A Study of the Mechanism of the FeCl3-Induced Aggregation of Human Erythrocytes

Abstract

Abstract—Aggregation of intact and ATP-depleted human erythrocytes, which was induced by FeCl₃ at a final concentration of 200 μM, was studied. The shape of erythrocytes and the stability of their cytoskeleton, the effect of shear flow on erythrocyte deformation, and the content of anionic sites in cell membranes were investigated. It is shown that the ATP depletion of erythrocytes led to a change in their shape: discocytes were transformed into echinocytes. This was accompanied by a decrease in the membrane cytoskeleton stability, disturbance in the deformation of erythrocytes, and reduction in the content of anionic sites in the membrane of ATP-depleted erythrocytes. Aggregation of such erythrocytes significantly decreased. A possible mechanism of FeCl₃-induced aggregation of human erythrocytes is discussed.