HMM104 Immunology and Haematology

Summary:

The note titled “HMM104 Immunology and Haematology – Complete Unit Notes” from Deakin University provides a comprehensive overview of key topics in immunology and haematology. The note covers various subjects, including clotting mechanisms and disorders, leukocytes and associated disorders, inflammation, multi-lineage disorders, and cancer and proliferative diseases. The note’s content is organized into sections, with detailed information on each topic, ranging from clotting and clotting disorders to the role of leukocytes and their disorders. The note also explores the concept of inflammation and its significance. Furthermore, it delves into multi-lineage disorders and provides an in-depth understanding of cancer and proliferative diseases. Overall, these unit notes offer a valuable resource for students studying immunology and haematology at Deakin University.

Excerpt:

HMM104 Immunology and Haematology

Table of Contents

1. Clotting……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..pg. 2 – 4
2. Clotting Disorders………………………………………………………………………………………………pg. 4 – 6
3. Leukocytes…………………………………………………………………………………………………………pg. 7 – 8
4. Leukocyte Disorders………………………………………………………………………………………….pg. 8 – 9
5. Inflammation……………………………………………………………………………………………………..pg. 9 – 9
6. Multi-Lineage Disorders………………………………………………………………………………….pg. 10 – 10
7. Cancer & Proliferative Disease………………………………………………………………………..pg. 11 – 13

Clotting
Vascular Wall Endothelium: lines the entire circulatory system (1013 cells in a single layer)

Produces factors that:
– Inhibit Clotting (Prostacyclin, Thrombomodulin & Heparin)
– Activate Clotting (Von Willebrand Factor (vWF) & Tissue Factor (TF))
– Activate Clot Breakdown (Tissue Plasminogen Activator)

Platelets: small cell fragments (between 140,000 – 400,000/uL of blood) with a 7–10-day life cycle
– Lack a nucleus
– Contains mitochondria, glycogen (energy), granules (for clotting) & membrane glycoproteins
(GPIb & IIb/IIIa for adhesion & aggregation)

At rest they act as smooth non-sticky discs. When stimulated, they become sticky spheres that
aggregate & stick to injured surfaces & release chemical messengers.

After platelet aggregation granules are released:
– α-granules: fibrinogen (forms clot), platelet factor 4 (antagonises heparin, an anti-coagulant), platelet derived growth factor (growth factor) & β-thromboglobulin (chemokine)
– Dense (β) granules: ADP & calcium (used in aggregation & vasoconstriction)
– Lysosomes (γ) granules: hydrolytic enzymes
– Thromboxane A2 (aggregation & vasoconstriction)
– Phospholipids (enhances coagulation)

Platelet Production:
– Produced from Megakaryocytes (large cells with lobed nucleus & polyploid with up to 32 copies of normal DNA) which themselves are produced from MEP (megakaryocyte erythroid progenitors) via thrombopoiesis (TPO)
– Mature megakaryocytes form long processes which break into 1000’s of platelets.
– Lungs are major source of platelet production (due to large vascular area)