Studying Mechanisms of Eryptosis

Para-tertiary butyl catechol induces eryptosis in vitro via oxidative stress and hemoglobin leakage in human erythrocytes

Exposure of human population to industrial chemicals is believed as a significant contributing factor to the outgrowth of occupational diseases especially in developing countries due to improper safety measures and sanitary conditions. Para-tertiary butylcatechol (PTBC) widely employed in petrochemical, thermofax and phototypesetting industries, induces melanocytotoxicity and contact dermatitis leading to occupational leukoderma/vitiligo. Few vitiligo patients were reported for oxidative stress-induced hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia, however its impact on blood components is still not clear. Erythrocytes are the major cell population in circulation and play a prominent role in various diseases. In this work, the effect of PTBC on human erythrocytes is evaluated in vitro. PTBC induces oxidative stress-mediated eryptosis (erythrocyte death) causing detrimental changes such as depleted antioxidant levels, altered surface morphology, hemoglobin denaturation and heinz body formation. These findings validate that PTBC could induce toxic effects on human erythrocytes. Exposure of humans to toxic chemicals constitutes an important issue in various industries; one such issue is the exposure of PTBC at work place resulting in a spectrum of dermal complications. Therefore, it is imperative to appraise the long-term toxicities in order to further delineate the mechanisms of resultant disorders associated with PTBC and to establish the therapeutic interventions.

Eryptosis: An Erythrocyte's Suicidal Type of Cell Death

Erythrocytes play an important role in oxygen and carbon dioxide transport. Although erythrocytes possess no nucleus or mitochondria, they fulfil several metabolic activities namely, the Embden-Meyerhof pathway, as well as the hexose monophosphate shunt. Metabolic processes within the erythrocyte contribute to the morphology/shape of the cell and important constituents are being kept in an active, reduced form. Erythrocytes undergo a form of suicidal cell death called eryptosis. Eryptosis results from a wide variety of contributors including hyperosmolarity, oxidative stress, and exposure to xenobiotics. Eryptosis occurs before the erythrocyte has had a chance to be naturally removed from the circulation after its 120-day lifespan and is characterised by the presence of membrane blebbing, cell shrinkage, and phosphatidylserine exposure that correspond to nucleated cell apoptotic characteristics. After eryptosis is triggered there is an increase in cytosolic calcium (Ca2+) ion levels. This increase causes activation of Ca2+-sensitive potassium (K+) channels which leads to a decrease in intracellular potassium chloride (KCl) and shrinkage of the erythrocyte. Ceramide, produced by sphingomyelinase from the cell membrane's sphingomyelin, contributes to the occurrence of eryptosis. Eryptosis ensures healthy erythrocyte quantity in circulation whereas excessive eryptosis may set an environment for the clinical presence of pathophysiological conditions including anaemia.

Stored red blood cells: a changing universe waiting for its map(s)

The availability of stored red blood cells (RBCs) for transfusion remains an important aspect of the treatment of polytrauma, acute anemia or major bleedings. RBCs are prepared by blood banks from whole blood donations and stored in the cold in additive solutions for typically six weeks. These far from physiological storage conditions result in the so-called red cell storage lesion that is of importance both to blood bankers and to clinical practitioners. Here we review the current state of knowledge about the red cell storage lesion from a proteomic perspective. In particular, we describe the current models accounting for RBC aging and response to lethal stresses, review the published proteomic studies carried out to uncover the molecular basis of the RBC storage lesion, and conclude by suggesting a few possible proteomic studies that would provide further knowledge of the molecular alterations carried by RBCs stored in the cold for six weeks.