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Total red cell Ca2+ content and rheological determinants in a group of subjects with vascular atherosclerotic disease
G Caimi1, R Lo Presti, A Serra
1Istituto di Clinica Medica e Malattie Cardiovascolari, Università di Palermo, Italy.
Insights
Vascular atherosclerotic disease (VAD) alters red blood cell (RBC) microrheology, but not total calcium content. RBC calcium levels correlate with membrane polarization, not aggregation or fluidity in VAD patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Hematology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Vascular atherosclerotic disease (VAD) is a significant health concern.
- Red blood cell (RBC) rheology plays a crucial role in microcirculation.
- Altered RBC properties may contribute to VAD pathophysiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate total red blood cell calcium (Ca2+) content in VAD patients.
- To assess macro- and microrheological parameters in VAD.
- To explore relationships between RBC Ca2+ content, rheology, and membrane properties.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated total red cell Ca2+ content.
- Assessed macro- and microrheological determinants.
- Compared VAD subjects with healthy controls.
- Utilized fatty acid probes to measure membrane polarization.
Main Results:
- VAD subjects showed altered macro- and microrheological parameters compared to controls.
- No significant difference in total red cell Ca2+ content was observed between VAD and control groups.
- No correlation found between RBC Ca2+ content, blood cell volume (VBC), or mean erythrocyte aggregation (MEA) and membrane fluidity (Iex/Im ratio).
- A correlation was identified between RBC Ca2+ content and the degree of polarization using fatty acid probes.
Conclusions:
- RBC microrheological alterations are present in VAD.
- Total RBC Ca2+ content is not significantly different in VAD patients.
- RBC Ca2+ content correlates with membrane polarization, suggesting a potential role in VAD pathogenesis.
Abstract:
We evaluated the total red cell Ca2+ content and the macro- and microrheological determinants in a group of subjects with vascular atherosclerotic disease (VAD). From the results obtained it is evident that, compared to controls, the VAD group presents an alteration of the macro- and microrheological parameters. No difference is evident for the red cell Ca2+ content in normals and in VAD subjects. No relationship is present between total red cell Ca2+ content, VBC (volume blood cells), MEA (mean erythrocyte aggregation) and red cell membrane fluidity expressed as Iex/Im ratio. In contrast to the latter, are the correlation between the red cell Ca2+ content and the degree of polarization obtained with fatty acid probes.