White cells tutorial Flashcards
What type of cell do granulocytes have a common precursor with ?
Monocytes
What is the first morphologically describable member of the granulocyte lineage ?
Myeloblasts
Describe the general development of monocytes and granulocytes ?
They mature and proliferate in the bone marrow and the circulate in the circulation (less so in neutrophils) before entering the tissues to perform their function
What is the function of neutrophils ?
Phagocytosis and chemoattraction of other immune cells
How do neutrophils enter the tissues ?
Can adhere to the vessel walls and squeeze through the endothelial cells and enter the tissues - called margination
What can affect marigination of netrophils?
Steroid treatment which is why can sometimes see a neutrophilia (increased number of circulating neutrophils) in these patients
What are some of the other causes of neutrophila ?
Trauma/stress on the body e.g. due to inflammation, necrosis, haemorrhage, infections
What are the common causes for eosinophilia ?
Allergic reactions
Skin conditions e.g. atopic dermatitis
Asthma, atopy
Parasitic infections
Hodgkins lymphoma, T cell lymphomas
Pulmonary syndromes (eosinophilic pneumonia, churg strauss)
What are some of the conditions in which can cause a basophilia ?
- PRV - polycthaemia rubra vera
- CML
What are the characterisitic features of a basophils appearance ?
Nucleus obscured by dense blue/black granules
What do the granules in basophils contain ?
Histamine and heparin
What type of hypersensitivity reactions are basophils involved in and what are the other roles of it ?
Involved in type I
When specific antigens bind to IgE on its surface it degranulates releasing histamine and heparin
Role of it is not fully understood, mainly involved in allergic reactions +/- parastic infections
When might there be an increase in mast cell levels ?
Mastocyotosis
Recent anaphylactic reaction
What are mast cells and what do they release on degranulation?
- They are the tissue equivalent of basophils
- Releases mast cell tryptase, histamine and heparin
What conditions can cause a monocytosis ?
- Chronic bacterial infections
- Malignancy e.g. specific subtype of CML
- Connective tissue disease e.g. SLE and RA
Describe the typical appearance of a monocyte
- Large monolobular cells with plentiful cytoplasm
- May see fine granules and may be vaculoated
