Data_Sheet_1_Red Blood Cells: Chasing Interactions.PDF

Human red blood cells (RBC) are highly differentiated cells that have lost all organelles and most intracellular machineries during their maturation process. RBC are fundamental for the nearly all basic physiologic dynamics and they are key cells in the body’s respiratory system by being responsible for the oxygen transport to all cells and tissues, and delivery of carbon dioxide to the lungs. With their flexible structure RBC are capable to deform in order to travel through all blood vessels including very small capillaries. Throughout their in average 120 days lifespan, human RBC travel in the bloodstream and come in contact with a broad range of different cell types. In fact, RBC are able to interact and communicate with endothelial cells (ECs), platelets, macrophages, and bacteria. Additionally, they are involved in the maintenance of thrombosis and hemostasis and play an important role in the immune response against pathogens. To clarify the mechanisms of interaction of RBC and these other cells both in health and disease as well as to highlight the role of important key players, we focused our interest on RBC membrane components such as ion channels, proteins, and phospholipids.

人类红细胞（Red Blood Cell, RBC）是高度特化的细胞，在成熟过程中丢失了全部细胞器及绝大多数细胞内功能结构。RBC是几乎所有基础生理动态过程的核心参与者，同时作为人体呼吸系统的关键细胞，负责向全身所有细胞与组织输送氧气，并将二氧化碳转运至肺部。凭借自身灵活的结构特性，RBC可发生形变以通过包括微小毛细血管在内的所有血管。人类RBC的平均寿命约为120天，在此期间它们在血液循环中循环流动，并与多种不同类型的细胞发生接触。事实上，RBC可与内皮细胞（Endothelial Cell, ECs）、血小板、巨噬细胞及细菌发生相互作用与信号交流。此外，RBC还参与血栓形成与止血过程的维持，并在抗病原体免疫应答中发挥重要作用。为阐明RBC与上述各类细胞在生理及病理状态下的相互作用机制，并明确其中关键调控因子的作用，本研究聚焦于RBC的膜组分，包括离子通道、蛋白质与磷脂。