Quantifying the unique mechanical properties of irreversibly sickled cells in sickle cell disease

Abstract: We developed a platform to measure the oxygen-dependent mechanical properties and oxygen saturation of individual irreversibly sickled cells (ISCs). We identified and measured ISCs from a cohort of 10 individuals with sickle cell disease. ISCs were found to have an average shear surface mo...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Dillon C. Williams, John M. Higgins, David K. Wood
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Blood Vessels, Thrombosis & Hemostasis
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950327225000348
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Summary:Abstract: We developed a platform to measure the oxygen-dependent mechanical properties and oxygen saturation of individual irreversibly sickled cells (ISCs). We identified and measured ISCs from a cohort of 10 individuals with sickle cell disease. ISCs were found to have an average shear surface modulus 20 times that of nonsickled cells and a sixth that of red blood cells (RBCs) with detectable hemoglobin polymer. We found that the number of ISCs was significantly reduced at 53 mm Hg oxygen compared with ≥91 mm Hg oxygen, suggesting that these RBCs can still form polymer under hypoxia. We also found that the fraction of ISCs present in a blood sample had a negative correlation with donor fetal hemoglobin (HbF) fraction, suggesting that HbF could play a role in mitigating occurrence of ISCs.
ISSN:2950-3272