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Premature red blood cells have decreased aggregation and enhanced aggregability

D Arbell1, B Orkin, B Bar-Oz

  • 1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hebrew University-Hadassah, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.

The Journal of Physiological Sciences : JPS
|April 15, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Premature infant red blood cells (pRBCs) show minimal aggregation due to plasma factors. However, pRBCs exhibit increased aggregate resistance to disaggregation when in a dextran solution, suggesting intrinsic cellular properties influence this.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Physiology
  • Hematology
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Preterm infants are vulnerable to ischemic damage, particularly in the brain, retina, and gastrointestinal tract.
  • Previous studies indicate plasma properties, not intrinsic red blood cell (RBC) properties, cause reduced RBC aggregation in neonates.
  • The strength of interaction within premature RBC aggregates and its dependence on medium composition remain under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of intrinsic cellular versus plasma factors in premature red blood cell (pRBC) aggregation.
  • To quantify the aggregate resistance to disaggregation by flow for pRBCs in different medium compositions.
  • To distinguish between RBC intrinsic-cellular and plasma factors affecting pRBC aggregation dynamics.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a cell flow property analyzer (CFA) for direct visualization and monitoring of RBC aggregation dynamics during flow.
  • Examined pRBCs from 9 premature infants in their native plasma and in a phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) buffer supplemented with dextran (500 kDa).
  • Assessed aggregate resistance to disaggregation by flow under varying medium conditions.

Main Results:

  • pRBCs suspended in native plasma exhibited minimal to no aggregation compared to normal adult RBCs.
  • When transferred to a dextran solution, pRBCs demonstrated enhanced resistance to disaggregation by flow.
  • These findings suggest that while plasma factors reduce aggregation, intrinsic cellular properties can enhance aggregate stability under specific conditions.

Conclusions:

  • Plasma composition significantly influences the reduced RBC aggregation observed in preterm infants.
  • Intrinsic cellular properties of pRBCs play a crucial role in determining the strength and stability of RBC aggregates.
  • Understanding these factors is vital for addressing ischemic damage risks in preterm neonates.

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