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09:15
Induction of Eryptosis in Red Blood Cells Using a Calcium Ionophore
Published on: January 21, 2020
Apigenin-induced suicidal erythrocyte death
Mohanad Zbidah1, Adrian Lupescu, Kashif Jilani
1Department of Physiology, University of Tuebingen, Gmelinstraße 5, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
|December 3, 2011
Summary
Apigenin, a natural flavone, triggers suicidal erythrocyte death (eryptosis) by increasing intracellular calcium, depleting ATP, and promoting ceramide formation. This process involves cell shrinkage and phosphatidylserine exposure, indicating a novel effect of apigenin on red blood cells.
Area of Science:
- * Hematology
- * Biochemistry
- * Cell Biology
Background:
- * Apigenin, a flavone found in fruits and vegetables, is known to induce apoptosis and inhibit cancerogenesis.
- * Eryptosis, or suicidal erythrocyte death, is characterized by cell shrinkage and phosphatidylserine exposure, and can be triggered by increased cytosolic calcium, ceramide formation, and ATP depletion.
- * The study investigates the potential of apigenin to induce eryptosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To explore the effects of apigenin on eryptosis in erythrocytes.
- * To determine if apigenin influences key eryptosis triggers such as intracellular calcium levels, ceramide formation, and ATP concentration.
Main Methods:
- * Erythrocyte apoptosis was assessed by measuring intracellular calcium activity using Fluo3-fluorescence.
- * Cell volume was determined by forward scatter, and phosphatidylserine exposure was quantified using annexin V binding.
- * Hemolysis was measured by hemoglobin release, ceramide formation was detected using antibodies, and cytosolic ATP levels were quantified via luciferin-luciferase assay.
Main Results:
- * Apigenin exposure (≥ 1 μM) for 48 hours significantly increased intracellular calcium and decreased cell volume.
- * Higher concentrations of apigenin (15 μM) led to increased ceramide formation and decreased ATP concentration.
- * Apigenin (≥ 5 μM) significantly increased phosphatidylserine exposure, an effect blunted by calcium removal, while hemolysis remained unaffected.
Conclusions:
- * Apigenin stimulates calcium entry, ceramide formation, and ATP depletion in erythrocytes.
- * These effects collectively trigger suicidal erythrocyte death (eryptosis), characterized by cell shrinkage and phosphatidylserine exposure.
- * Apigenin exhibits novel effects on erythrocytes, inducing eryptosis through specific biochemical pathways.
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