Lecture 7 - White Blood Cells

Question 1

Neutrophils?

Answer 1

primary granulocyte (90%), 75% of leukocytes, large, 2-5 lobed nucleus and granules

Question 2

Granulocyte kinetics?

Answer 2

7-10 day maturation in marrow, 6-10 hour circulation in blood

Question 3

Important regulator of granulocyte production?

Answer 3

G-CSF (filgrastim)

Question 4

Neutrophil functions?

Answer 4

chemotaxis, phagocytosis, killing of bacteria (oxidative or non-oxidative)

Question 5

Neutrophil leucocytosis?

Answer 5

feature of infection and inflammation, associated w more immature forms in the blood

Question 6

Neutropenia?

Answer 6

low neutrophil count, risk of infection (febrile neutropenia)

Question 7

Monocytes?

Answer 7

<10%, larger than neutrophil, central oval or indented nuclei, granules

Question 8

Monocyte development?

Answer 8

monoblast -> promonocyte -> monocyte

Question 9

Monocyte kinetics?

Answer 9

circulates 1-3 days, enter tissues and transforms into different macrophage based on location: kuppfer cells (liver), alveolar macrophages, langerhans cells (skin) and microglial cells (brain)

Question 10

Monocyte/macrophage functions - Phagocytosis?

Answer 10

chronic infections and intracellular parasites e.g. TB: chemotaxis, opsonisation (Fc and C3 receptors), fusion w lysosomal granules (killing bacteria)

Question 11

Monocyte/macrophage function - synthetic function?

Answer 11

complement, interferon, cytokines, prostaglandins

Question 12

Monocyte 3rd function?

Answer 12

antigen protein presentation to T cells as part of adaptive response

Question 13

Clinical use of monocytes?

Answer 13

count not particularly relevant, monocytosis could be linked to chronic infections or malignancy (leukaemia)

Question 14

Eosinophils?

Answer 14

similar to neutrophils but bilobar and red staining granules

Question 15

Eosinophilia?

Answer 15

allergic or hypersensitive reactions (asthma, hayfever, drug interactions), parasite infestations

Question 16

Basophils?

Answer 16

infrequent cells, deep blue granules, IgE binding site

Question 17

Basophil functions?

Answer 17

close relationship with mast cells, granules release histamine, SRS-A and ECF-A, Type-I hypersensitivity

Question 18

Lymphocytes?

Answer 18

thin rim of agranular cytoplasm, small, 2/3-3/4 T cells, rest B cells and small amount of NK cells

Question 19

B and T cell development?

Answer 19

bone marrow derived but mature in primary lymphoid organs: bone marroe (B cells) and thymus (T cells)

Question 20

Secondary lymphoid organs?

Answer 20

where antigen proteins are presented for generation of adaptive immune response - lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow and lymphoid tissue throughout body

Question 21

Lymph node enlargement?

Answer 21

reactive (viral infections, local bacterial infection) or malignant (lymphoma or metastatic spread)

Question 22

Lymphocytosis?

Answer 22

reactive (infectious mononucleosis - viral) or malignant (chonic lymphocytic leukaemia)

Question 23

Lymphopenia (low lymphocytes)?

Answer 23

HIV infection (diagnosed with CD4 positive T cells), congenital immune defects, steroid therapy, severe bone marrow failure