Clin Path Lecture 3 (Plasma Proteins)

liver

Where are most plasma proteins synthesized?

lymphoid

Most plasma proteins are synthesized in another organ, but immunoglobulins are produced in _____ organs.

Adults

Which has higher levels of plasma proteins: adults or neonates?

neonates lack immunoglobulins until colostrum ingestion

Why do neonates typically have lower levels of plasma proteins than adults?

refractometer

What is the physical method of measuring plasma proteins?

spectrophotometer

What is the biochemical method of measuring plasma proteins?

electrophoresis

What is the fractionation method of measuring plasma proteins?

WBCs

What type of cell makes up the majority of the buffy coat?

1. buffy coat appearance
2. fibrinogen
3. PCV
4. plasma appearance
5 plasma protein

What 5 things can be determined from a microhematocrit tube?

1. icterus
2. hemolysis
3. lipemia

What 3 main things should you observe the plasma appearance/color for?

refractometer

What tool is used to measure both total proteins and urine specific gravity?

is not

Hemoglobin [is/is not] a plasma protein.

true

T/F: Lipemia interferes with light transmission.

total protein - albumin = total globulins

How can you determine total globulins using total protein and albumin?

1. alpha
2. beta
3. gamma

Fractionation of serum/plasma proteins are separated by protein electrophoresis. There are various globulins bands of what 3 types?

1. carbs
2. lipids
3. proteins

Fractionation of serum/plasma proteins are separated by protein electrophoresis. Proteins are stained for what 3 things?

hyperglobulinemia

Serum protein electrophoresis is performed when unexplained _____ is present.

immunoglobulin

Serum protein electrophoresis is performed when _____ deficiency is suspected.

hypoalbunemia

Does hyper- or hypoalbunemia potentially result in edema? It is due to changes in osmotic pressure.

small

Albumin has a [large/small] molecular weight.

minimal

Albumin contains [a lot of/minimal] carbohydrates.

calcium binds to albumin, so when albumin is low, calcium will be too

What does hypoalbunemia cause low total calcium in the blood?

1. cations
2. certain hormones
3. inorganic substances
4. metabolites
5. organic substances
6. poorly soluble drugs
7. toxic substances

What 7 things does albumin transport?

calcium

Albumin transports cations, mostly _____.

acute phase proteins

What term describes proteins with more than 25% change in serum concentrations in response to inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, TNFa, IL-6).

increasing

When acute phase proteins (APPs) are categorized as positive (more are), the serum concentration is [decreasing/increasing].

decreasing

When acute phase proteins (APPs) are categorized as negative, the serum concentration is [decreasing/increasing].

inflammation

Increased production of positive acute phase proteins (APPs) is a sensitive indicator of _____ which can occur prior to the development of an inflammatory leukogram.

leukogram

Measurement of APP is especially helpful in some species such as cattle and manatees that often do not exhibit prominent _____ changes in response to inflammation.

low

Serum Amyloid A is a major acute-phase protein in all common domestic animals. It is a family of apolipoproteins associated with high-density lipoproteins (HDLs). It is present in very [high/low] concentrations in normal animals.

dogs and humans

C-reactive protein is a major acute protein in what 2 species? It is normally present in very low concentrations.

ruminants and pigs

Haptoglobin is a major acute-phase protein in what 2 species? It is a glycoprotein (20% CHO) that migrates in the alpha2-region.

bacterial

Haptoglobin prevents initial loss of free hemoglobin in the urine as it binds it irreversibly. It protects against _____ infections. It also has antioxidant activity.

coagulation factor I

Fibrinogen provides optimal platelet aggregation and is a moderate acute-phase protein that increases in inflammation. It is classified as what?

scaffolding

Fibrinogen provides _____ for inflammatory cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells when deposited in tissues.

increases

With active inflammation and dehydration, fibrinogen [increases/decreases].

decreased

Fibrinogen may be [decreased/increased] with DIC, liver failure, and some snake venoms.

copper

Ceruloplasmin transports what element?

plasma

Ceruloplasmin is an alpha2-protein that is also an _____ antioxidant.

iron

Ferroxidase activity of ceruloplasmin facilitates _____ mobilization from tissue stores.

cats

Aplha1-acid glycoprotein is a major acute-phase protein for which animals?

inflammation

What is the most common cause of low albumin?

iron

Transferrin is a negative acute-phase protein that binds with _____. It transports this substance throughout the body.

transferrin

_____ correlates with total iron binding capacity (TIBC).

low

Ferritin is an iron-containing protein, primarily found inside cells. It is in [high/low] concentrations in the plasma. It is an acute-phase protein, so high values may reflect inflammation.

ferritin

Plasma _____ correlates with total body iron stores.

1. corticosteroid binding globulin
2. sex hormone binding globulin
3. thyroxin hormone binding globulin

Which 3 hormone-binding proteins bind small molecular weight hormones, preventing them from being rapidly filtered by the kidney.

thrombin

Protease inhibitors inhibit _____ and certain other coagulation factors.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)

Protease inhibitors require _____ (plural) for optimal activity?. n example of these is heparin.

inflammatory

Albumin concentration falls gradually, and reduction in concentration is more noticeable in chronic _____ disease.

amino acids

Reduced production of albumin allows greater increase in the amount of _____ _____ (plural) available for positive acute-phase protein (APP) production.

iron

Transferrin decrease is not marked. It may help limit available _____ for microbes.

dehydration and hyperglobulinemia

Changes in plasma protein concentrations may sometimes occur. What are the 2 main things that cause hyperproteinemia?

1. decreased production
2. dilution due to overhydration
3. increased loss
4. sequestration in body cavities

Changes in plasma protein concentrations may sometimes occur. What are the 4 main things that may cause hypoproteinemia?

permeability

Inflammation causes increased loss of some proteins, especially albumin. This causes increased vascular _____ and increased tissue catabolism.

cytokines

Inflammation may cause increased or decreased synthesis of some proteins due to altered _____ (plural).

immunoglobulnes and positive acute phase proteins

Inflammation may cause increased synthesis of what proteins?

negative acute phase proteins

Inflammation may cause decreased synthesis of what proteins? For example: albumin and transferrin

panhypoproteinemia

When an animal has both hypoalbuminemia and hypoglobulinemia, it is called _____.

True

T/F: Albumin to globulin (AG) ratios are often calculated in clinical chemistry panels.

normal

The albumin to globulin (AG) ratio is expected to be [high/low/normal] in panhypoproteinemia.

erythrocytosis, hyperproteinemia

During dehydration, only the fluid component of the blood is lost. Proteins and erythrocytes are not. This causes a relative _____ and _____.

anemia and hypoprotenemia

During external hemorrhage, all components of the blood are lost equally. Fluid is replaced more rapidly than proteins and cells which causes _____ and _____.

albumin

Protein losing glomerulopathy often causes low _____. Globulins may still be normal, however, because this protein is much smaller and more easily lost.

hypo

Excessive fluid therapy may cause [hyper/hypo]albuminemia.

dehydration

Hyperalbuminemia is almost always caused by _____ or artifact. When it is caused by artifact, it is often a problem with the assay.

Hepatocellular carcinoma. It produces albumin

Dogs with what very rare condition may have hyperalbuminemia? Why?

immunoglobulins

Hypoglobulinemia can be caused by failure of passive transfer of _____ (plural) via colostrum.

IgG

What is the main immunoglobulin in colostrum of pigs, cows, horses, and sheep?

1. IgA
2. IgG
3. IgM

What are the 3 immunoglobulins in colostrum of pigs, cows, horses, and sheep?

fibrinogen and haptoglobin

Increased concentrations of what 2 APPs may contribute to hyperglobulinemia when inflammation is present?

true

T/F: Most acute phase proteins do not occur in sufficiently high enough concentrations to appreciably increase the total globulin concentration.

Bence Jones proteins

Immunoglobulin light chains are referred to as what?

GI and liver

Synthesis of lipoproteins occurs in what 2 places in the body?

lipids

Lipoproteins transport water soluble _____ (plural) in the blood.

apolipoproteins

High molecular weight water-miscible complexes of lipids (triglycerides, cholesterol, phospholipids) and proteins are called what?

on the surface

Lipoproteins are pseudomicellar particles with hydrophilic apolipoproteins and charged phospholipids. Where are they located on the lipoproteins?

density

Classification of lipoproteins is usually determined by _____. This can be measured using ultracentrifugation.

electrophoresis

Chylomicrons are very large lipoproteins of low density that remain at the origin when _____ is performed.

fat

Chylomicrons are formed in the mucosal cells of the duodenum and jejunum following digestion of _____ in the diet?

lacteals

Chylomicrons are secreted into _____ (plural) which merge with larger lymphatic vessels and enter the circulation via the thoracic duct.

lipoprotein lipase

The core triglycerides of chylomicrons are rapidly hydrolyzed by the action of _____ _____ in capillary beds (primarily muscle and adipose tissue) where resultant fatty acids and glycerol are metabolized.

postprandial lipemia

Which term describes white, cloudy plasma that is due to chylomicronemia after eating a meal containing fat. This occurs in carnivores and omnivores but not herbivores.

density

The _____ of chylomicrons is lower than that of water; therefore, chylomicrons form a "cream layer" in plasma samples allowed to stand overnight in the refrigerator.

short

Because chylomicrons have a [long/short] half-life in circulation, they are not normally measured in fasting samples.

liver

Very low density lipoproteins are primarily synthesized by the _____, although some intestinal formation can occur.

very low density lipoproteins (VLDLs)

What molecules transport the bulk of the endogenous triglycerides?

lipases

Triglycerides in very low density lipoproteins are hydrolyzed by _____ (plural) in tissues and residual very low density lipoproteins are transformed into low density lipoproteins.

cream

With the presence of very low density lipoproteins, plasma remains cloudy/milky after standing overnight in a refrigerator, but a _____ layer is not present.

very low density volume lipoproteins

Low density lipoproteins arise as metabolic products from what?

cholesterol

Low density lipoproteins are the major mechanisms by which _____ is transported to peripheral tissues.

cholesterol

_____ is needed as a component of cell membranes and for the formation of steroid hormones.

high density lipoproteins (HDLs)

Which lipoproteins are the most dense?

liver

Where are high density lipoprotein precursors formed?

plasma

Where are complete high density lipoproteins formed? It happens through the addition of remnants from other lipoproteins.

liver

High density lipoproteins transport cholesterol from tissues back to the _____ in a process termed reverse cholesterol transport.

hypercholesterolemia

Lipemic plasma/serum is caused by hypertriglyceridemia but not _____.

lipoprotein lipase deficiency

Lipemic plasma/serum can be caused by hyperchylomicronemia in cats with what?

hypertriglyceridemia

Lipemic plasma/serum can be caused by hereditary _____ in mini schnauzer dogs.

low density lipoproteins

_____ (plural) account for 50% or more of the lipoprotein content present in plasma of fasting humans.