Plasma Proteins Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of hemopexin in the blood?

To enhance blood clotting

To transport oxygen to tissues

To bind free heme and prevent oxidative damage (correct)

To activate the complement system

What can low levels of ceruloplasmin indicate?

Increased levels of copper in the body

Bacterial infections

Acute inflammation

Wilson's disease, a genetic disorder (correct)

Which of the following is a role of ceruloplasmin in the immune response?

Markers for phagocytosis of dead cells (correct)

Degrading bacterial toxins

Transporting carbon dioxide

Facilitating blood coagulation

Which condition is NOT commonly associated with elevated CRP levels?

Chronic kidney disease Signup and view all the answers

What is high hemopexin binding associated with?

Cardiovascular disease risk Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about ceruloplasmin is true?

It acts as an acute-phase reactant Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the role of the complement system?

To enhance the immune response to infection Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of hemopexin helps protect tissues from damage?

Its high affinity to bind free heme Signup and view all the answers

What role does trichloroacetic acid (TCA) play in the process described?

It precipitates proteins by denaturing them. Signup and view all the answers

What additional reagent is introduced after digestion to interact with ammonium ions?

Boric acid Signup and view all the answers

Which step follows the precipitation of proteins before distillation?

Filtration or centrifugation Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of titrating the distillate with hydrochloric acid?

To quantify the amount of nitrogen in the sample Signup and view all the answers

What indicator is used to determine the endpoint during titration?

Color change Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the ammonium ions after the addition of trichloroacetic acid?

They aggregate with proteins. Signup and view all the answers

Which acid is used during the digestion process to convert organic nitrogen?

Sulfuric acid Signup and view all the answers

What intermediate compound is formed during distillation that is important for quantification?

Ammonium borate Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of immunoglobulins in the immune system?

Bind to pathogens and mark them for destruction Signup and view all the answers

Which immunoglobulin is most abundant in the blood and provides long-term immunity?

IgG Signup and view all the answers

What role do structural proteins play in the body?

They provide shape and structure to organs Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of collagen?

The most abundant structural protein in the body Signup and view all the answers

How do immunoglobulins enhance phagocytosis?

By coating pathogens and making them easier to recognize Signup and view all the answers

What property of elastin makes it essential for certain organs?

Allows tissues to stretch and return to their original shape Signup and view all the answers

Which immunoglobulin can activate the complement system?

IgG Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of the osmotic pressure generated by plasma proteins?

Facilitates nutrient delivery and waste removal between blood and tissues Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the hepatic duct?

To collect bile from the liver Signup and view all the answers

Which substance is primarily evaluated in the Phensulfonthalein test?

Phenolsulfonphthalein Signup and view all the answers

What does urine specific gravity measure?

The concentration of solutes in urine Signup and view all the answers

Which enzyme is commonly assessed alongside AST for liver function?

ALT Alanine Aminotransferase Signup and view all the answers

What condition may be indicated by elevated levels of AST?

Liver damage Signup and view all the answers

What does the creatinine clearance test primarily evaluate?

Kidney filtering ability Signup and view all the answers

Which component is NOT part of the creatinine clearance calculation?

Serum glucagon level Signup and view all the answers

How is the time for urine collection usually measured in the creatinine clearance test?

In minutes Signup and view all the answers

What happens to transferrin levels when iron stores are low?

Increases to enhance iron uptake. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of haptoglobin in hemolytic anemia?

It binds free hemoglobin to prevent kidney damage. Signup and view all the answers

What occurs to transferrin saturation in iron overload conditions?

It increases due to excess iron relative to transferrin. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does chronic inflammation have on transferrin levels?

Transferrin levels decrease as iron is sequestered. Signup and view all the answers

How does haptoglobin prevent kidney damage?

By binding free hemoglobin and preventing its filtration by kidneys. Signup and view all the answers

During pregnancy, what typically happens to transferrin levels?

Transferrin levels increase to meet elevated iron demands. Signup and view all the answers

How is the haptoglobin-hemoglobin complex cleared from circulation?

By macrophages in the liver and spleen. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of fibrinogen in the blood?

It forms fibrin clots to facilitate hemostasis. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Plasma Proteins

Ceruloplasmin
- Binds to phosphocholine on the surface of dead or dying cells and some bacteria, marking them for phagocytosis.
- Low levels are seen in Wilson’s disease, a genetic disorder where copper accumulates in organs like the liver, brain, and eyes.
- Elevated levels can occur in acute inflammation or pregnancy, as ceruloplasmin is an acute-phase reactant.
Hemopexin
- A plasma glycoprotein that binds to free heme, which is released during red blood cell destruction (hemolysis).
- Prevents heme-mediated oxidative damage and iron loss.
- Binds free heme with high affinity, protecting tissues from the toxic effects of free heme and iron.
C-reactive protein (CRP)
- Activates the complement system, enhancing the body's immune response to infection or injury.
- High CRP levels are indicative of acute inflammation and are commonly elevated in conditions such as bacterial infections, inflammatory diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis), and cardiovascular disease.
- Used as a marker to assess the risk of heart attacks and strokes due to its association with atherosclerosis and vascular inflammation.
Immunoglobulins (Ig)
- Produced by lymphocytes.
- Types: IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD, IgE
- Specialized glycoproteins in response to antigens (foreign substances like bacteria and viruses).
- Bind to pathogens, marking them for destruction by other immune cells.
- Some immunoglobulins (especially IgM and IgG) can activate the complement system, leading to lysis of pathogens.
- Enhance phagocytosis by coating pathogens, making them easier for phagocytes (like macrophages) to engulf and destroy.
- IgG is the most abundant antibody in the blood; provides long-term immunity and can cross the placenta.
Haptoglobin
- Levels are used to diagnose and monitor hemolytic anemia.
- In hemolytic anemia, haptoglobin levels decrease because it binds the free hemoglobin released from the ruptured red blood cells, depleting the haptoglobin available in the blood.
- Prevents kidney damage: Free hemoglobin is harmful to the kidneys; binding by haptoglobin prevents hemoglobin from filtering through the kidneys and causing damage.
- Cleared by the Reticuloendothelial System: The haptoglobin-hemoglobin complex is removed from circulation by macrophages, primarily in the liver and spleen, preventing free hemoglobin from persisting in the bloodstream.
- In hemolytic conditions, red blood cells are destroyed, releasing hemoglobin into the bloodstream. This increases the demand for haptoglobin, leading to low haptoglobin levels.
Transferrin
- A plasma protein that transports iron in the blood.
- When iron stores are low, transferrin levels increase to enhance iron uptake and transport.
- Iron Overload (Hemochromatosis): In iron overload conditions, transferrin saturation is high because there is an excess of iron relative to transferrin.
- Chronic Inflammation (Anemia of Chronic Disease): During inflammation, transferrin levels decrease, as iron is sequestered to reduce availability to pathogens. This results in low transferrin levels, even if total body iron is normal or elevated.
- Pregnancy: Transferrin levels tend to increase during pregnancy to meet the elevated iron demands of both the mother and developing fetus.
Fibrinogen
- A soluble plasma glycoprotein produced in the liver.
- Plays a central role in blood clotting (hemostasis) by converting into fibrin, an insoluble protein that forms the meshwork of a blood clot.

Liver Function Tests

Enzymes:
- AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase):
  - An enzyme involved in amino acid metabolism; found in the liver, heart, muscle, and kidneys.
  - Elevated levels may indicate liver damage, but can also arise from heart or muscle conditions. AST is often interpreted alongside ALT for liver function assessment.
ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase): - An enzyme primarily found in the liver, involved in amino acid metabolism. - Elevated levels are more specific to liver damage compared to AST. - Used to assess the severity of liver damage and monitor its progression.

Tubular Reabsorption Tests

Phensulfonthalein test:
- Used to evaluate the secretory ability of the renal tubules.
- Phenolsulfonphthalein is a dye that is filtered at the glomerulus and normally secreted by the renal tubules.
- The test measures how effectively the kidneys can secrete this dye.
Urine specific gravity
- Measures the concentration of solutes in the urine, reflecting the kidney's ability to concentrate or dilute urine relative to plasma.
- A measure of the concentrating ability of the renal tubules. ### Creatinine Clearance
Creatinine clearance is a test that measures how well the kidneys are filtering waste products from the blood.
The relationship between urine and serum creatinine:
- U = urine creatinine concentration (mg/dL)
- V = total urine volume collected (mL)
- S = serum creatinine concentration (mg/dL)
- T = time of collection (usually in minutes)

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Description

Explore the essential roles of plasma proteins such as ceruloplasmin, hemopexin, and C-reactive protein (CRP) in the human body. This quiz covers their functions, significance in diseases, and responses during inflammation. Test your understanding of these crucial components of blood.