Erythrocyte-endothelial cell adherence in sickle cell disorders
BD Smith and PL La Celle
Detachment of individual sickle erythrocytes from cultured endothelial cell
monolayers has been evaluated by a fluid-shearing technique in an effort to
quantitate adherence at shear forces that would be anticipated in the in
vivo circulation. Nonirreversibly sickled cells (non-ISC) were more
adherent at normal oxygen tensions than control cells. More than 1% non-ISC
remained attached to the monolayer at forces greater than physiologic shear
stresses in capillary and venous circulations, and many of the most avidly
attached cells, once separated, immediately reattached to adjacent
endothelial cells. These data suggest that hemoglobin S-containing
erythrocytes may have a higher frequency of adherence in vivo in regions of
low shear stress where prolonged erythrocyte-endothelial cell contact could
occur. Some of these cells detached by shear force would subsequently
reattach in in vivo conditions. Plasma-enhanced attachment frequency and
plasma from blood in a case of sickle crisis caused further increase. These
observations further support the concept that sickle erythrocyte-
endothelial cell interaction may be a significant factor in initiation of
vascular occlusive events in sickle cell disease.
Volume 68,
Issue 5,
pp. 1050-1054,
11/01/1986
Copyright © 1986 by The American Society of Hematology
