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Erythrocyte vesiculation: a self‐protective mechanism?
Author(s) -
Willekens Frans L. A.,
Werre Jan M.,
GroenenDöpp Yvonne A. M.,
RoerdinkholderStoelwinder Bregt,
De Pauw Ben,
Bosman Giel J. C. G. M.
Publication year - 2008
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.1365-2141.2008.07055.x
Subject(s) - glycophorin , vesicle , band 3 , phosphatidylserine , red blood cell , antigen , flow cytometry , chemistry , antibody , red cell , cell membrane , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , erythrocyte membrane , cell , biochemistry , membrane , immunology , phospholipid , medicine
Summary Previous studies demonstrated that 20% of haemoglobin is lost from circulating erythrocytes during their total lifespan by vesiculation. To study whether removal molecules other than membrane‐bound haemoglobin were present in erythrocyte‐derived vesicles, flow cytometry and immunoblot analysis were employed to examine the presence of phosphatidylserine (PS) and IgG, and senescent cell antigens respectively. It was demonstrated that 67% of glycophorin A‐positive vesicles exposed PS, and that half of these vesicles also contained IgG. Immunoblot analysis revealed the presence of a breakdown product of band 3 that reacted with antibodies directed against senescent erythrocyte antigen‐associated band 3 sequences. In contrast, only the oldest erythrocytes contained senescent cell antigens and IgG, and only 0·1% of erythrocytes, of all ages, exposed PS. It was concluded that vesiculation constitutes a mechanism for the removal of erythrocyte membrane patches containing removal molecules, thereby postponing the untimely elimination of otherwise healthy erythrocytes. Consequently, these same removal molecules mediate the rapid removal of erythrocyte‐derived vesicles from the circulation.