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Membrane deformability of metabolically depleted human red cells
Blood Cells
|January 1, 1981
Summary
Metabolic depletion reduces human red blood cell deformability, particularly in the presence of calcium ions. However, cells depleted with EGTA or treated with dinitrophenol maintained normal deformability, indicating calcium
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
- Hematology
Background:
- Red blood cell (RBC) membrane deformability is crucial for microcirculation.
- Metabolic depletion can alter RBC properties.
- Calcium ions (Ca2+) are known to affect cell membrane mechanics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the impact of metabolic depletion on human red blood cell deformability.
- To investigate the role of calcium ions in this process.
- To establish a simplified method for measuring RBC deformability.
Main Methods:
- Nuclepore aspiration technique utilizing 0.6 micrometer pores.
- Measurement of RBC deformability in fresh cells, metabolically depleted cells (with varying Ca2+ concentrations), and dinitrophenol-treated cells.
- Utilized double-sided Scotch tape for rapid cell-filter separation and scanning electron microscopy preparation.
Main Results:
- Metabolically depleted RBCs in the presence of 25 µM–2 mM Ca2+ showed reduced deformability by 11.3%–15.7% compared to fresh cells.
- RBCs depleted in the presence of 25 µM Ca2+ and 1 mM EGTA exhibited deformability comparable to fresh cells.
- Echinocytes induced by dinitrophenol treatment did not show altered deformability.
Conclusions:
- Calcium ions significantly impair human red blood cell deformability during metabolic depletion.
- EGTA effectively chelates calcium, preserving RBC deformability.
- The Nucleopore aspiration method provides a rapid and reliable assessment of RBC membrane mechanics.