Nanostructural Changes in the Cell Membrane of Gamma-Irradiated Red Blood Cells

Abstract

The effect of gamma radiation on the ultrastructure of the cell membranes of red blood cells has been probed using a powerful tool, namely, atomic force microscopy. We used mice erythrocytes as a model. Blood samples withdrawn from mice were gamma-irradiated using a 60 Co source unit with doses of 10,15,20,25 and 30 Gy. Structural changes appeared in the form of nanoscale potholes, depressions and alterations of the cell membrane roughness. The roughness of the cell membrane increased dramatically with increasing doses, although at 10 Gy, the cell membrane roughness was less than that of normal red blood cells (controls). Therefore, such modifications at the nano-scale level may affect the biophysical properties of membranes, resulting in impairment of their function.

Atomic force microscopy and Raman spectra profile of blood components associated with exposure to cigarette smoking

“…We observed an increase in the number of nano-vesicles of smokers <5 (1.73 AE 1.52), and smokers 5-9 (1.34 AE 1.30), but only smokers >10 (2.2 AE 1.65) were statistical different (p < 0.01) compared with nonsmokers (0.73 AE 0.78). The vesiculation phenomenon was previously reported in smokers by Pretorius E. et al, 20 while Acosta-Elias M. 49 and AlZahrani K. et al, 43 reported the formation of nano-vesicles provoked by gamma radiation, that induces similar conditions like oxidative stress than cigarette smoke.…”

“…41 The formation of nano-structures on surface RBC has been associated with oxidative processes and the reduction of antioxidant activity. 42,43 The smoke cigarette diminishes enzymes with antioxidant activity, and by itself, the smoke presents oxidant activity, 44 and there is evidence that smoking increases the ageing process inducing changes on the cells and impacting in the capability of RBC to deform. [45][46][47][48] We examined the number of nano-vesicles in the analysed membrane surface of smoker volunteers.…”

“…57 In this phenomenon, the generation oxidative stress leads to the formation of nano-structures. 42,43 Previous reports indicate that consumption of cigarette compromise the structure of RBC 20 becoming it more fragile. [58][59][60] As previous work reported, 25 the tobacco smoke presents the capability of inducing changes that increase the haemolysis of the RBC.…”

Risks of Using Sterilization by Gamma Radiation: The Other Side of the Coin

“…Morphological and functional changes, observed in irradiated products, are happening due to the adsorption of energy released during gamma radiation 7 . Several hypotheses attempted to explain the mechanism of gamma rays-induced cell injury 8 - 12 : increased permeability of cellular membrane 8 , dysfunction of enzymes 9 and generation of radiotoxins 10 . Regardless of the fact that these hypotheses are well documented, it is now widely accepted, based on the significant number of experimental proofs, that damage of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is mainly responsible for detrimental effects of gamma radiation 11 - 12 .…”

Plasma membrane integrity: implications for health and disease

“…Metabolically active tissues, such as kidney and liver, are particularly sensitive to this form of oxidative injury [ 55 , 56 ]. Alternatively, lipid peroxidation can occur following irradiation [ 57 , 58 ], exposure to extracellular ROS (e.g., cancer therapy) [ 59 ], and through interactions between intrinsically disordered proteins with the inner- and outer-leaflet of the plasma membrane [ 60 , 61 ]. Notably, there appears to be a positive feedback cycle whereby oxidized membrane can foster protein aggregation at the cell surface to further exacerbate injury [ 61 ].…”