In this short slide show, I introduce the basic components of blood, how they function, and introduce a couple of blood related diseases.

1. Blood 101
Peter Jean

2. What is blood?
• Functions:
• Transport of nutrients and
waste
• Defense against internal
damage
• Repair of damaged tissues
Image: http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/blood-cells.jpg

3. Hematopoiesis: The
Differentiation of Progenitor Cells
http://apbrwww5.apsu.edu/thompsonj/Anatomy%20&%20Physiology/2020/2020%20Exam%20Reviews/Exam%201/hematopoiesis00.gif

4. Progenitor Cells
• Differentiated stem cells from bone marrow
• In hemapoiesis, progenitor cells are the starting
material.
• Can be differentiated further into specific blood
cells such as platelets, T-cells, and red blood cells
(erythrocytes).

5. Platelets
• Not true cells, meaning
they lack a nucleus.
• Membrane bound
fragments derived cells in
the bone marrow.
• Play a major role in blood
clotting.
Image: http://www.daviddarling.info/images/blood_clotting.gif

6. Plasma
• The natural environment of
blood cells, or the liquid
phase of blood.
• When blood is centrifuged, 3
layers form.
• Top layer: plasma
• Middle layer: the “buffy” layer
(mostly platelets)
• Bottom layer: Red Blood
Cells (RBCs)
Image: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FoiEZNQLqOI/TIi_PXga-eI/AAAAAAAABpU/NslutpCNkZ0/s1600/plasma-blood.gif

7. Leukocytes
• Also known as White Blood Cells (WBCs)
• Different subgroups, including lymphocytes and
granulocytes.
• Protect against infection
• Mostly produced in bone marrow
• Have the ability to migrate out of the bloodstream
into surrounding tissues.

8. Iron Transport and
Storage
• Iron is essential for life, two
oxidation states:
• Fe2+ Fe3+
• A protein called ceruloplasmin
donates a free electron,
changing the oxidation state of
iron.
• Transferrin protein protects the
body against free iron, which
has toxic effects, and
TRANSFERS the protein to
different parts of cell.
• Iron is important in RBCs
because that is where oxygen
(O2) binds to the Hemoglobin
protein in the cell, and can be
released in various tissues.
Image: http://sickle.bwh.harvard.edu/tf-endocytosis.gif

9. Hemoglobin
• Two structural figures:
oxygenated and
deoxygenated.
• Affected by the binding of
O2.
• The chemical bonds
between different “chains”
are broken and others are
formed, effectively
Image:
rotating the shape of the http://alexandria.healthlibrary.ca/documents/notes/bom/unit_2/Hemo
protein. globin%20fig%201.jpg

10. What about Blood Type?
• Types: A, B, AB, O
• The difference? Antigens
on the surface of RBCs
recognize the differing
types floating in the
plasma. “O negative” type
is the universal red blood
cell donor, while “AB
positive” is the universal
plasma donor.
• There is also an Rh Image: http://waynesword.palomar.edu/images/blood1.gif
factor, which can be
present (+) or absent (-).

11. The Fate of Red Blood Cells
• Last approximately 60 to 120
days.
• Cells that are ready to die are
taken up (phagocytosed) by
macrophages. The amino acids
that make up the protein, are
recycled.
• The hemoglobin is broken
down into bilirubin. Bilirubin is
toxic, so it must be transported
to the liver via albumin where it
is broken down and eventually
excreted.
Image: http://ars.sciencedirect.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S1074552109002919-gr8.jpg

12. Blood Related Diseases:
Hemophilia
• Inherited disease, caused by single gene mutation.
• All female children of men with hemophilia are carriers,
very rare for a woman to have (1:25,000,000)
• Symptoms: bleeding into muscle, bruising easily, blood
in urine, first sign usually bleeding gums.
• Testing: Bleeding time, Thrombin time (used to look at
deficiencies in fibrinogen, also tests for liver disease).
• Hemophilia spread throughout royal houses in Europe
as marriages were arranged to set up political
alliances.

13. Blood Related Diseases:
Acute Intermittent Porphyria
• Deficiency of the enzyme
porphobilinogendeaminase (PBGD)
• More than 250 mutations have been
identified.
• Symptoms include abdominal pain,
irregular heart beat (tachycardia), acute
psychosis, and respiratory paralysis.
• Treatment: family screening (DNA testing),
aviodance of factors that are known to
cause attacks, heme derivatives. Future
treatment may include liver transplantation,
gene and enzyme therapy.
• Vincent van Gogh may have been a case
for AIP, as he worked tirelessly, fasted, and
excessive consumption of absinthe.
“Self-Portrait”
Image: http://www.framedcanvasart.com/images/site/Van_Gogh.jpg