Unit 6: Blood and Hematopoiesis Flashcards
(129 cards)
What is hematopoiesis?
the process of producing blood cells, including formation, development and differentiation
What are the components of blood?
plasma, erythrocytes, thrombocytes, leukocytes
What is plasma?
liquid matrix consisting of proteins and other regulatory molecules
What are erythrocytes?
Also called “red blood cells”. Cells with hemoglobin and no nucleus (oxygen transporters)
What are thrombocytes?
Formed elements (also called platelets) involved in coagulation
What are leukocytes?
Also called “white blood cells”, involved in host defense including innate and adaptive immunity.
What are the types of leukocytes?
granulocytes, mononuclear cells
What are granulocytes?
Leukocytes with specific cytoplasmic granules
What are mononuclear cells?
Agranular lymphocytes and monocytes involved in immune effector, helper and accessory functions (e.g. B cells and T cells)
What are the steps in hematopoeisis?
stem cells -> progenitor cells -> precursor cells -> differentiated, functional cell types
What are hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs)?
can self-renew and regenerate every cell type in the hematopoietic system.
What are hematopoietic stem cells capable of?
reconstituting the entire bone marrow
How often do Hematopoietic Stem Cells divide?
Relatively quiescent – resistant to chemotherapy and radiation
How are hematopoietic stem cells activated?
in response to stress
How are hematopoietic stem cells identified?
presence of specific cell surface markers: CD34, CD90
absence of other cell surface markers: CD38, other lineage markers associated with mature cell types
What are Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells (HPCs)?
more restricted in differentiation potential
Hematopoietic progenitors with different potential to form specific mature cell types are defined by…
Function
• Bone marrow transplantation
• Colony forming potential
Cell surface markers
Response to specific growth factors / cytokines
Where is the site of blood production?
depends on the stage of development in humans
Yolk Sac (Early Embryo)
• 3-10 weeks of gestation
Aorta-Gonad-Mesonephros
• Site for production of definitive HSCs
Fetal Liver (Embryo)
• 6 weeks to term
Spleen
• 10 weeks to 7 months
Bone Marrow
• 4 months to death
Where is the first phase of hematopoiesis for life? How is this characterized?
yolk sac - 3rd week of gestation
Characterized by formation of “blood islands” in wall of yolk sac.
What is the major blood forming organ in the fetus?
liver
What is the predominant cell types in the fetus?
erythroid
How much of the body is bone marrow?
4-5% of body weight
What are the compartments of bone marrow?
vascular and hematopoietic
What are the embryonic precursors to blood and bone marrow?
mesoderm