L32: Blood cells

Learning objectives

Describe the functions and major components of the circulatory system

Distinguish between components and physical properties of blood as well as compositions of
blood plasma
Explain the process of hematopoiesis
Describe the morphology and function of erythrocytes, noting how it is formed, its life span
and its disposal
Discuss the significance of haemoglobin noting how its structure aids in its function
List the 5 types of leukocytes, describing its production, and noting its role in infection and
immunity
Outline the structure and function of platelets and describe the general processes of
hemostasis
Describe some common abnormalities of RBC and WBCs

Function of the circulatory system

o Transport O2, nutrients, wastes, hormones, stem cells

o Defense Limit inflammation (inflammation, blood clotting)
Destroy microorganism, cancer (antibodies)
o Regulation pH buffer, body temperature, fluid balance and distribution

Excessive loss of blood is fatal

Components of the circulatory system

Blood is a specialized liquid connective tissue made out of ECM and cells
o Extracellular matrix plasma : Clear, light yellow fluid over 50% of blood volume
o Water 92%
o Solutes nutrients, wastes, ions, hormones, gases
o Proteins
Albumin (60%) Most abundant, major contributor to viscosity and
osmolarity ( [] significantly affect blood volume and flow), transport lipids,
hormones, calcium and buffer pH
Globulins (36%) , , subclasses by weight
Solute transport, clotting and immunity
Fibronogen (4%) Clotting protein
All made by liver except by plasma cells
o Cells and cell fragments: Formed elements
o RBC
o WBC Granulocytes or agranulocytes
o Platelets

Viscosity Osmolarity

Thickness and resistance of fluid which governs Amount of dissolved particles/volume

flow.
Cannot pass through vessel walllost
Blood 4-5x, plasma 2x viscosity to water
Haematopoiesis

o Haematopoiesis= formation of blood cells

o Haematopoietic tissues= tissues that produce blood cells
o Dynamic and replenish > 7 billions blood cells/kg body weight/day

Sequential site

Yolk sack Fetal liver Red bone marrow and lymphatic tissues

3rd week of gestation At birth

o Erythrocytes

o Structure, function, formation, lifespan and disposal

o Most abundant of formed element and most critical to survival! (O2)
Severe deficiency is fatal within a few mins (compared to days if leukocytes)
Reason behind fatality in major trauma and haemorrhage

o Discoid() with biconcave shape, easily deform

o Cytoskeletal proteins provide resilience and durability: spectrin and actins

o Unusually devoid of nucleus and nearly all organelles during development (glycolysis)
o Packed with haemoglobin : red colour of blood
4 Globins (2a, 2b) protein chain-CO2
Heme prosthetic group with ferrous ion O2 (up to 4)
o Supply O2 to tissue and remove CO2
o Measured by hematocrit, mean RBC count or hemoglobin
o Erythropoiesis:

Polyribosomes
EPO Hb
syn Blood
Commit Nucleus
ejection

o Haematopoietic stem cell differentiates into erythrocyte CFU, through a series of precursors to
mature cell
o Entire process~ 3, 5 days, require amino acids, Iron, folic acid, vitamin B12
o Four major development:
1. Cell number 2. Cell size 3. Hemoglobin syn 4. Loss of organelles
o Controlled by blood oxygen level: Hypoxemialiver secretes erythropoietin
o Average lifespan: 120 days / 4 months
o Disposed by liver and spleen
o External glycolipids on RBCblood type
4 types: A, B, AB(universal recipient), O (universal donor)
Rh +/-
Genetically determined
Chemical composition of glycolipids on RBC antigens to activate immune response
if incompatible

Leukocytes

o Only 5000-10000 WBCs/uL

o Only temporarily in bloodtissues
o Agranulocytes: lymphocytes and monocytes
o Granulocytes: Neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils
o <20 days life span

Cell type Roles

Lymphocytes Smallest 20-33% WBC
Infected, transformed and foreign cells and materials
T Cell (CD8 cytotoxic CD4 helper Memory)
B cells (plasma, memory)
Specific, adaptive, long-term immunity
NK cells (perforins and granzymes, attack and lyse infected and cancerous cells)
Monocytes Largest 2-10%
Precursors to tissue macrophages, liver Kupffer cells (eat RBC), CNS microglia, bone
osteoclasts
Phagocytosis and present antigens
Increase in viral infection and inflammation
Neutrophils Most abundant (60-70%)
Short circulation (6-10hr )
Nucleus: 3-5 lobes, polymorphonuclear
Acute inflammatory responses to bacterial infection: Phagocytosis and release highly
toxic chemicals (HClO and O2)usually die afterwards
High in bacterial infection
Eosinophils 2-4%
Fluctuate daily and seasonally and mucous tracts
Increase in parasitic infections, allergies, collagen, spleen and CNS diseases.
Secrete enzymes that weaken or destroy parasitic worms
Phagocytose and dispose antigen-antibody complexes, allergens and inflammatory
chemicals

Basophils Rarest <1%

Structurally and functionally similar to mast cellssecrete Histamines (vasodilation
and permeability to injured area)+ Heparins (anticoagulant, promote mobility of
other local WBCs)+Chemoattractant to eosinophils and neurophils
Modulate inflammation and repair involved in hypersensitivity
Increase in viral infections, inflammation, allergic reactions
o Platelets

o Thrombopoiesis produces platelets: Gigantic

megakaryocytes with duplicated DNAshed
fragments platelets

o Platelets have no nucleus but a complex structure:

 lysosomes, mitochondria, microtubules ,
microfilaments, granules filled with platelet
secretions and a system of channels called
the open canalicular system(connected to
surface)
~8-10 days

Secrete vasoconstrictors (serotonin)

Aggregate to form temporary platelet plugs
Secrete procoagulants/clotting factors
Secrete chemoattractants to neutrophils and monocytes
Secrete growth factors(platelet-derived growth-factor) to maintain and repair blood vessels
Secrete factor XII to dissolve old blood clot

o Hemostasis = cessation of bleeding (diagram?)

1. Vasoconstriction --> 2. temporary platelet plugs clotting factors enzymatic cascade
(fibrinogen converted to fibrin web trap platelets and cells) 3.coagulation 4. Defense
and PDGF (fibroblast and smooth muscle) tissue repair factor XII enzyme cascade gives
fibrin-digesting enzyme plasmin 5. dissolves old blood clot

See new objectives!!

Common abnormalities of WBC and RBC

Anemia

o number of circulating erythrocytes or quantity or quality of haemoglobins in

blood
o O2 carrying capacity
o Multiple causes
RBC production hemoglobin, folic acid, vitamin B12 or iron deficiency
Loss of RBCs (bleeding)

RBC destruction, haemolytic (eg thalassaemia)

o Symptoms depend on
 Severity
Rapidity of development
Age and health status
o Symptom of other conditions, not a disease

Iron Sickle-cell Megaloblastic

deficiency Large, structurally

abnormal RBC

Folate/vitamin B12
deficiency

DNA x replicated

Leukemia

o Malignant disorder of blood and blood-forming organs

o Unrestricted proliferation and accumulation of dysfunctional WBC
o Bone marrow is replaced by unregulated, proliferating, immature neoplastic cells
o Abnormal cells can be seen in the blood and may infiltrate the spleen, liver, lymph nodes and
other tissues
o Leukemia cells are immature and poorly differentiated proliferate rapidly and have a long
lifespan
X function
Interfere with maturation of normal blood cells
Circulate in the bloodstream, cross the blood-brain barrier and infiltrate many body
organs
o Grouped by cell type and urgency
Acute lymphocytic ALL
Chronic lymphocytic
Acute myeloid/myeloblastic (AML)
Granulocytes, erythrocytes, thrombocytes
Chronic myeloid CML

New LO? Diu