MOD Flashcards
(119 cards)
Five causes of cell death
Hypoxia, toxins, immune mechanisms, microorganisms, dietary insufficiency, genetic, heat, cold, trauma.
Definition of disease
Consequence of failed homeostasis, with consequent morphological and functional disturbances.
4 targets of cell injury
Cell membrane, nucleus, proteins (e.g. Structural proteins), mitochondria.
Describe Reversible hypoxic injury
Reduced ATP synthesis, Na+/K+ pump works less well. NA+ and water enters the cell resulting in oncosis. Ca2+ also enters, causing loss of microvilli, blebs and ER swelling. Anaerobic respiration takes place, causing increase in lactate, and decreased pH. This causes ribosomes to detach from ER and fat to accumulate.
Describe Irreversible hypoxic injury.
Most cells die due to oncosis. Increased permeability of membrane causing influx of ca2+ which activates enzymes, such as ATPase and Phospholipase. Lysosomes membrane is also damaged, so enzymes leak into the cell. Intracellular substances also leak out.
Why is returning blood flow to a previously ischaemic area harmful?
Increased production of ROS, increased neutrophils and activation of complement pathway.
Defences against ROS include…?
SOD enzyme, Vit A,C & E.
Role of heat shock proteins,
Protection against cell injury. Recognise misfolded proteins and repair them. If not possible to repair, then destroy them. Maintains protein viability.
Appearance of injured cells via light microscopy.
Reduced pink staining. Clumped chromatin, then pyknosis (shrinkage), karyorhexis (fragmentation), and karyolysis (dissolution) of the nucleus.
Appearance of injured cells via electron microscopy
Swelling, cytoplasmic blebs, clumped chromatin, myelin figures, ER lysis and swollen mitochondria.
What is oncosis
Cell death with swelling. (Changes prior to death).
What is necrosis?
Morphological changes in living organisms after cell died some time ago.
What is apoptosis?
Cell death with shrinkage, induced by regulated Intracellular programme, where enzymes degrade its own DNA and proteins.
Non-random cleavage of DNA. Helps to sculpt during embryological development aswell as removes unwanted/virally infected cells.
Describe the 4 types of necrosis.
Coagulative: protein denaturation. Ghost outline of cells. Cell proteins less soluble. Appears white.
Liquefactive: enzyme digestion of tissues. Neutrophil infiltration. Tissue becomes viscous. Pus present.
Caseous: structureless debris. Associated with infection. E.g TB
Fat Necrosis: adipose destruction. Increased release of lipases. FA release, which reacts with Ca2+ to form deposits (calcium soaps).
What is gangrene?
Necrosis visible to the naked eye. Can be dry (exposure to air) or wet (infection with bacteria).
What is an infarction?
Obstruction to a tissues blood supply. Can cause necrosis.
Where would you find white infarcts?
In solid organs such as the spleen, heart and kidneys. Due to end artery occlusion.
Where would you find red infarcts?
Looser organs such as lungs and small intestines. Caused by extensive haemorrhage into dead tissue due to dual blood supply.
Appearance of cells post apoptosis.
Shrunken, condensed chromatin, cytoplasmic budding, fragmentation forming apoptic bodies that are phagocytosed.
Intrinsic apoptosis process
DNA damage activates P53. This increases permeability of the mitochondria. Cytochrome C protein leaks out and binds to APAF. This then associates with Procaspase 9, forming an apoptosome. Caspase becomes activated causing apoptosis to take place.
Extrinsic apoptosis process
External Ligands such as TRAIL bind to death receptors on the outer cell membrane. Procaspase 8 binds, leading to activation of caspase 8. This initiates apoptosis.
What is pathological calcification?
Abnormal calcium salt deposition in tissues.
The two types of pathological calcification?
DYSTROPHIC: Only in area of dying tissue. Causes nucleation of hydroxyapatite crystals. Causes organ dysfunction.
METASTATIC: Affects whole body. Due to calcium metabolism disturbance. Can be lethal. Caused by PTH over secretion.
Relevance of cellular ageing?
Cells cannot replicate indefinitely as telomeres shorten. (Except germ cells as they contain telomerase to maintain telomeres)