Could you write the answer on a paper or word. Silicosis is a disease that affec

Question

Could you write the answer on a paper or word.

Silicosis is a disease that affects coal miners when they inhale silica particles, which are ingested by macrophages in the lungs. Ultimately, the particles are found in the lysosomes of fibroblasts and stimulate the cell to produce and secrete excess protein out of the cell, which reduces lung capacity and leads to death. Consider the process of endocytosis (which works like the endomembrane system in reverse) and answer each of the following questions. How does silica get into the macrophages? What type of coat do you expect on the vesicles? How will they be carried and recognize their target (the lysosome)? a. b. What do you expect happens to the silica (small particles of glass or sand) when the cell dies? Explain how this can lead to on-going symptoms of silicosis, even when the patient is no longer working in a coal mine

Explanation / Answer

Answer a.

Phagocytosis is a phenomenon by which particulate toxicities are removed from our body. Phagocytosis is performed aby the specialized cells known as macrophages. During silicosis, fine particles are inhaled which get settled down deep in the alveoli and thereby they cannot be removed through mucus. This is where macrophages come into action. Macrophages have receptors on their surface which can identify foreign particles like dead cells, pathogens or silica particle as in this case. These receptors bind to the silica particles and cell membrane of the macrophage engulf the silica particle. Complete engulfment leads to the entrapment of particle inside a vesicle known as Phagosome. This phagosome then fuses with the lysosome which releases enzymes responsible for the breakdown of ingested particles. However, silica particles are not affected by these enzymes and they remain unaffected, which is the major cause of complications associated with the silicosis. These particles will remain in the lungs of the patient and this is the reason why patients are not treated despite they no longer work in the coal mine.

Answer b.

When the cell dies, silica is again released which is again detected by the new macrophages and therefore the symptoms of silicosis will not be relieved even after patient stop working at the coal mines.   

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