Biomechanics and biorheology of red blood cells in sickle cell anemia

Xuejin Li; Ming Dao; George Lykotrafitis; George Em Karniadakis

doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2016.11.022

Biomechanics and biorheology of red blood cells in sickle cell anemia

J Biomech. 2017 Jan 4:50:34-41. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2016.11.022. Epub 2016 Nov 12.

Authors

Xuejin Li¹, Ming Dao², George Lykotrafitis³, George Em Karniadakis⁴

Affiliations

¹ Division of Applied Mathematics, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
³ Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
⁴ Division of Applied Mathematics, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

Abstract

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is an inherited blood disorder that causes painful crises due to vaso-occlusion of small blood vessels. The primary cause of the clinical phenotype of SCA is the intracellular polymerization of sickle hemoglobin resulting in sickling of red blood cells (RBCs) in deoxygenated conditions. In this review, we discuss the biomechanical and biorheological characteristics of sickle RBCs and sickle blood as well as their implications toward a better understanding of the pathophysiology and pathogenesis of SCA. Additionally, we highlight the adhesive heterogeneity of RBCs in SCA and their specific contribution to vaso-occlusive crisis.

Keywords: Adhesion; Biomechanics; Biorheology; Erythrocyte; Sickle cell disease.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Anemia, Sickle Cell / physiopathology*
Biomechanical Phenomena
Cell Adhesion
Erythrocytes / physiology*
Hemoglobins / physiology
Hemorheology
Humans

Substances

Hemoglobins

Grants and funding

U01 HL114476/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States