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A detailed study of time‐dependent changes in human red blood cells: from reticulocyte maturation to erythrocyte senescence
Author(s) -
Gifford Sean C.,
Derganc Jure,
Shevkoplyas Sergey S.,
Yoshida Tatsuro,
Bitensky Mark W.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2006.06279.x
Subject(s) - reticulocyte , red blood cell , ageing , senescence , red cell , blood cell , cell , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , andrology , immunology , biochemistry , medicine , genetics , messenger rna , gene
Summary The use of microfabrication technology in the study of biological systems continues to grow rapidly in both prevalence and ascendancy. Customised microdevices that provide superior results than traditional macroscopic methods can be designed in order to investigate specific cell types and cellular processes. This study showed the benefit of this approach in precisely characterising the progressive losses of surface area and haemoglobin (Hb) content by the human red blood cell (RBC), from newborn reticulocyte to senescent erythrocyte. The high‐throughput, multiparametric measurements made on individual cells with a specialised microdevice enabled, for the first time, delineation and quantification of the losses that occur during the two stages of the human RBC lifespan. Data acquired on tens of thousands of red cells showed that nearly as much membrane area is lost during the 1–2 d of reticulocyte maturation ( c . 10–14%) as in the subsequent 4 months of erythrocyte ageing ( c . 16–17%). The total decrease in Hb over the red cell lifespan is also estimated ( c . 15%) and a model describing the complete time‐course of diminishing mean RBC area and Hb is proposed. The relationship between the losses of Hb and area, and their possible influence on red cell lifespan, are discussed.