Studies have found synergistic effects of sickle cell adhesion and aggregation

To achieve this goal, the researchers developed a special hypoxic microfluidic platform to test blood samples from eight SCD patients, which can induce sickle-like and non-sickle RBCs in vitro. In addition, the researchers performed detailed molecular-level computer simulations of cell adhesion and biorheology through dissipative particle dynamics to complement the experimental results of the above platforms.

Using image analysis techniques, the researchers staged the maturation of sickle-shaped RBCs under hypoxic conditions (spheroidal reticulocytes in the blood circulation, SRs - mature sickle cells, SMEs - irreversible sickle cells, ISCs) The adhesion sensitivity was analyzed.

The researchers found that hypoxia significantly enhanced the adhesion of braided RBS; HbS polymerization enhanced the adhesion of sickle cells in the SRs and SMEs stages, but had no effect on the cells in the ISCs stage; SRs showed unique adhesion kinetics from the cells. Surface-grown HbS fiber projection produces multiple adhesion sites; polymerization stimulates adhesion and vice versa, thus facilitating bidirectional coupling of the two processes.

These findings have brought new insights into the possible mechanisms that lead to the vascular occlusion crisis. These results also clarify the underlying process of occlusion, which may involve circulating reticulocytes, which are more abundant in hemolytic anemia due to the formation of powerful compensatory red blood cells.