2. BLOOD CONSTITUENTS
Suspended in the watery plasma are seven types of
cells and cell fragments.
• 1. red blood cells (RBCs) or erythrocytes
• 2. platelets or thrombocytes
• 3. five kinds of white blood cells (WBCs) or leukocytes
a) Three kinds of granulocytes
- neutrophils
- eosinophils
- basophils
b) Two kinds of leukocytes without granules in their
cytoplasm
- lymphocytes
- monocytes
3. MAJOR COMPONENTS OF BLOOD
If one takes a sample of blood, treats it with an agent
to prevent clotting, and spins it in a centrifuge,
• the red cells settle to the bottom
• the white cells settle on top of them forming the
"buffy coat".
• The plama at the top (fraction 55%)
• The fraction occupied by the red cells is called the
hematocrit. Normally it is approximately 45%.
- Values much lower than this are a sign of
anemia.
4.
5. GENERAL PROPERTIES OF WHOLE
BLOOD
• Fraction of body weight 8%
• Volume of the adult body
Female: 4 - 5 L;
Male: 5 - 6 L
• Mean temperature 38° C (100.4° F)
• pH 7.35 - 7.45
• Viscosity (relative to water)
Whole blood: 4.5 - 5.5;
plasma: 2.0
• Osmolarity 280 - 300 mOsm/L
6. BLOOD VOLUME
A 70 kg man
• Total blood volume 5-6 litres
• If 5 litres
- 1 litre in lungs
- 3 litres in veins of systematic
circulation
- 1 litre in arteries, systemic circulation
and capillaries
7. ESTIMATION OF BLOOD
VOLUME
• Formula
V1 x C1 = V2 x C2
V1 volume of injected substance
C1 concentration of injected substance
V2 unknown volume of blood
C2 concentration of injected substance in blood
V2= V1 x C1 = Volume of blood
C2
8. PLASMA CONSTITUENCE
Plasma consists of :
• Water
• Dissolved solutes
- Plasma Proteins
• Plasma proteins
- 7% to 9% of the plasma
• Three types of proteins:
- Albumin,
- Globulins
- Fibrinogens
9. Albumin
- 60% to 80% of plasma proteins
- Smallest in size
- Produced by the liver
- Maintain blood volume and pressure due to osmotic effect;
act as carriers for other substances.
Globulins
- Grouped into three subgroups: alpha, beta and gamma
- Alpha and Beta produced by liver; function in transporting
lipids and fat-soluble vitamins
- Gamma are antibodies produced by lymphocytes and
function in immunity
Fibrinogen
- Accounts for about 4% of Plasma proteins
- Produced by liver
- Important as a clotting factor
- On clotting, fibrinogen is converted into insoluble fibrin.
- Fluid from clotted blood (Serum) is plasma lacking
fibrinogen.
10. BLOOD FUNCTIONS
Overall, blood performs the following functions:
1.Transports
• oxygen from the lungs to body tissues
• transports the waste products of cellular metabolism
• nutrients, hormones and enzymes.
2.Regulates
• blood clotting
• body temperature
• acid-base balance
• water and electrolytes
3.Protects against harmful organisms through white cells and
antibodies
13. BLOOD CELLS HIERARCHY
• Stem cells
• Self renewal
- (50% of daughter cells differentiate the remaining do not
differentiate)
• Plasticity
- (reports indicate that transplanted bone marrow cells can
contribute repair & regeneration of tissue types such as brain, muscle, lung,
liver, gut epithelium and skin)
• Progenitor cells (progeny of stem cells)
• Developmentally-restricted cells
• Mature cells
• Mature cell production takes place from the more developmentally-restricted
progenitors
14. PROGENITOR CELLS
• Encompasses from immediate progeny of
stem cells to cells committed to one
differentiation lineage
• Progenitor cells become progressively more
restricted in their differentiation and
proliferation capacity
• Late progenitor cells eventually restricted to one
lineage
16. HAEMOPOIETIC GROWTH FACTORS
• Cytokines
• IL 1 (Interleukin 1)
• IL 3
• IL 4
• IL 5
• IL 6
• IL 9
• IL 11
• TGF-β
• SCF (Stem cell factor, also known as kit-ligand)
Cytokines have no (e.g IL-1) or little (SCF) capacity to stimulate
cell proliferation on their own, but are able to synergise with
other cytokines to recruit nine cells into proliferation
17. HAEMOPOIETIC GROWTH FACTORS
(TARGETING SPECIFIC PROGINATOR CELLS)
• GM-CSF
• Granulocyte-Macrophage colony stimulating factor
• M-CSF
• Macrophage colony stimulating factor
• Erythropoietin
• Erythropoiesis stimulating hormone
(These factors have the capacity to stimulate the proliferation of their
target progenitor cells when used as a sole source of stimulation)
• Thrombopoietin
• Stimulates megakaryopoiesis
18.
19. SITES OF HAEMOPOIESIS
• Fetus
- 0–2 months (yolk sac)
- 2–7 months (liver, spleen)
- 5–9 months (bone marrow)
• Infants
- Bone marrow (practically all bones)
• At puberty:
- Beginning of replacement with areas of fat
(becomes yellow bone marrow)
20. SITES OF HAEMOPOIESIS
• Yolk sac
• Liver and spleen
• Bone marrow
– Gradual replacement of active (red) marrow by
inactive (fatty) tissue
– Expansion can occur during increased need for
cell production
22. HAEMOPOIETIC SITES
• Adult:
• RBM(red bone marrow) is in spongy bone of:
vertebrae; ribs; sternum; cranium;
clavicles;scapulae; pelvis.
• Little or none in long bone
• Total marrow ~ 5% of total body weight
23. YELLOW BONE MARROW
• Primarily fat but contains some
concentrated areas of hemopoietic marrow
tissue
• Intergrades between red and yellow
marrow exist –
all degrees
• Normal conditions:
no hemopoietic activity in YBM
24. HEMOPOIETIC TISSUES
• Red bone marrow and lymphoid organs
• Sources of Blood elements (two)
• lymphoid (for nongranular leucocytes)
• myeloid (for granulocytes and red
corpuscles)
25. ERYTHROCYTES
• The production of red blood cells is referred
to as erythropoiesis.
• Erythroid cell
- Is the first haematopoietic lineage to
arise during vertebrate embryogenesis.
26. The various cell types in erythrocyte
development are characterised by
1. The gradual appearance of haemoglobin and
disappearance of ribonucleic acid (RNA) in the cell
2. The progressive degeneration of the cell's nucleus
which is eventually extruded from the cell
3. The cell gradual loss of cytoplasmic organelles, for
example mitochondria, gradual reduction in cell size
28. • Metarubricyte (Normoblast)
- Half size of rubricyte
- Nucleus increasingly shrunken/pycnotic
- Mitosis ceases
- Cytoplasmic Hb –strongly acidophilic
• Erythrocyte
- Nucleus lost by extrusion
- Immature forms: delicate RNA network
= Reticulocyte
- Enter sinusoids via growth pressure
29.
30. RBC SHAPE
• Is a bag-like
biconcave containing
Hb
• The bag-like shape
allows RBC to take
any shape.
• Biconcave shape
useful for oxygen
diffusion.
• Increased surface
area to trap oxygen
31. Erythropoiesis
• Is regulated so that the number of
circulating erythrocytes is maintained
within a narrow range.
• Normally, a little less than l% of the body's
total red blood cells are produced per day
and these replace an equivalent number
that have reached the end of their life span.
• However that still represents a huge
200,000,000,000 cells
32. Erythropoiesis
• Is stimulated by hypoxia (lack of oxygen).
• oxygen lack does not act directly on the
haemopoietic tissues but instead stimulates
the production of a hormone, erythropoietin.
• This hormone then stimulates haemopoietic
tissues to produce red cells.
33. Erythropoietin
• Is a glycoprotein.
• It is inactivated by the liver and excreted in
the urine.
• It is now established that erythropoietin is
formed within the kidney by the action of a
renal erythropoietic factor (erythrogenin) on
plasma protein (erythropoietinogen).
34. Erythrogenin
• Is present in the juxtaglomerular cells of the
kidneys
• Is released into the blood in response to
hypoxia in the renal arterial blood supply.
35. The rate of erythropoiesis
• Factors that can affect and influence
erythropoietin production:
- Thyroid hormones,
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone,
- Adrenal cortical steroids,
- Adrenocorticotrophic hormone,
- Human growth hormone (HGH)
• All promote erythropoietin formation and so
enhance red blood cell formation (erythropoiesis).
• In thyroid deficiency and anterior pituitary
deficiency, anaemia may occur due to reduced
erythropoiesis.
36. Excess Red Blood Cell Production
• Polycythaemia is often a feature of
increased RBCs production (e.g in
Cushing's syndrome).
• However, very high doses of steroid
hormones seem to inhibit erythropoiesis.
37. Male/Female Hormones
• Androgens (male hormones) stimulate and
oestrogens (female hormones) depress the
erythropoietic response.
• In addition to the effects of menstrual blood
loss, this effect may explain why women
tend to have a lower haemoglobin
concentration and red cell count than men.
38. Plasma levels of erythropoietin
• Plasma levels of erythropoietin are raised in
hypoxic conditions (low oxygen levels).
• This produces erythrocytosis (increase in the
number of circulating erythrocytes) and the
condition is known as secondary polycythaemia
(e.g. at high altitude and in cardiac failure)
• Physiological polycythaemia occurs in Natives who
live in at high altitude of 14,000 – 17,000 feet.
39. Dietary element role in Erythropoiesis
• Protein
Required to make red blood cell proteins and also for the globin part of
haemoglobin
• Vitamin B6
Not clear what the role is but deficieny has occassionally been associated
with anaemia
• Vitamin B12 and folic acid
Needed for DNA synthesis and are essential in the process of red blood
cell formation
• Vitamin C
Required for folate metabolism and also facilitates the absorption of iron.
Extremely low levels of Vitamin C are needed before any problems occur.
Anaemia caused by lack of Vitamin C (scurvy) is now extremely rare
• Iron
Required for the haem part of haemoglobin
• Copper and Cobalt
There is some evidence that these two trace minerals are essential for the
production of red blood cells in other animals but not in humans
40. Ineffective Erythropoiesis
• Not all RBCs develop and mature successfully
- Some die in marrow & removed by marrow
macrophages
- The failure to mature results in death in the
marrow
This is known as INEFFECTIVE erythropoiesis &
when RBCs develop & mature successfully is
known as EFFECTIVE erythropoiesis
41. Polycythaemia Vera (Erythremia)
• Caused by gene aberrations occuring in
haemoblastic cell line.
• This causes over production of RBCs
including leucocytes.
42. Effects of polycythaemia
• Increased blood volume
• Increased haematocrit
• Increased blood viscosity
• Blood flow is sluggish
• Decreased rate of venous return
• All these may have stressive effect on the heart
• Due to sluggish flow of blood, tissues receive less
oxygen.
43. ANAEMIA
• Reduction in circulating haemoglobin
• Nutritional deficiency anaemias
– Iron deficiency
– B12 & folate deficiency anaemia
– Protein deficiency anaemia
– Scurvy & other element deficiency
44. Anaemia
• Results if there is a reduction in blood
haemoglobin concentration due to a decrease in
the number of circulating erythrocytes and/or in
the amount of haemoglobin they contain.
• Anaemia can also occur when the erythropoietic
tissues cannot supply enough normal erythrocytes
to the circulation.
• Can also occur due to abnormal red cell
production, increased destruction and when
demand exceeds capacity, plasma erythropoietin
levels are increased.
• However, anaemia can also be caused by defective
production of erythropoietin as, for example, in
renal disease.
46. FUNCTIONS OF ERYTHROCYTES
• Transport of respiratory gases
• Large surface area : volume ratio
• Flexible biconcave disc
• Haemoglobin for exchange of gases
• Capable of glycolysis for the source of energy for cell
survival
47. WHITE BLOOD CELLS (OR LEUCOCYTES)
• Have nuclei & do not contain hemoglobin
• Typical concentration is 5,000 - 9,000 per
cubic millimeter
• Types of WBCs
– Granular (granulated) white blood cells
include:
• neutrophils (50 - 70% of WBCs)
• eosinophils (1 - 4%)
• basophils (less than 1%)
– agranular (or non-granular) white blood cells
include:
• lymphocytes (25 - 40%)
• monocytes (2 - 8%)
49. DIFFERENCES
• Granular white blood cells
- contains numerous granules in the
cytoplasm, & their nuclei are lobed.
• Agranular white blood cells
- have few or no granules in the cytoplasm
& have a large spherical nucleus.
52. Location % of total marrow
• Total marrow space in an adult is 4 litres.
• Pelvis 40%
• Vertebra 28%
• Cranium - mandible 13%
• Ribs 8%
• Sternum 2%
• End of long bones 8%
53. Leukocytes (WBC)
• Are the mobile units of the body’s immune
system.
• They defend against the invasion of
pathogens.
• They identify cancer cells.
• They remove the body’s litter by
phagocytosis.
• They can leave the circulation and go to the
sites of invasion and tissue damage.
• There are five kinds of leukocytes.
54. Five kinds of leukocytes fall into two main categories.
•The polymorphonuclear granulocytes are the neutrophils,
eosinophils,
basophils.
Their nucleii are segmented into lobes and have an abundance
of membrane-enclosed granules in the cytoplasm.
•The mononuclear agranulocytes are the
monocytes
lymphocytes
They have a single, large, nonsegmented nucleus and
few granules.
• Monocytes are larger. Lymphocytes are the smallest
leukocytes.
• Their rates change depending on the changing defense needs
of the body.
55. Granulocyte
Three types of granulocytes
Neutrophils 54 – 62%
Basophils 1 – 3%
Eosinophils <1%
• They mature from their precursor cells,
Promyelocytes.
• During an infection, the rate of granulocyte
production increases.
• Granulocytes and monocytes are produced only in
the bone marrow.
56.
57. MONOCYTES IN THE BONE MARROW
• There is not a large reserve pool of
monocytes in the bone marrow.
• Monocytes are found both in the circulating
and the marginal peripheral blood pools.
• Stimulated by growth factors, monocytes
migrate into tissues and are generally called
macrophages; some fixed in connective
tissue fibers and other sites and some
wandering freely through the connective
tissue.
58. • Macrophages are most numerous in
"filter" organs
- the spleen,
- liver,
- lungs,
- lymph nodes collectively known
as the mononuclear phagocyte system,
(formerly the reticuloendothelial system)
A system that serves as an important
body defense mechanism composed of
phagocytic cells.
59. SPECIAL NAMES OF MACROPHAGES
• Special names of macrophages are:
• histiocytes in loose connective tissue.
• Kupffer cells in the liver
• osteoclasts in bone (they absorb and remove bone)
• microglial cells in nervous tissue like the brain
• Langerhans’ cells in the epidermis - they recognize
antigens, ingest them and present them to
lymphocytes for eventual destruction
• glomerular mesangial cells in the kidney
• pulmonary alveolar macrophages in the lungs
• macrophages in the spleen and lymph nodes
• monocytes in the blood
60. Functions of Monocytes
• Both monocytes and macrophages are phagocytic
like neutrophils.
• Monocyte numbers increase whenever there is
increased cell damage (Cell mobilization &
migration
Substances released from damaged tissue causes
attraction to the bacteria)
• Monocytes are less selective than neutrophils and
will ingest more variable material like old or
abnormal erythrocytes. (recognition of foreign
particles by opsonisation)
61. • Monocytes store released iron from lysed
erythrocytes.
• They act as antigen presenters in that they process
ingested material and present the antigen on its
(the monocyte’s) surface to a T-helper (CD4+)
lymphocyte.
• Monocytes also produce and respond (growth
factors (IL 1,3,4,6; TNF, GM-CSF(granulocyte,
monocyte colony stimulating factor)and other
cytokines involved in the immune response.
• They have IgG or complement receptors.
62. Lymphocytes
• Lymphocytes 25 - 38 %
• Lymphocytes are originally produced from precursor cells
in the bone marrow.
• B cells remain in the bone marrow to mature, while T cells
migrate to and mature in a distinct organ, the thymus.
• Following maturation, the lymphocytes enter the
circulation and peripheral lymphoid organs (e.g the spleen
and lymph nodes) where they survey for invading
pathogens and/or tumour cells.
• Most new ones are produced from lymphocytes in the
- thymus
- Peripheral lymphoid organ( spleen, lymph node, tonsil
etc.)
63. Types of Lymphocyte
• The three major types of lymphocyte are
T cells
B cells
Natural killer (NK) cells.
64. Functions of Lymphocytes
• The acquired (specific) immune system (vs. non-
specific, innate) is comprised of the humoral and the
cell-mediated immune systems.
• The lymphocytes found in each system are
preprogrammed to respond to a specific antigen.
• The innate or non-specific immune system involves
skin and other mucosal surfaces, inflammatory
response, commensal bacteria, and phagocytosis.
• The acquired (adaptive or specific) immune system
involves two systems:
• humoral: humors in medieval physiology were body
fluids that determined a person’s health and
temperament.
• Humors also were proteins that protected against
disease. B lymphocytes are primarily involved with this
type of immunity.
• cell-mediated. T lymphocytes are responsible for this
type of immunity.
65. B-lymphocytes
• Are responsible for the humoral response.
• Upon antigenic encounter they transform
into plasma cells that produce antibodies
specific to the antigen.
• Production of antibodies is a complex
process.
• Memory B cells are also produced.
• These memory cells respond more quickly
than the initial response to a future
encounter with the same antigen.
• Each activated B cell gives rise to many
progeny which together are called a clone of
cells because they are all identical.
66. T-lymphocytes
• Are responsible for the cell-mediated response.
• After antigenic stimulation they proliferate and
differentiate into memory cells and effector cells.
• There are at least two types of effector cells: helper T-cells
(CD4+) and cytotoxic T-cells (CD8+). CD = cluster
differentiation markers. They are identifying membrane
proteins (antigens).
• It is the CD4+ lymphocytes to which HIV has an affinity.
• The normal ratio of CD4+:CD8+ is 2:1. In HIV-infected
individuals the ratio decreases and reverses as the AIDS
virus invades and destroys the CD4+ cells.
• The ratio is used to monitor the progress of the disease.
67. T-helper cells
• T-helper cells "help" the B-cells produce antibodies by
releasing cytokines.
• They also affect the action of other cells, such as CD8+.
• CD8+ cells (cytotoxic T-cells) mediate destruction of
cells infected with pathogens such as viruses, bacterial,
protozoa, or fungi; and are also responsible for rejection
in organ transplants.
• T-helper cells help B-cells produce antibodies and also
influence other T-helpers, T-suppressors and cytotoxic
T-cells.
(T suppressors help keep the immune system in control).
68. Typical recognition markers for lymphocytes[3]
LYMPHO
CYTE
CLASS
FUNCTION OF LYMPHOCYTE
PROPORTI
ON
PHENOTYPIC
MARKER(S)
NK cells
Lysis of virally infected cells and
tumour cells
7% (2-13%)
CD16 CD56 but not
CD3
Helper T
cells
Release cytokines and growth factors
that regulate other immune cells
46% (28-
59%)
TCRαβ, CD3 and CD4
Cytotoxic
T cells
Lysis of virally infected cells, tumour
cells and allografts
19% (13-
32%)
TCRαβ, CD3 and CD8
γδ T cells Immunoregulation and cytotoxicity TCRγδ and CD3
B cells Secretion of antibodies
23% (18-
47%)
MHC class II, CD19
and CD21
69. Lymphocyte Functions
• T cells and B-cells are the major cellular components of the
adaptive immune response.
• T cells are involved in cell-mediated immunity whereas B
cells are primarily responsible for humoral immunity
(relating to antibodies).
• The function of T cells and B cells is to recognize specific
“non-self” antigens, during a process known as antigen
presentation.
• Once they have identified an invader, the cells generate
specific responses that are tailored to maximally eliminate
specific pathogens or pathogen infected cells.
• B cells respond to pathogens by producing large quantities
of antibodies which then neutralize foreign objects like
bacteria and viruses.
70. • In response to pathogens some T cells, called helper T
cells produce cytokines that direct the immune response.
• T cells, called cytotoxic T cells, produce toxic granules
that induce the death of pathogen infected cells.
• Following activation, B cells and T cells leave a lasting
legacy of the antigens they have encountered, in the
form of memory cells.
• Throughout the lifetime of an animal these memory cells
will “remember” each specific pathogen encountered,
and are able to mount a strong response if the pathogen
is detected again.
71. NEUTROPHILS
• The primary function of neutrophils is
phagocytosis.
Phagocytosis:
• It is the process by which cells engulf and
disable particles
• Phagocytosis routinely takes place in the:
- respiratory system
- gastrointestinal system
- urinary system
72. Toxic Change
• Toxic change:
• Appearance of neutrophils when they
are active against severe bacterial
infections includes
- toxic granulation,
- vacuolization of the cytoplasm,
- Dohle bodies and left shift.
• This is a typical reaction characterized by
an increase in digestive enzymes and
digestive vacuoles with an increased RNA
activity.
73. STEPS OF PHAGOCYTOSIS
• Opsonization (Greek = to prepare for
dining)
• Neutrophils cannot efficiently recognize and
attach to most microbes;
• This process marks the organism for ingestion by
coating the particle with immunoglobulin
(antibody) and complement (a series of proteins
that cause disruption of the bacterial membrane).
• Neutrophil membrane pseudopods envelop the
microbe forming a vacuole called a phagosome
within the cytoplasm.
74. • The phagosome fuses with lysosomal granules
from the neutrophil’s cytoplasm. The granules
release lytic enzymes into the phagosome.
• The lytic enzymes lead to eventual killing and
digestion of the foreign agent.
• All these processes require energy that is derived
by anaerobic glycolysis (glucose breakdown).
• Myeloperoxidase, one of the enzymes in the
primary granules, catalyzes a reaction involving
H2O2 resulting in a more toxic product.
• Myeloperoxidase deficiency is reported to be the
most common congenital neutrophil disorders.
75. • However, the condition is fairly benign except for
patients with other problems, like diabetes where
fungal infections may occur.
• One of the products formed in the digestion of the
foreign particle is hydrogen peroxide, which is
capable of killing microorganisms
76. BASOPHILS
Function
• Basophils play a role in acute allergic reactions.
• Their granules contain
- histamine,
- heparin
- and other substances that are released in response to
the presence of allergens.
These substances cause
increased vascular permeability,
- smooth muscle spasm,
- vasodilation,
- and the clinical symptoms of an allergic reaction:-
watery eyes
runny nose
and difficult breathing.
77. • Histamine is a vasodilator that makes
blood vessels more permeable.
• This effect is usually seen at
inflammatory sites and allows
increased cellular movement through
the vessel walls.
• Heparin prevents blood clotting.
• Both histamine and heparin enhance
the migration of leukocytes to the
inflamed site.
78. EOSINOPHIL
• Eosinophil granules contain
- enzymes
- cytotoxic proteins
- cytokine mediators.
• Eosinophils are found in high numbers in
- intestinal mucosae
- pulmonary mucosae
- the dermis of the skin
• They increase in number when the body is
invaded by
- some parasites
- and during allergy attacks.
79. Function of Platelets
• Stop bleeding from a damaged vessel
* Hemostasis
• Three Steps involved in Hemostasis
1. Vascular Spasm
2. Formation of a platelet plug
3. Blood coagulation (clotting)
80. Steps in Hemostasis
• Immediate constriction of blood vessel
• Vessel walls pressed together – become
“sticky”/adherent to each other
• Minimize blood loss
*DAMAGE TO BLOOD VESSEL LEADS TO:
1. Vascular Spasm:
81. Steps in Hemostasis
a. PLATELETS attach to exposed collagen
b. Aggregation of platelets causes release of
chemical mediators (ADP, Thromboxane
A2)
c. ADP attracts more platelets
d. Thromboxane A2 (powerful
vasoconstrictor)
* promotes aggregation & more ADP
2. Platelet Plug formation:
Leads to formation of platelet plug !
83. Final Step in Hemostasis
a. Transformation of blood from liquid to
solid
b. Clot reinforces the plug
c. Multiple cascade steps in clot formation
d. Fibrinogen (plasma protein)
Fibrin
Thrombin
3. Blood Coagulation (clot formation):
“Clotting Cascade”
85. Clotting Cascade
• Participation of 12 different clotting
factors (plasma glycoproteins)
• Factors are designated by a roman
numeral
• Cascade of proteolytic reactions
• Intrinsic pathway / Extrinsic pathway
• Common Pathway leading to the
formation of a fibrin clot !
87. Clotting Cascade
• Intrinsic Pathway:
– Stops bleeding within (internal) a cut
vessel
– Foreign Substance (ie: in contact with test
tube)
– Factor XII (Hageman Factor)
• Extrinsic pathway:
– Clots blood that has escaped into tissues
– Requires tissue factors external to blood
– Factor III (Tissue Thromboplastin)
88. Clotting Cascade
• Fibrin :
– Threadlike molecule-forms the meshwork of the
clot
– Entraps cellular elements of the blood forms
CLOT
– Contraction of platelets pulls the damaged
vessel close together:
• Fluid squeezes out as the clot contracts (Serum)
89. Clot dissolution
• Clot is slowly dissolved by the “fibrin splitting”
enzyme called Plasmin
• Plasminogen is the inactive pre-cursor that is
activated by Factor XII (Hageman Factor)
(simultaneous to clot formation)
• Plasmin gets trapped in clot and slowly
dissolves it by breaking down the fibrin
meshwork
90. Clot formation:
Too much or too little of a good
thing…
• Too much:
– Inappropriate clot formation is a thrombus (free-
floating clots are emboli)
– An enlarging thrombus narrows and can occlude
vessels
• Too little:
– Hemophilia- too little clotting- can lead to life-
threatening hemorrhage (caused from lack of one
of the clotting factors)
– Thrombocyte deficiency (low platelets) can also
lead to diffuse hemorrhages
92. Haemoglobin synthesis
The haemoglobins are red globular
proteins, which have a molecular weight of
about 68,000 and comprise almost one
third of the weight of a red cell.
The haemoglobin is composed of haem
and globin.
93. Haemoglobin synthesis
• The main function of red cells is to carry
O2 to the tissues and to return carbon
dioxide (CO2) from tissues to the lungs.
• In order to achieve this gaseous exchange
the red cells contain the specialized
protein haemoglobin.
• Each red cell contains approximately 640
million Hb molecules.
94. Haemoglobin synthesis
• 65% of the Hb is synthesized in the
erythroblasts, and 35% at the reticulocyte stage.
• Haem synthesis occurs largely in the
mitochondria.
• Globin synthesis occurs in the polyribosomes.
• Although haem and globin synthesis occur
separately within developing red cell precursors,
their rates of synthesis are carefully coordinated
to ensure optimal efficiency of Hb assembly.
95. Globin synthesis
• The various globins that combine with haem to
form Hb are all single chain polypeptides.
• The synthesis of these globins is under genetic
control.
• Humans normally carry eight functional globin
chains, arranged in two, duplicated gene
clusters: the b-like cluster (b, g, d and e globin
genes) on the short arm of chromosome 11 and
the a-like cluster (a and z globin genes) on the
short arm of chromosome 16.
96. Ontogeny of globin synthesis
Globin synthesis is first detected in the primitive
erythroid precursors of the yolk sac at about 3
weeks’ gestation.
• Embyonic :
Haemoglobin Gower I ( z2e2)
Haemoglobin Portland ( z2g2)
Haemoglobin Gower II (a2e2)
• Fetal : HbF (a2g2), HbA (a2b2)
• Adult : HbA, HbA2 ( a2d2), HbF.
97. Haemoglobin
• Each molecule of
normal adult
haemoglobin (Hb-A)
consists of four
polypeptide chains
a2b2, each with its
own haem group.
98. Haemoglobin
• Normal adult blood also contains small
quantities of two other haemoglobins, Hb-
F and Hb-A2. These also contain a chains
but with g and d chains respectively
instead of b.
• The major switch from fetal to adult
haemoglobin occurs 3-6 months after
birth.
99. Normal Hb in adult blood
Hb A Hb A2 Hb F
structure a2b2 a2d2 a2g2
Normal % 96-98 % 1.5-3.2 % 0.5-0.8 %
101. Function
• Hb is a large protein (66.7 kD) coupled to four porphyrins or heme
moities.
• The globin portion of Hb consists of:
- 4 polypeptide chains ( a with 141aa and ß with
146aa)arranged in pairs forming a tetramer.
• Each globin chain is covalently attached to a heme moiety.
• The bonds between a and ß chains are weaker than between similar
globin chains, forming a natural cleavage plane, the a1ß2 interface,
important for oxygen binding and release.
- When this cleavage is open (relaxed state) oxygen can bind
(high oxygen affinity).
- When the two a1ß2 interfaces are closely bound (taut state)
the Hb molecule has a low affinity for oxygen.
• The binding of oxygen rotates the globin chains, moving the ß chains
together and sliding the a1ß2 interfaces apart (the relaxed state) thus
increasing the oxygen affinity of Hb.
102. Haemoglobin catabolism
*normal red cell destruction*
• Red cell destruction usually occurs after a mean
life span of 120 days.
• The cells are removed extravascularly by
macrophages of the reticuloendothelial system
(RES), specially in the bone marrow but also in
the liver and spleen.
• Red cell metabolism gradually deteriorates as
enzymes are degraded and not replaced, until the
cells become non viable, but the exact reason why
the red cells die is obscure.
103. Haemoglobin catabolism
*normal red cell destruction*
• The breakdown of red cells liberates
1- iron for recirculation via plasma transferrin to
marrow erythroblasts
2- protoporphyrin which is broken down to
bilirubin.
3- globins which are converted to amino acids.
104. Normal red cell destruction
- The bilirubin circulates to the liver where it is
conjugated to glucuronides which are excreted
into the gut via bile and converted to
stercobilinogen and stercobilin(excreted in
faeces).
- Stercobilinogen and stercobilin are partly
reabsorbed and excreted in urine as urobilinogen
and urobilin.
105. Normal red cell destruction
• A small fraction of protoporphyrin is converted
to carbon monoxide (CO) and excreted via the
lungs.
• Globin chains are broken down to amino acids
which are reutilized for general protein
synthesis in the body.
106. Normal red cell breakdown
haemoglobin
haem
protoporphyrin
iron
Bilirubin
(free)
CO
Expired air
transferrin
erythroblast
Bilirubin glucuronides
Stercobilin(ogen)
Urobilin(ogen)
Urine
Liver
conjugation
faeces
globin
Amino acids
108. BLOOD GROUPS
• Blood groups discovered in 1900 and
1901 at the University of Vienna by Karl
Landsteiner:
- In the process of trying to learn why
blood transfusions sometimes cause
death and at other times save a
patient.
• In 1930, he belatedly received the Nobel
Prize for this discovery.
109. HUMAN BLOOD GROUP SYSTEMS
The International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) currently
recognises 29 major blood group systems (including the ABO
and Rh systems).
• Thus, in addition to the ABO antigens and Rhesus antigens,
many other antigens are expressed on the red blood cell
surface membrane.
• For example, an individual can be AB RhD positive,
-and at the same time M and N positive (MNS system), K
positive (Kell system) and Lea or Leb positive (Lewis system).
• Many of the blood group systems were named after the patients
in whom the corresponding antibodies were initially
encountered.
• The ISBT definition of a major blood group system is where one
or more antigens are "controlled at a single gene locus
- or by two or more very closely linked homologous genes with
little or no observable recombination between them".
113. ABO & Rh BLOOD GROUPS
• ABO and Rh
• Antigens (glycoproteins and glycolipids)
called agglutinogens on surface of RBC’S
determine blood types.
• Blood types are inherited
• The greatest concern with blood types
involves transfussion
114. • During a transfusion, the person giving
the blood is a DONOR the person
getting the blood is a RECIPIENT
• The immune system may develop
antibodies called AGGLUTININS
against certain antigens. These
antibodies are in the plasma.
116. INCOMPATIBILITY
• If RBC’s of a donor are incompatible with
the blood of a recipient, antibodies in the
plasma of the recipient will bind to the
antigens of the donated RBC’s.
• This reaction will clump (agglutinate) and
destroy (cause hemolysis ) the donated
RBC’s, resulting in a serious and possibly
fatal reaction.
121. RH BLOOD TYPE AND HEMOLYTIC
DISEASE OF THE NEWBORN
• Rh blood type is determined by presence of
absence of Rh agglutinogen (antigens) on
the surface of RBC’s
• If Rh agglutinogens are present, the type is
Rh +
• If no agglutinogens are present, the type is
Rh -
122. •People with Rh- type lack anti-Rh
agglutinins (antibodies), but if they receive
Rh+ blood, their immune systems will be
stimulated to produce them, and they are
then sensitized
•Future exposure to Rh+ blood will cause a
dangerous blood reaction.
123. RHESUS BLOOD GROUP
Rhesus blood group is simpler than ABO, having only two groups:
- positive and negative.
1. Rhesus-negative blood can be given to anyone,
2. Rhesus-positive blood can only be given to other rhesus-positive people.
3. Unlike the ABO system, antibodies to rhesus antigens do not develop
until the first time a rhesus-negative person is exposed.
4. Any subsequent exposure to rhesus antigens leads to severe side effects.
5. The rhesus blood group is actually quite complicated,
- consists of three different genes which produce the positive and
negative groups.
6. Around 85% of the UK population are rhesus-positive.
- values vary around the world.
- People of Afro-Caribbean origin have only a 5% chance of being
rhesus-negative,
- Rhesus-negative individuals are almost unknown in Chinese
populations
124. HEMOLYTIC DISEASE OF THE
NEWBORN (HDN)
• Results from Rh incompatibility between
Rh- mother and her Rh+ child
• If Rh+ RBC’s of first born child enter
mother’s circulation, mother will be
sensitised, and her plasma will carry anti-
Rh agglutinins (antibodies)
125. FIRST CHILD
•The first child is not harmed
•But the mother’s agglutinins, acquired by
exposure to the first child’s blood, easily pass
across the placenta where they agglutinate and
destroy the second child’s RBC’s.
How is it prevented?
128. Blood Transfusion
Other Products are commercially
manufactured from blood :-
Albumin
Immune globulin
Specific immune globulies
Clotting factor complexes
* Autologous transfusion – refer to those transfusions in which the blood donor and
transfusion recipient are the same.
* Allogenic transfusions :- refer to blood transfused to someone other than the donor.
129. Screening tests for evidence of donor infection with:
Hepatitis B and C viruses
HIV – 1 and HIV - 2
Human T – lymphotrophic viruses HTLV – I and HTLV – II.
Syphilis
Parasitic infection ( P. falciparum).
Blood Storage
RBCs – may be stored under refrigeration for a maximum of 423 days, or may be
frozen up to 10 years.
Platelets – stored at room temperature and may be kept for a maximum of 5 days.
Fresh frozen plasma, used to control bleeding sue to low levels of some clotting
factors, is kept in a frozen state for up to 1 year.
Granulocytes – Must be transfused within 24 hours after donation.
130. Cryoprecipitated AHF
Cryoprecipitated AHF is removed from plasma by freezing and then slowly thawing
the plasma.
it is used to prevent or control bleeding in individuals with hemophilia and von
willebrand’s diseas which are common, inherited major coagulation abnormalities.
Platelets (Thrombocytes)
May be obtained from a donor by a process known as apheresis
Plateletes may be used to treat a condition called thrombocytopaenia, in which
there is a shortage of paltelets, & in patients with abnormal platelet function.
Platelets are stored at room temperature for up to 5 days.
131. Red Blood Cells
Are prepared from whole blood by removing plasma, or the liquid portion of the
blood.
They raise the patients haematocrit and Hb levels while minimising increase in
blood volume.
Granulocytes
Can be collected by apharesis or centrifugation of whole blood.
They are transfused within 24 hours after collection and are used for infections that
are unresponsive to antibiotic therapy.
132. Apheresis
The process of removing specific components of blood, such as platelets, and
returning the remaining components, such as RBCs and plasma to the donor.
In an Emergency
Any one can receive type O RBCs
Type AB individuals can receive RBCs of any ABO type
People with O blood are “universal donors”
Those with type AB blood are “universal recipients”
In addition, AB plasma donors can give to all blood types
133. Tests performed on donated Blood
Blood is tested for ABO group (Blood Typing)
Rh Type (- or +)
Any unexpected Abs that may cause problems in a recipient