TITLE:
The Fusability of Erythrocytes as a Method for Evaluating the Instability of Their Membranes
AUTHORS:
Yury A. Sheremet’ev, Aleksandra N. Popovicheva, Methun M. Rogozin, Gregory Y. Levin
KEYWORDS:
Erythrocytes; Fusability; Membrane Instability; La3+
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Biophysics,
Vol.3 No.3,
July
12,
2013
ABSTRACT: A novel approach to the study of erythrocytes
instability based on assessment fusability of their plasma membrane is
presented. The fusability of erythrocytes normal blood, stored for 7 days at 4°C,
and type 2 patients with diabetes were studied. Human erythrocytes were fused
by incubation with La3+ at final concentrations from 50 to 200 μM.
Erythrocytes aggregates were incubated at 37°C for 120 min. The fusability
of erythrocytes was evaluated using a light microscope. It was
shown that La3+ induced extensive fusion of erythrocytes after 7
days of blood storage and erythrocytes of patients with diabetes. Incubation of
normal erythrocytes at 37°C for 120 min does not induce cell fusion.