Article

Quantifying the rheological and hemodynamic characteristics of sickle cell anemia.

Division of Applied Mathematics, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
Biophysical Journal (impact factor: 3.65). 01/2012; 102(2):185-94. DOI:10.1016/j.bpj.2011.12.006 pp.185-94
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Sickle erythrocytes exhibit abnormal morphology and membrane mechanics under deoxygenated conditions due to the polymerization of hemoglobin S. We employed dissipative particle dynamics to extend a validated multiscale model of red blood cells (RBCs) to represent different sickle cell morphologies based on a simulated annealing procedure and experimental observations. We quantified cell distortion using asphericity and elliptical shape factors, and the results were consistent with a medical image analysis. We then studied the rheology and dynamics of sickle RBC suspensions under constant shear and in a tube. In shear flow, the transition from shear-thinning to shear-independent flow revealed a profound effect of cell membrane stiffening during deoxygenation, with granular RBC shapes leading to the greatest viscosity. In tube flow, the increase of flow resistance by granular RBCs was also greater than the resistance of blood flow with sickle-shape RBCs. However, no occlusion was observed in a straight tube under any conditions unless an adhesive dynamics model was explicitly incorporated into simulations that partially trapped sickle RBCs, which led to full occlusion in some cases.

0 0
 · 
0 Bookmarks
 · 
25 Views
  • Article: In vivo studies of sickle red blood cells.
    Dhananjay K Kaul, Mary E Fabry
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: The defining clinical feature of sickle cell anemia is periodic occurrence of painful vasoocclusive crisis. Factors that promote trapping and sickling of red cells in the microcirculation are likely to trigger vasoocclusion. The marked red cell heterogeneity in sickle blood and abnormal adhesion of sickle red cells to vascular endothelium would be major disruptive influences. Using ex vivo and in vivo models, the authors show how to dissect the relative contribution of heterogeneous sickle red cell classes to adhesive and obstructive events. These studies revealed that (1) both rheological abnormalities and adhesion of sickle red cells contribute to their abnormal hemodynamic behavior, (2) venules are the sites of sickle cell adhesion, and (3) sickle red cell deformability plays an important role in adhesive and obstructive events. Preferential adhesion of deformable sickle red cells in postcapillary venules followed by selective trapping of dense sickle red cells could result in vasoocclusion. An updated version of this 2-step model is presented. The multifactorial nature of sickle red cell adhesion needs to be considered in designing antiadhesive therapy in vivo.
    Microcirculation 04/2004; 11(2):153-65. · 2.57 Impact Factor
  • Source
    Article: Effects of hemoglobin concentration on deformability of individual sickle cells after deoxygenation.
    T Itoh, S Chien, S Usami
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: To assess the role of intracellular hemoglobin concentration in the deformability of sickle (HbSS) cells after deoxygenation, rheologic coefficients (static rigidity E and dynamic rigidity eta) of density-fractionated individual sickle erythrocytes (SS cells) were determined as a function of oxygen tension (pO2) using the micropipette technique in a newly developed experimental chamber. With stepwise deoxygenation, E and eta values showed no significant increase before morphologic sickling but rose sharply after sickling. In denser cells, continued deoxygenation led to steep rises of E and eta toward infinity, as the cell behaved as a solid. The pO2 levels at which rheologic and morphologic changes occurred for individual SS cells during deoxygenation varied directly with the cell density. The extent of recovery in E and eta during reoxygenation varied inversely with the cell density. These results provide direct evidence that the intracellular sickle hemoglobin (HbS) concentration of SS cells plays an important role in their rheologic heterogeneity in deoxygenation and reoxygenation. The elevations of eta during pO2 alteration were greater than those of E, especially for the denser cells, suggesting the importance of the elevated dynamic rigidity in initiating microcirculatory disturbances in sickle cell disease.
    Blood 05/1995; 85(8):2245-53. · 9.90 Impact Factor
  • Source
    Article: Partially oxygenated sickled cells: sickle-shaped red cells found in circulating blood of patients with sickle cell disease.
    T Asakura, J A Mattiello, K Obata, K Asakura, M P Reilly, N Tomassini, E Schwartz, K Ohene-Frempong
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: A previously uncharacterized type of sickled cell was found in venous blood of patients with sickle cell disease when blood was collected without exposure to air and fixed immediately with 1% glutaraldehyde solution equilibrated with 5% oxygen. These cells were either elongated, resembling irreversibly sickled cells (ISCs), or nonelongated, with a raisin-like shape. Both types assumed a normal discoidal shape upon full oxygenation. Since these cells exist only under partially oxygenated conditions, they are described as partially oxygenated sickled cells (POSCs). POSCs are morphologically distinct from partially deoxygenated sickled cells formed during deoxygenation by having rounded edges, while the latter have sharp edges. Transmission electron microscopy of POSCs revealed various amounts of misaligned Hb S polymers. Investigations in vitro demonstrated the formation of POSC-like cells by partial oxygenation of deoxygenated cells. Since POSCs contain intracellular fibers and sickle readily upon deoxygenation, they may have clinical and pathological significance.
    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 01/1995; 91(26):12589-93. · 9.68 Impact Factor
Data provided are for informational purposes only. Although carefully collected, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The impact factor represents a rough estimation of the journal's impact factor and does not reflect the actual current impact factor. Publisher conditions are provided by RoMEO. Differing provisions from the publisher's actual policy or licence agreement may be applicable.

Keywords

adhesive dynamics model
 
blood flow
 
cell distortion
 
different sickle cell morphologies
 
dissipative particle dynamics
 
elliptical shape factors
 
full occlusion
 
granular RBCs
 
hemoglobin S
 
medical image analysis
 
membrane mechanics
 
profound effect
 
red blood cells
 
Sickle erythrocytes exhibit abnormal morphology
 
sickle RBC suspensions
 
sickle-shape RBCs
 
simulated annealing procedure
 
trapped sickle RBCs
 
tube flow
 
validated multiscale model
 

Huan Lei