The role of Ca2+-dependent biochemical changes in the ageing process in normal red cells and in the development of irreversibly sickled cells
Allan, D.; Raval, P.J.
Folia Haematologica 114(4): 499-503
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0323-4347 PMID: 2446988 Document Number: 293650
During the ageing process of normal red cells and in the formation of irreversibly sickled cells (ISCs) there is a progressive increase in the intracellular concentration of Ca2+. This is parallelled by the development of a variety of morphological and biochemical changes in older fractions of normal cells and in ISCs which are similar to those seen in normal cells exposed to Ca2+ ionophore. These changes include cell shrinkage, loss of membrane lipid and degradation of cytoskeletal proteins and polyphosphoinositides. In this paper we consider the ways in which the Ca2+-dependent biochemical changes may be related to the morphological alterations which are characteristic of ageing and irreversible sickling.