Production of erythrocyte microparticles in a sub-hemolytic environment.

Microparticles are produced by various cells due to a number of different stimuli in the circulatory system. Shear stress has been shown to injure red blood cells resulting in hemolysis or non-reversible sub-hemolytic damage. We hypothesized that, in the sub-hemolytic shear range, there exist sufficient mechanical stimuli for red blood cells to respond with production of microparticles.

A Flow Induced Autoimmune Response and Accelerated Senescence of Red Blood Cells in Cardiovascular Devices.

Red blood cells (RBCs) passing through heart pumps, prosthetic heart valves and other cardiovascular devices undergo early senescence attributed to non-physiologic forces. We hypothesized that mechanical trauma accelerates aging by deformation of membrane proteins to cause binding of naturally occurring IgG. RBCs isolated from blood of healthy volunteers were exposed to high shear stress in a viscometer or microfluidics channel to mimic mechanical trauma and then incubated with autologous plasma.