Transformation of membrane nanosurface of red blood cells under hemin action

Abstract

Hemin is the product of hemoglobin oxidation. Some diseases may lead to a formation of hemin. The accumulation of hemin causes destruction of red blood cells (RBC) membranes. In this study the process of development of topological defects of RBC membranes within the size range from nanoscale to microscale levels is shown. The formation of the grain-like structures in the membrane (“grains”) with typical sizes of 120–200 nm was experimentally shown. The process of formation of “grains” was dependent on the hemin concentration and incubation time. The possible mechanism of membrane nanostructure alterations is proposed. The kinetic equations of formation and transformation of small and medium topological defects were analyzed. This research can be used to study the cell intoxication and analyze the action of various agents on RBC membranes.

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

“…Second, denaturation of hemoglobin (Hb) can cause the damage. Accumulating evidence has shown that released hemin, one of the end product of Hb denaturation, is a potent catalyst of lipid peroxidation, which in turn causes hemolysis [27][28][29]. Many microscopy studies have shown that hemin can affect the conformation of the cell cytoskeleton, which in turn affects the cell structure [27,29,30].…”

Nanodefects of membranes cause destruction of packed red blood cells during long-term storage

“…To characterize the membrane topology of nanosurface the spatial Fourier analysis was used to decompose the image of the membrane surface into three constituents based on space periods of membrane patterns revealed by AFM. This methodological approach was proposed and described in detail in our previous studies [10,15] and also is used now the by other authors in study of membrane nanosurface [12].…”

“…We build profiles in defined sections and measured the spatial period (L) of the membranes nanosurfaces. Detailed the procedure of the study was presented earlier in [14,15]. Nanosurfaces of PRBC membranes and their profiles on days 2, 9, and 30 of storage are shown in Figs.…”

Disorders in the Morphology and Nanostructure of Erythrocyte Membranes after Long-term Storage of Erythrocyte Suspension: Atomic Force Microscopy Study

“…By day 30, the population of echinocytes decreased to 15±4%, while the level of spheroechinocytes reached 83±16%. These erythrocyte forms could emerge as a result of changes in the redox processes in the erythrocyte [5] and hemoglobin polymerization inside the cells [14]. Partial release of hemoglobin from the cells, erythro cyte "leakage", was observed on days 23-30 of storage (Fig.…”

“…It was virtually amply determined by the erythrocyte leakage (no burst erythrocytes or their shadow were observed in the solution). The most possible cause of leakage was membrane destructions a result of hemoglobin coagulation and polymerization in the cell [14]. Leakage started on days 16-23 of storage, when the level of lemon-shaped ovalocytes was the maximum ( Table 1).…”