Heterogeneity of Red Blood Cells: Causes and Consequences
Mean values of hematological parameters are currently used in the clinical laboratory settings to characterize red blood cell properties. Those include red blood cell indices, osmotic fragility test, eosin 5-maleimide (EMA) test, and deformability assessment using ektacytometry to name a few. Diagno...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2020.00392/full |
| _version_ | 1818850413951057920 |
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| author | Anna Bogdanova Lars Kaestner Lars Kaestner Greta Simionato Greta Simionato Amittha Wickrema Asya Makhro |
| author_facet | Anna Bogdanova Lars Kaestner Lars Kaestner Greta Simionato Greta Simionato Amittha Wickrema Asya Makhro |
| author_sort | Anna Bogdanova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mean values of hematological parameters are currently used in the clinical laboratory settings to characterize red blood cell properties. Those include red blood cell indices, osmotic fragility test, eosin 5-maleimide (EMA) test, and deformability assessment using ektacytometry to name a few. Diagnosis of hereditary red blood cell disorders is complemented by identification of mutations in distinct genes that are recognized “molecular causes of disease.” The power of these measurements is clinically well-established. However, the evidence is growing that the available information is not enough to understand the determinants of severity of diseases and heterogeneity in manifestation of pathologies such as hereditary hemolytic anemias. This review focuses on an alternative approach to assess red blood cell properties based on heterogeneity of red blood cells and characterization of fractions of cells with similar properties such as density, hydration, membrane loss, redox state, Ca2+ levels, and morphology. Methodological approaches to detect variance of red blood cell properties will be presented. Causes of red blood cell heterogeneity include cell age, environmental stress as well as shear and metabolic stress, and multiple other factors. Heterogeneity of red blood cell properties is also promoted by pathological conditions that are not limited to the red blood cells disorders, but inflammatory state, metabolic diseases and cancer. Therapeutic interventions such as splenectomy and transfusion as well as drug administration also impact the variance in red blood cell properties. Based on the overview of the studies in this area, the possible applications of heterogeneity in red blood cell properties as prognostic and diagnostic marker commenting on the power and selectivity of such markers are discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T06:48:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0ddb06ae78a440b18dd3edee31edd5ad |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T06:48:45Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-0ddb06ae78a440b18dd3edee31edd5ad2022-12-21T20:31:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2020-05-011110.3389/fphys.2020.00392526790Heterogeneity of Red Blood Cells: Causes and ConsequencesAnna Bogdanova0Lars Kaestner1Lars Kaestner2Greta Simionato3Greta Simionato4Amittha Wickrema5Asya Makhro6Red Blood Cell Research Group, Vetsuisse Faculty, The Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZHIP), Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandExperimental Physics, Dynamics of Fluids, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, GermanyTheoretical Medicine and Biosciences, Medical Faculty, Saarland University, Homburg, GermanyExperimental Physics, Dynamics of Fluids, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, GermanyInstitute for Clinical and Experimental Surgery, Saarland University, Homburg, GermanySection of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United StatesRed Blood Cell Research Group, Vetsuisse Faculty, The Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZHIP), Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandMean values of hematological parameters are currently used in the clinical laboratory settings to characterize red blood cell properties. Those include red blood cell indices, osmotic fragility test, eosin 5-maleimide (EMA) test, and deformability assessment using ektacytometry to name a few. Diagnosis of hereditary red blood cell disorders is complemented by identification of mutations in distinct genes that are recognized “molecular causes of disease.” The power of these measurements is clinically well-established. However, the evidence is growing that the available information is not enough to understand the determinants of severity of diseases and heterogeneity in manifestation of pathologies such as hereditary hemolytic anemias. This review focuses on an alternative approach to assess red blood cell properties based on heterogeneity of red blood cells and characterization of fractions of cells with similar properties such as density, hydration, membrane loss, redox state, Ca2+ levels, and morphology. Methodological approaches to detect variance of red blood cell properties will be presented. Causes of red blood cell heterogeneity include cell age, environmental stress as well as shear and metabolic stress, and multiple other factors. Heterogeneity of red blood cell properties is also promoted by pathological conditions that are not limited to the red blood cells disorders, but inflammatory state, metabolic diseases and cancer. Therapeutic interventions such as splenectomy and transfusion as well as drug administration also impact the variance in red blood cell properties. Based on the overview of the studies in this area, the possible applications of heterogeneity in red blood cell properties as prognostic and diagnostic marker commenting on the power and selectivity of such markers are discussed.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2020.00392/fullred blood cellsheterogeneitymorphologyerythroid precursor cellsage |
| spellingShingle | Anna Bogdanova Lars Kaestner Lars Kaestner Greta Simionato Greta Simionato Amittha Wickrema Asya Makhro Heterogeneity of Red Blood Cells: Causes and Consequences Frontiers in Physiology red blood cells heterogeneity morphology erythroid precursor cells age |
| title | Heterogeneity of Red Blood Cells: Causes and Consequences |
| title_full | Heterogeneity of Red Blood Cells: Causes and Consequences |
| title_fullStr | Heterogeneity of Red Blood Cells: Causes and Consequences |
| title_full_unstemmed | Heterogeneity of Red Blood Cells: Causes and Consequences |
| title_short | Heterogeneity of Red Blood Cells: Causes and Consequences |
| title_sort | heterogeneity of red blood cells causes and consequences |
| topic | red blood cells heterogeneity morphology erythroid precursor cells age |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2020.00392/full |
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