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Plasma proteins Flashcards

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1
Q

What are some functions of plasma proteins?

A 
Transport
Immunity
Detoxification
Colloid osmotic pressure
Coagulation
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2
Q

What proportion of plasma does albumin make up?

A

55%

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3
Q

Different types of globulins, give examples

A

Alpha = alpha 1 antitrypsin
Beta: transferrin, plasminogen, complement C3
Gammma: immunoglobulin

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4
Q

Where are most plasma proteins made, what’s the exception?

A

Liver, gamma globulin

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5
Q

What are the 2 main roles of albumin?

A

Contribute to osmotic balance (between vascular and interstitial compartments)/plasma osmolarity

Binding hydrophobic molecules, trace elements and drugs

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6
Q

What diseases can arise due to abnormal albumin levels?

A

Chronic liver disease, less albumin, symptom= oedema/ascites

Depleted albumin levels (malnutrition) causes Kwashiorkor

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7
Q

Describe the molecules carried by albumin?

A 
Hydrophobic molecules (e.g. fatty acid, sterorid hormones, bilirubin)
Trace elements (e.g. copper)
Drugs e.g. warfarin, digoxin
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8
Q

Where does haem catabolism occur?

A

Liver, spleen, bone marrow

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9
Q

Which organ removes senescent erythrocytes?

A

Spleen

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10
Q

What happens in haem catabolism?

A

Globin protein degraded, AA recycled

Fe2+ is reduced with NADPH and reused

Porphyrin ring opened to give biliverdin (green)

Biliverdin reduced with NADPH to bilirubin (yellow)

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11
Q

How is bilirubin transported to liver in blood?

A

Bound to albumin

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12
Q

What happens to bilirubin in liver, why?

A

Conjugated with glucuronic acid so becomes water soluble for excretion

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13
Q

Where is conjugated bilirubin excreted?

A

In bile into small intestine

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14
Q

What is a sign of hyperbilirubinaemia?

A

Jaundice

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15
Q

What do liver function tests in investigation of causes of jaundice look at?

A

Conjugated or unconjugated bilirubin

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16
Q

What can cause unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia?

A

Immaturity of conjugating enzymes
Increased bilirubin load (haemolytic anemia)
Genetic defect of conjugating enzyme

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17
Q

What can cause conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia?

A

Hepatocellular disease
Intra/extra hepatic biliar obstruction
Genetic defects of biliruin excretion (e.g. Rotor syndrome)

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18
Q

Is it unconjugated or conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia where bilirubin is excreted in urine?

A

Conjugated

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19
Q

Where is Fe used in body?

A

Hb (60%)
Myoglobin
Cytochromes

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20
Q

Describe the size of iron stores in body, how much do men and women require per day, how much is absorbed as a proportion of this?

A

Total body iron is 2.5-3.5g
Men- 8.5mg
Women 14.5mg
~1mg absorbed

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21
Q

What proportion of Fe2+ is stored?

22
Q

Why do females have smaller stores of iron + larger daily losses?

Study These Flashcards
A

Blood loss in menstruation

23
Q

What happens to non haem iron as it is absorbed?

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A

Reduced from Fe3+ to Fe2+

24
Q

What ensures excess iron isn’t absorbed?

Study These Flashcards
A

Mucosal block (at level of gut mucosal cells) limits excess iron at level of enterocytes

25
True of false, no mechanism for Fe excretion once taken up by body
True
26
What does hepcidin do?
Blocks dietry iron absorption increases iron in macrophages and decrease iron in GI.
27
What is hepcidin, where is it made?
Peptide hormone made by hepatocytes
28
How can iron be lost form body?
``` Menstruation Cell shedding from gut/skin Bile Sweat Pregnancy Haemorrhage ```
29
What can happen to Fe2+ once in an enterocyte?
Stored as complex of Fe3+ and ferritin Basolateral transport released and binds transferrin
30
What does transferrin do?
Iron binding blood plasma glycoprotein controlling level of free iron in plasma - carries it from intestinal mucosa to peripheral tissue with transferrin receptors
31
Where is transferrin synthesised?
Liver
32
Where does transferrin transport iron to and from?
From duodenum and macrophages to tissue (e.g. liver)
33
Why is transferrin important in defence against bacteria?
Bacteria use free iron in plasma for growth
34
What is a consequence of iron deficiency?
Anaemia - fatigue, weakness, chest pain
35
Give an example of a serine antiprotease
Alpha 1 antitrypsin
36
What are lipoproteins?
Biochemical assembly that transports hydrophobic lipid molecules in water e.g. blood or extracellular fluid
37
What are some major lipoprotein fractions?
Chylomicrons, vLDL, HDL, LDL
38
What is the role of the LDL receptor?
Mediates endocytosis of cholesterol rich LDL so maintains plasma LDL levels (mainly in liver)
39
What regulates LDL receptor?
Synthesis regulated by level of free intracellular cholesterol.
40
Whys is it wrong to say HDL, LDL etc are good/bad type of cholesterol?
They aren't cholesterols. They are proteins that transports lipids e.g. cholesterol
41
Describe the formation of chylomicrons
Formed in ER of absorptive cells of small intestine. Join lymph to become chyle which is carried to venous systemic system
42
When is transferrin production upregulated?
When low iron intake
43
In what state is iron uptake maximised?
Fe3+
44
How does copper benefit iron uptake?
Keeps it in Fe3+ state
45
What happens to conjugated bilirubin in the gut?
Not reabsorbed mostly, colonic bacteria deconjugate and metabolism into urobilongens
46
What is alpha-1 antitrypsin?
Protein protease inhibitor (elastase inhibitor)
47
Where is alpha-1 antitrypsin made?
The liver
48
What is the function of alpha-1 antitrypsin?
Forms a protective layer on top of healthy lung tissue, protecting the lungs from neutrophil elastase, an enzyme that can disrupt connective tissue (proteases, normally to kill bacteria).
49
The body iron store is controlled mainly by
intestinal mucosa
50
Fe3+ It is taken up into cells by
receptor-mediated endocytosis

Blood and defence (5 decks)

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