- bilobed nucleus
- large orange-red cytoplasmic granules
20
Q
Describe some Eosinophil granules
A
- major basic protein - disrupt lipid bilayer of parasite
- eosinophil peroxidase - bactericidal
- eosinophil cationic protein - helminthotoxic & bactericidal
21
Q
Describe Basophils
A
- principally, hypersensivity reactions (allergy)
- least abundant granulocyte species
- contribute to anti-helminth immunity
-develop in bone marrow, mature effector cells released into peripheral blood - bone marrow reserve but no marginal reserve in periphery
22
Q
What’s the ref range for basophils ?
A
0.0 -0.1 x 10^9 /L
23
Q
Define Basophilia
A
high basophil count
24
Q
Describe Basophil Morphology
A
- indented or bilobed nucleus
- abundant large purple-black cytoplasmic granules
- histamine - inflammation, vascular permeability
25
Describe Monocytes
- not terminally differentiated 'effector' cells
- bloodborne stage in development of tissue macrophages
- 2-3 day circulation in peripheral blood
- migrate out of blood vessel into surrounding tissues & then differentiate into a macrophage
- macrophage -> 'effector' cell
- aka = histiocytes
26
How long is a macrophage/histiocyte lifespan?
- can be several months
27
What is the ref range for monocytes?
0.4 - 1.0 x 10^9 /L
28
Define Monocytosis
high monocyte count
29
Define Monocytopenia
- low monocyte count
- rare
30
Describe Monocyte Morphology
- Highly indented 'C shaped' nucleus
- plae greyish-blue cytoplasm
- few small azurophilic cytoplasmic granules
- digestive enzymes relevant for macrophage function
31
Describe Lymphocytes
- 2nd most numerous WBC in peripheral blood
- cellular component of adaptive immune system
- variable size - non-uniform
- T cell = 75%, B cell =10-15%, large granular lymphocyte 10-15%
32
What are the 2 sub divisions of WBC's?
Leukocytes & Lymphocytes
33
Describe the Lymphocyte lifespan
- complex
- incorporates time circulating in peripheral blood & time in lymphoid organs -> immunosurveilance
34
What is the ref range for lymphocytes?
1.5 - 4.0 x 10^9 /L
35
Define Lymphocytosis
high lymphocyte count
36
Define Lymphopenia
low lymphocyte count
37
Describe T cell/B cell morphology
- high nucleus: cytoplasm ratio
- condensed chromatin
- scanty cytoplasm
38
Describe LGL morphology
- Natural killer cells
- round nucleus
- abundant cytoplasm
- open lacy chromatin
- may contain cytoplasmic granules
39
What cell markers are there for B cells ?
CD3 = -
CD19 = +
CD56 = -
39
What cell markers are there for T cells ?
CD3 = +
CD19 = -
CD56 = -
40
What cell markers are there for NK cells ?
CD3 = -
CD19 = -
CD56 = +
41
What might result from bacterial infections?
- neutrophilia
- lymphocytosis
- monocytosis in cases of severe infections
42
What might result from viral infections?
- Lymphocytosis
- lmphopenia
- neutropenia = hep A &B
43
What might result from Hypersensitivity reactions?
- basophilia = acute hypersensitivity
- eosinophilia = commonly skin & lung presentations
44
What might result from Helminth infections?
- Eosinophilia
- basophilia
45
What is a helminth infection?
- also known as Helminthiasis (worm infection)
- infestation of parasitic worms in the body
- these can be tapeworms, flukes or roundworms
