Blood Cell Immunology

1. List the anticoag. used to collect plasma

2. What are the layers observed?

Plasma:

Anticoag. used to collect:

• Ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA)

  • blood cell counts and morphology

    • if fresh fingerstick smears = not available (purple/lavender top)

• Sodium citrate

  • blood coagulation and platelet studies (blue top)

• Heparin

  • preventing hemolysis and to test for osmotic fragility

Layers

• once collected → centrifuge + gravity sedimentation → 3 layers:

  • Plasma: anticoagulated blood (fluid portion)

  • buffy coat (white cell layer and platelets)

  • RBCs (packed)

Describe Serum

• Different from Plasma

• Testing

  • Collection

  • Used for

Different from Plasma

• Blood collected without an anticoagulant

  • Platelets + coagulation factors act. → fibren mesh → entrabs cellular elements → Serum (plasma minus fibrinogen)

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Testing:

• Collection:

  • centrifuging clotted blood in red top tubes → 2 layers

• Used for:

  • chemistry, blood bank, and serology testing

Describe the procedure for Blood Cell Differentiation

Wright’s stain

• 2 Dif. stains

  • Methylene blue (basic dye)

    • stains acidic compounds blue

      • DNA

      • RNA

      • basophil granules

      • Nuclei

  • Eosin (acidic dye)

    • stains basic compounds pink/red

      • hemoglobin

      • eosinophil granules

Describe RBCs

• Shape

• Hematopoiesis origins

• Size

• Describe what happen to central Pallor

RBCs:

• Shape;

  • Biconcave w/ central pallor

• hematopoiesis

  • Main: Bone Marrow

  • extramedullary hematopoiesis:

    • spleen, liver, and lymph nodes

    • When bone marrow fails to function (myelofibrosis) or unable to meet demands (hemolytic anemia)

• Size:

  • 7.2 microns in diameter (same size of small lymphocyte nucleus)

  • Central pallor makes up approximately 1/3 of the cell

• Central Pallor:

  • increases in iron deficiency anemia

  • Absent in Spherocytes

RBCs

Differentiate between Microcytic and Macrocytic RBCs

Micro Causes:

• Pyridoxine deficiency

• Thalassemia

• Iron deficiency anemia

• Chronic disease anemia

• Sideroblastic anemia

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Macro Causes:

• Vitamin B12 or Folate deficiency

• Liver Disease

• MDS

• Chemotherapy (e.g. methotrexate)

Microcytosis

Macrocytosis

Describe Neutrophils (segs)

• Production

• Size

• Nuelceus Structure

• Granules

• Functions

Neutrophils

• Production:

  • bone marrow

• Size: 10-16 microns

• Nucleus Structure: Segmented

  • 2-5 lobes; most 3-4 lobes

• Granules:

  • bactericidal enzymes such as hydrolases, lipases, nucleases

• Functions:

  • first cells to accumulate in acute inflammatory responses (motile)

  • Phagocytosis, bactericidal activity

Neutrophils

Neutrophils

Toxic GranulationVacuolization; neutrophil; sign that infection or something is going on

Hypersegmented Neutrophils; Associated with megaloblastic anemia

Describe Eisinophils

• Produced

• Size

• Granules

• Function

• Produced

  • bone marrow

• size: 10-15 microns in diameter

• Granules

  • Large cytoplasmic granules (acidophilic)

• Function:

  • Phagocytic (not main)

  • Anti parasite

  • Allergies

  • Contains substances that acts as antihistamines

Eisinophils

Eisinophils

Describe Basophils

• Produced

• Matures into

• Size

• Granules

• Function

• Produced

  • bone marrow

• Matures into

  • Mast Cells (tissue basophil)

  • after migration into tissue

• size: 10-14 microns in diameter

• Granules:

  • Large cytoplasmic granules (basophilic)

• Function:

  • immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions such as allergic drug reaction

  • Releases mediators of allergic reactions (histamine)

Basophil

Basophils

Describe Monocytes

• Produced

• Migration

• Matures into?

• Size

• Describe nucleus

• Function

• Produced in bone marrow

• Migration:

  • blood → tissue

• Matures: into macrophage

• Size: 14-20

• Nucleus:

  • no segmentation

  • Horseshoe or kidney-bean shaped

• Function:

  • phagocytosis

  • removing aged, dead, or abnormal RBCs, WBCs, plateles

  • anti mycobacteria, bacteria, fungi, and viruses

  • process/present antigens → humoral activity

  • act. by products of lymphocyte activation (lymphokines)

Monocytes

Monocytes

Monocytes

Monocytes; w/ vacuoles

Describe Lymphocytes

• Nucleus:

  • No segmentation of nucleus

• Functions

  • antibody production by plasma cells (activated B-cells)

  • Cell-mediated immunity

    • delayed hypersensitivity,

    • organ transplant rejection,

    • tumor rejection

lymphocyte

lymphocyte

lymphocyte

monocyte

lymphocyte

Plasma cells

Describe Platelets (thrombocytes)

• Produced

• Precursor

• Size

• Shape

• Function

• Produced

  • bone marrow

• Precursor:

  • Megakaryocyte

• Size: 2-4

• Shape

  • Light purplish-blue to sky blue

  • Round, oval, or irregular forms

• Function

  • maintaining homeostasis of blood

megakarocytes

Platelets

Giant Platelet Disorder