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IMED2002 UWA > Red Blood Cells: Production and Function > Flashcards

Red Blood Cells: Production and Function Flashcards

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1
Q

What nutrients do red blood cells require for their function?

A

Iron

Folate

Vit B12

EPO

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2
Q

What is the normal lifespan of RBCs?

A

120 days

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3
Q

How much Hb does each red blood cell contain?

A

640x10^6 molecules of Hb

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4
Q

What is haemoglobin made up of?

A

Haem containing Fe2+ and 4 globin polypeptide chains.

2 alpha subunits and 2 beta subunites

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5
Q

Where is Haem made?

A

Mitochondria

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6
Q

What conditions are caused by defects in globin?

A

Sickle cell anaemia

Thalassaemia

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7
Q

Where is erythropoietin produced?

A

In the kidneys

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8
Q

Where do red cell precursors develop?

A

In the Bone Marrow

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9
Q

What is nuclear maturation?

A

Chromatin condenses and is then extruded when RBC is maturing.

Cytoplasm then undergoes haemoglobinisation

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10
Q

What are the parts of the bone marrow where red blood cells are produced called?

A

Erythroid islands which are located radially. They are surrounded by macrophages which deliver iron to them from storage form (ferritin).

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11
Q

What happens to the colour of the RBC as it is undergoing its formation?

A

It goes from orthchromatic (many colours) to becoming red like the haemoglobin molecules it contains.

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12
Q

What are the stages of erythropoiesis called?

A

Proerythroblast

Basophilic normoblast

Polychromatic normoblast

Orthochromatic normoblast

Reticulocyte

RBC

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13
Q

What is RBC membrane composed of?

A

Phospholipids with proteins

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14
Q

What does haemoglobin do?

A

Transports O2 from lungs to tissues

Returns CO2 to the lungs

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15
Q

What are normal Hb levels in infants?

A

110 - 140 g/L

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16
Q

What are normal Hb levels in adult females?

A

115 - 155 g/L

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17
Q

What are normal Hb levels in adult males?

A

130 - 180 g/L

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18
Q

What is the normal RBC count?

A

3.8 - 6 x 10^12/L

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19
Q

What does Hb look like in normal adults?

A

Consists of 2 alpha and 2 non-alpha globin chains.

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20
Q

What chains does Hb contain in fetal and adult haemoglobin?

A

In fetal haemoglobin there are 2 gamma chains and 1 gamma chaina nd 1 beta chain. This is called haemoglobin F

At birth there is an increase in beta chains which start to replace gamma chains until adulthood where there are 2 alpha and 2 beta chains.

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21
Q

What chains can’t be made in thalassemia?

A

Beta chains

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22
Q

What is the stimulus for EPO release in the kidneys?

A

Renal O2 tension and hypoxia(anaemia or low atmospheric O2)

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23
Q

What nutrients are required to make RBCs?

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A

Iron, Cobalt

Vitamin B12, folate, thiamine

Amino acids; Other cytokines (SCF; IL3)

24
Q

Which cells of the kidney produce EPO?

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A

Juxtaglomerular cells

25
What does iron do?
Integral part of haemoglobin,
26
How much of our dietary iron do we absorb?
5 - 10% in upper small bowel (in alkaline environment)
27
How is iron transported to bone marrow?
Bound to transferrin protein and excess is stored in macrophages and liver as ferritin
28
How much iron do we require daily?
1 - 2 mg/day Varies by age and gender
29
What increases needs for iron?
Pregnancy increases needs too as well as menstruation and times of growth.
30
How do we lose Iron?
Sweating Faeces Blood loss
31
What is vitamin B12 needed for?
required for nuclear maturation
32
Where is vitamin B12 absorbed?
Absorbed in the ileum (requires intrinsic factor)
33
Which food sources contain vitamin B12?
Animal products
34
Is vitamin B12 stored?
Yes can be stored for years
35
What does folate do?
Needed to prevent macrocytic anaemia
36
Where can folate be consumed?
Fruit and vegetables
37
Where is folate absorbed?
Upper small bowel
38
Are folate stores large?
No they are small and are stored for 3 months
39
Where are the genes for alpha globin located?
2 alpha genes on each 16 chromosome Each is responsible for 25% of the normal total alpha chain synthesis
40
Where are the non-alpha globin genes located?
one beta gene on each chromosome 11 beta gene is part of a complex containing the delta and gamma genes
41
What gives red blood cells their tensile strength?
Peripheral proteins which include: Spectrin Actin Protein 4.1
42
What binds spectrin proteins through bilayer?
Integral proteins (Band 3 and glycoprotein)
43
How does a red blood cell make ATP?
Embden-Meyerhof pathway
44
How is glucose metabolised in RBCs?
Anaerobic glycolysis (requires no mitochondria and no oxygen)
45
How much ATP is produced by the Embden-Meyerhof pathway?
1 glucose molecule = 2 ATP
46
Why do RBCs need ATP?
To become more flexible and deformable.
47
What else is produced besides ATP in the Embden-Meyerhof pathway?
2 molecules of lactate
48
What features do normal cells have that RBCs don't have?
No nucleus Can't reproduce Have no organelles Have no synthetic activities Are easy to deform reversibly
49
What is haem broken down into?
Bilirubin and excreted by the liver in bile
50
What is haemolysis?
Reduced RBC lifespan / increased rate of red cell destruction
51
What happens to byproducts of RBC destruction?
Globin is broken down to constituent amino acids Iron is bound to transferrin Protoporphyrin is broken down into bilirubin (producing CO2) and then excreted in bilirubin
52
What causes anaemia?
Reduced BM production Increased loss of RBCs Premature destruction (haemolysis)
53
What are symptoms based on in anaemia?
Speed of onset and patient age
54
What are primary causes of reduced BM production of RBCs?
Bone marrow failure Red cell aplasia
55
What are secondary causes of reduced BM production of RBCs?
Infection Drugs Infiltration Absence of ingredients BM hypoxia Ineffective erythropoiesis
56
What causes increased RBC loss?
Bleeding, haemorrhage Haemolysis: premature RBC breakdown (reduced red cell lifespan through cell destruction)
57
Summary
Describe the process by which RBC are produced Understand the components required for erythropoiesis

IMED2002 UWA (29 decks)

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