Erythrocytes enhance oxygen-carrying capacity through self-regulation
Once considered passive carriers of oxygen, erythrocytes are now understood to play active roles in regulating oxygen homeostasis and redox balance. This review examines the molecular mechanisms through which red blood cells adapt to hypoxic conditions, including nitric oxide (NO)-driven changes in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1592176/full |
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| author | Ying Xu Zhangjie Yu Hanxuan Liu Xiaohan Bian Weiliang Tang |
| author_facet | Ying Xu Zhangjie Yu Hanxuan Liu Xiaohan Bian Weiliang Tang |
| author_sort | Ying Xu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Once considered passive carriers of oxygen, erythrocytes are now understood to play active roles in regulating oxygen homeostasis and redox balance. This review examines the molecular mechanisms through which red blood cells adapt to hypoxic conditions, including nitric oxide (NO)-driven changes in membrane properties, βCys93-dependent S-nitrosylation, adenosine-induced activation of glycolysis, and the development of hypoxic memory via eENT1 degradation. Enzymes such as RBC eNOS, CYB5R3, and G6PD are essential for maintaining NO availability and redox balance by controlling redox state and NADPH synthesis. In addition to their role in gas transport, erythrocytes contribute to intercellular communication, retain organelle remnants under pathological conditions, and are being explored as platforms for drug delivery. Progress in nanotechnology and gene editing has expanded their clinical applications. These findings present erythrocytes as adaptable, multifunctional cells that connect cellular metabolism, vascular biology, and translational research. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-227a63c93fe6414d8d4f2432c94a8dbc |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-227a63c93fe6414d8d4f2432c94a8dbc2025-08-20T01:51:44ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2025-05-011610.3389/fphys.2025.15921761592176Erythrocytes enhance oxygen-carrying capacity through self-regulationYing Xu0Zhangjie Yu1Hanxuan Liu2Xiaohan Bian3Weiliang Tang4School of Medicine, ShaoXing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, Shaoxing People's Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, Shaoxing People's Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, ChinaSchool of Medicine, ShaoXing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, ChinaSchool of Medicine, ShaoXing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, ChinaOnce considered passive carriers of oxygen, erythrocytes are now understood to play active roles in regulating oxygen homeostasis and redox balance. This review examines the molecular mechanisms through which red blood cells adapt to hypoxic conditions, including nitric oxide (NO)-driven changes in membrane properties, βCys93-dependent S-nitrosylation, adenosine-induced activation of glycolysis, and the development of hypoxic memory via eENT1 degradation. Enzymes such as RBC eNOS, CYB5R3, and G6PD are essential for maintaining NO availability and redox balance by controlling redox state and NADPH synthesis. In addition to their role in gas transport, erythrocytes contribute to intercellular communication, retain organelle remnants under pathological conditions, and are being explored as platforms for drug delivery. Progress in nanotechnology and gene editing has expanded their clinical applications. These findings present erythrocytes as adaptable, multifunctional cells that connect cellular metabolism, vascular biology, and translational research.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1592176/fullerythrocyteshypoxianitric oxideadenosineβCys93drug delivery systems |
| spellingShingle | Ying Xu Zhangjie Yu Hanxuan Liu Xiaohan Bian Weiliang Tang Erythrocytes enhance oxygen-carrying capacity through self-regulation Frontiers in Physiology erythrocytes hypoxia nitric oxide adenosine βCys93 drug delivery systems |
| title | Erythrocytes enhance oxygen-carrying capacity through self-regulation |
| title_full | Erythrocytes enhance oxygen-carrying capacity through self-regulation |
| title_fullStr | Erythrocytes enhance oxygen-carrying capacity through self-regulation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Erythrocytes enhance oxygen-carrying capacity through self-regulation |
| title_short | Erythrocytes enhance oxygen-carrying capacity through self-regulation |
| title_sort | erythrocytes enhance oxygen carrying capacity through self regulation |
| topic | erythrocytes hypoxia nitric oxide adenosine βCys93 drug delivery systems |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1592176/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yingxu erythrocytesenhanceoxygencarryingcapacitythroughselfregulation AT zhangjieyu erythrocytesenhanceoxygencarryingcapacitythroughselfregulation AT hanxuanliu erythrocytesenhanceoxygencarryingcapacitythroughselfregulation AT xiaohanbian erythrocytesenhanceoxygencarryingcapacitythroughselfregulation AT weiliangtang erythrocytesenhanceoxygencarryingcapacitythroughselfregulation |