General Pathology Practice Questions

Q: Which of the following is a useful marker to detect autophagy in cells?

LC3. **Explanation:** **Autophagy** is a process of "self-eating" where cells sequester cytoplasmic organelles and proteins into double-membrane vesicles called **autophagosomes**, which then fuse with lysosomes for degradation [1]. **Why LC3 is the correct answer:** **LC3 (Microtubule-associated protein 1 Light Chain 3)** is the most widely used marker for autophagy. During the initiation of autophagy, the cytosolic form (LC3-I) is conjugated with phosphatidylethanolamine to form **LC3-II**. This lipidated form (LC3-II) specifically binds to the autophagosomal membrane. Therefore, the presence and accumulation of LC3-II (detected via western blot or immunofluorescence as "puncta") serve as a definitive marker for the formation of autophagosomes. **Why the other options are incorrect:** * **BAK and BAX (Options A & B):** These are **pro-apoptotic** members of the Bcl-2 family. They act as "molecular sensors" that form pores in the outer mitochondrial membrane, leading to the release of Cytochrome C and the initiation of the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. * **BID (Option D):** This is a "BH3-only" pro-apoptotic protein. It acts as a link between the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways; when cleaved by Caspase-8 into **t-BID**, it activates BAX/BAK. **High-Yield NEET-PG Pearls:** * **Atg genes:** Autophagy-related genes (Atg) regulate the various stages of this process [1]. * **p62 (Sequestosome 1):** Another marker for autophagy; it binds to cargo and LC3. Unlike LC3, p62 levels **decrease** when autophagy is complete (as it is degraded). * **Clinical Link:** Autophagy is implicated in neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s), cancer (both as a suppressor and a survival mechanism), and defense against intracellular pathogens (Mycobacteria). **References:** [1] Kumar V, Abbas AK, et al.. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 9th ed. Cellular Responses to Stress and Toxic Insults: Adaptation, Injury, and Death, pp. 71-73.

Question 1

Which of the following is a useful marker to detect autophagy in cells?

Accepted Answer

LC3

Answer

BAK

Answer

BAX

Answer

BID

Question 2

What is the most potent stimulator of naive T-cells?

Accepted Answer

Mature dendritic cells

Answer

Follicular dendritic cells

Answer

Macrophages

Answer

B-cells

Question 3

A gastric biopsy is performed on a patient with suspected graft-versus-host disease following bone marrow transplantation. The biopsy demonstrates isolated dying epithelial cells in crypts showing fragmented, hyperchromatic nuclei and small discrete blebs containing both cytoplasm and nuclear fragments. What process do these findings demonstrate?

Accepted Answer

Apoptosis

Answer

Caseous necrosis

Answer

Coagulative necrosis

Answer

Gangrenous necrosis

Question 4

Intracellular calcification begins in which of the following organelles?

Accepted Answer

Mitochondria

Answer

Golgi body

Answer

Lysosomes

Answer

Nucleus

Question 5

Which of the following statements best characterizes natural killer cells?

Accepted Answer

They participate in antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity reactions.

Answer

They are a subset of T cells.

Answer

They are involved in type III hypersensitivity reactions.

Answer

They require prior sensitization in order to kill virally infected cells or tumor cells.

Question 6

Amyloid is detected by staining with which of the following, except?

Accepted Answer

Alcain Blue

Answer

Methyl violet

Answer

Congo Red

Answer

Thioflavin

Question 7

Neutrophilic leucocytosis is seen in all conditions EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Hay fever

Answer

Sepsis

Answer

Myocardial infarction

Answer

Pyogenic osteomyelitis

Question 8

High risk of malignancy is seen in which of the following conditions?

Accepted Answer

Complex hyperplasia with atypia

Answer

Simple hyperplasia with atypia

Answer

Simple hyperplasia without atypia

Answer

Complex hyperplasia without atypia

Question 9

Which vitamin deficiency is implicated in the metaplasia of respiratory epithelium?

Accepted Answer

Vitamin A

Answer

Vitamin C

Answer

Vitamin B

Answer

Vitamin E

Question 10

Which of the following diseases is caused by an inflammatory reaction involving neutrophils?

Accepted Answer

Acute respiratory distress syndrome

Answer

Septic shock

Answer

Asthma

Answer

Arthritis

General Pathology — MCQs

General Pathology — MCQs

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