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Published on: January 2, 2013
Characterization of a subpopulation of mouse red blood cells as preferential target for malarial invasion
1INSERM, Research Unit 313, Faculty of Medicine, Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
Abstract:
Cell electrophoresis was used to study a distinct subpopulation of murine red blood cells (RBC). These RBC are normally found in the spleen and bone marrow. They appear in the peripheral blood when mice are mildly bled or sucked by mosquitos. These cells have been characterized as having larger size, light density, lower electrophoretic mobility, and being more resistant to lysis with unsaturated fatty acids and in glycerol-containing medium than mature erythrocytes. All their features suggest that their differentiation status represents an intermediate stage between reticulocytes and adult RBC. In vitro Plasmodium invasion tests showed their increased sensitivity to invasion by the parasites. The extent of their spreading in the blood was found to be strain-dependent, being more pronounced in C57B1/6 mice, highly susceptible to developing cerebral malaria after infection with Plasmodium berghei, as compared to Balb/c, a nonsusceptible strain of mice.
Insights
A distinct red blood cell (RBC) subpopulation, intermediate between reticulocytes and mature cells, shows increased Plasmodium parasite invasion. Their presence in peripheral blood is strain-dependent in mice.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Parasitology
- Immunology
Background:
- Murine red blood cells (RBCs) exhibit distinct subpopulations.
- A specific RBC subpopulation, normally in spleen and bone marrow, appears in peripheral blood under stress conditions like mild bleeding or mosquito bites.
- These cells possess unique characteristics differentiating them from mature erythrocytes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize a distinct subpopulation of murine RBCs.
- To investigate the differentiation status of these RBCs.
- To determine the susceptibility of this RBC subpopulation to Plasmodium parasite invasion.
Main Methods:
- Cell electrophoresis was employed to study RBC subpopulations.
- Physicochemical properties (size, density, electrophoretic mobility, lysis resistance) were analyzed.
- In vitro Plasmodium invasion assays were conducted.
Main Results:
- The studied RBCs are larger, less dense, have lower electrophoretic mobility, and are more resistant to lysis than mature RBCs.
- Their properties suggest an intermediate differentiation stage between reticulocytes and adult RBCs.
- These cells demonstrated increased susceptibility to Plasmodium parasite invasion in vitro.
- The prevalence of these cells in peripheral blood varied by mouse strain, being higher in C57B1/6 mice compared to Balb/c mice.
Conclusions:
- The identified RBC subpopulation represents an intermediate differentiation stage.
- This intermediate RBC population is more vulnerable to Plasmodium infection.
- Mouse strain genetics influence the extent of this RBC subpopulation's appearance in peripheral blood and susceptibility to malaria.
