红细胞低温显微动态图象处理技术的建立和应用研究

本文报道了一种新型的低温生物学实验系统——红细胞低温显微动态图象处理系统,该系统将先进的计算机控温、图象处理技术和低温显微镜及摄录象机有机地联成一体。将此技术应用于红细胞的低温冰冻保存实验,具有能实时记录血细胞在冰冻过程中的实验参数(如时间、温度、降温速率等)与细胞图象,能对其图象处理及面积、体积测量,也能使细胞呈现伪彩色及测定红细胞冰冻损伤程度。该系统是一新的综合性的低温生物学研究仪器,对研究器官保存与移植具有明显意义。     

血液保存过程红细胞力学性质变化及其机制探讨

该文探讨了血液保存过程中随着保存时间的增加红细胞的细胞力学性质改变及其分子基础。应用原子力显微镜分别对不同保存时间的库存血红细胞力学性质进行检测,获得相应的力–距离曲线。对不同保存时间的红细胞硬度、变形性进行评估。对不同存储时间的红细胞脂质过氧化和膜蛋白巯基含量进行检测。对红细胞膜蛋白进行SDS-PAGE和免疫荧光染色,分析其膜骨架蛋白分布、含量和相互作用的变化,探讨力学性质变化分子机制。研究发现,血液保存过程中,保存3周后红细胞杨氏模量显著增加,细胞硬度增大,力学性质下降(1 d:0.54±0.27 k Pa;21 d:0.71±0.57 k Pa;42 d:1.33±0.70 k Pa)。此时,红细胞脂质过氧化程度增加,膜蛋白巯基含量下降,膜蛋白巯基交联聚簇化,形成高分子聚合物(high molecular weight,HMW)。研究证明,库存血存储时间过长会导致细胞力学性质下降,成为影响输血质量的重要因素。     

对地贫红细胞的显微激光散射和图象分析

应用显微准弹性激光散射(MQLS)技术与显微生物医学图象分析技术对地中海贫血红细胞及胞内血红蛋白动态特性进行了研究.在实验中,比较了正常人及地贫患者红细胞胞内血红蛋白聚集体的平均流体力学半径、平均平动扩散系数及红细胞膜的搏动频率等动态特性参数,以及细胞的截面积、规化形状因子、长径、短径、灰度等图象分析数据,发现地贫红细胞的血红蛋白聚合物平均流体力学半径远远大于正常人红细胞的,其大小变异亦较正常人大,且其膜搏动频率也较为缓慢,细胞的截面积也变小.这反映了地贫红细胞内有较大的蛋白质聚合物存在和红细胞变形能力差的特性.研究还表明,显微准弹性激光散射技术结合图象分析技术,可使测量的可比性和准确性大大提高,预期可广泛适用于各种活细胞动态特性的研究.     

基于多参数成像AFM的细胞及分子力学特性探测研究进展

原子力显微镜(AFM)的发明为微纳尺度下高分辨率探测天然状态生物样本的物理特性提供了强大工具,是对传统生化特性检测方法的有力补充.近年来,多参数成像模式AFM的出现使得人们不仅可以获取生物样本表面形貌特征,还能同时获取生物样本多种力学特性图(如杨氏模量、黏附力、形变等),为研究生物结构、力学特性及其生理功能之间的关联提供了新的技术手段.多参数成像AFM的生物医学应用研究为细胞/分子生理活动及相关疾病内在机理带来了大量新的认识.本文结合作者在AFM细胞探测方面的研究工作,介绍了多参数成像AFM工作原理,总结了多参数成像AFM在细胞及分子力学特性探测方面的研究进展,并对其存在的问题进行了讨论和展望.     

对-二甲氨基苯酚(DMAP)通透红细胞膜的动力学及热力学燐光法研究

本文报道用灵敏度高的燐光方法测定红细胞悬液中DMAP来研究红细胞膜的通透性.通过热力学及动力学计算,自由能、熵、焓、活化能等参数表明,DMAP自发地迅速穿透红细胞膜.计算得出红细胞膜电位为-57.88mV(20℃).     

F-actin慢生长端的盖帽蛋白:红细胞原肌球调节蛋白

红细胞原肌球调节蛋白(erythrocyte tropomodulin,E-Tmod)是从红细胞膜中提取的原肌球蛋白(tropomyosin,TM)的结合蛋白.其N-端有两个TM结合位点和一个TM依赖的actin结合位点,C-端有5个富含亮氨酸的重复序列和一个TM非依赖的actin结合位点.作为F-actin慢生长端唯一的盖帽蛋白,E-Tmod与TM的N-端结合并同时与actin结合,减慢由TM包被的F-actin的解聚速度.E-Tmod编码基因高度保守,在红细胞、心肌细胞等细胞中广泛表达.E-Tmod对于F-actin和细胞骨架的组织以及对细胞力学特性的保持具有至关重要的作用.     

大鼠红细胞作为SOD新型载体的细胞水平上的研究

用低渗透析 -等渗重封的方法制备了包埋超氧化物歧化酶 ( SOD)的大鼠载体红细胞 ,并从细胞水平上研究了透析条件对大鼠红细胞包埋 SOD的影响与载体红细胞的部分性质 .流式细胞计( FCM)研究表明 ,随透析时间延长和透析液渗透压降低 ,包埋 SOD的载体红细胞百分率升高 ,但载体细胞平均包埋 SOD的量无明显变化 ;SOD浓度对载体细胞百分率无明显影响 ,但与载体细胞平均包埋 SOD的量成线性关系 ;载体红细胞前向角散射 ( FLS)明显下降 ,但显微镜下观察到的载体细胞的大小无明显变化 ,当载体细胞反注射到大鼠体内后 FLS能迅速恢复 ;载体红细胞密度下降 ,其原因是低渗透析时红细胞膨胀未能完全恢复 ;载体红细胞未暴露与自身 Ig G结合的抗原位点 .激光扫描共聚焦显微镜 ( LSCM)分析表明 ,SOD在细胞内呈从细胞中心到细胞膜浓度逐步下降的辐射分布特征 .     

细胞结构动力学——实时调控细胞力学的因素分析

机械力普遍存在于活细胞的生命活动中,而细胞内力学活动必须依赖骨架结构传递,这种独特的力学形式被称为细胞结构力学.单位时间内细胞结构力学变化受多因素调控,如外力、渗透压、动力分子、张力敏感性离子通道、胞内力学感受器及骨架组装等,构成了细胞结构动力学研究的重要内容.基于荧光共振能量转移(FRET)原理开发的荧光张力探针能整合到细胞骨架内,将细胞结构力学变化转化为光学信号,可能带来细胞力学研究的革命.随着细胞结构动力学研究内容的不断深入,特别是太空时代细胞力学稳态的打破,细胞结构动力学将在生命及医学研究领域显露出越来越重要的地位.     

结合微针及AFM的单细胞精准激励与力学特性同步测量

目的 细胞力学特性与细胞生理病理变化过程及机体健康状态密切相关,研究细胞力学特性对于揭示生命活动内在机制具有重要科学意义.原子力显微镜(AFM)的出现为单细胞研究提供了新的技术手段,它不仅可以在溶液环境下对单个活细胞的形貌结构进行高分辨率成像,还能够对细胞力学特性进行定量测量.基于AFM的单细胞力学特性研究在过去数十年...     

60Co辐射对网织红细胞微观流变学特性的影响

采用60Co大剂量全身均匀急性辐射的方法,造成一种辐射贫血的动物模型.以便在几天内连续研究60Co辐射对新生的网织红细胞及红细胞流变学特性的影响.采用一种在低粘切变流场中能将红细胞变形指数DI分解为取向指数(DI)or和小变形指数(DI)d的新型激光衍射法,对网织红细胞及红细胞的变形指数、取向指数、综合变形指数(IDI)等血液流变学特性参数进行测量,发现在60Co大剂量辐射后,新生的网织红细胞及红细胞流变学特性存在明显异常.将这种60Co辐射造成的贫血模型与文宗曜等提出的用抗体诱导的大量同步化的球形红细胞贫血模型相比较,后者更具有明显的优点.同时为研究辐射对血液流变特性的影响及正确地挑选红细胞衰老模型提供了理论与实验的基础.     

血液粘弹性测量的标准化及其实验研究

提出一种关于血液粘弹性测量的校正方案.一套关于平均切变率(或测头振动频率)、抗凝剂、红细胞压积和红细胞聚集等因素对粘弹性测量值影响的实验证实了这一方案的可用性.同时,实验结果表明,尽管红细胞压积的影响十分显著,仍然可以通过定义一个新的复数型的粘弹性参数L~(?)来消除这一影响.因此,该参数对建立血液粘弹性的人群正常值范围有实际意义,实验结果还显示、测量时用EDTA作抗凝剂为宜.     

Calcium dynamically alters erythrocyte mechanical response to shear

Red blood cells (RBC) are constantly exposed to varying mechanical forces while traversing the cardiovascular system. Upon exposure to mechanical stimuli (e.g., shear stress), calcium enters the cell and prompts potassium-efflux. Efflux of potassium is accompanied by a loss of intracellular fluid; thus, the volume of RBC decreases proportionately (i.e., ‘Gárdos effect’). The mechanical properties of the cell are subsequently impacted due to complex interactions between cytosolic viscosity (dependent on cell hydration), the surface-area-to-volume ratio, and other molecular processes. The dynamic effects of calcium on RBC mechanics are yet to be elucidated, although accumulating evidence suggests a vital role. The present study thus examined the effects of calcium on contemporary biomechanical properties of RBC in conjunction with high-precision geometrical analyses with exposure to shear. Mechanical stimulation of RBC was performed using a co-axial Couette shearing system to deform the cell membrane; intracellular signaling events were observed via fluorescent imaging. Calcium was introduced into RBC using ionophore A23187. Increased intracellular calcium significantly impaired RBC deformability; these impairments were mediated by a calcium-induced reduction of cell volume through the Gárdos channel. Extracellular calcium in the absence of the ionophore only had an effect under shear, not at stasis. Under low shear, the presence of extracellular calcium induced progressive lysis of a sub-population of RBC; all remaining RBC exhibited exceptional capacity to deform, implying preferential removal of potentially aged cells. Collectively, we provide evidence of the mechanism by which calcium acutely regulates RBC mechanical properties.     

Protection of erythrocytes from sub-hemolytic mechanical damage by nitric oxide mediated inhibition of potassium leakage

The effects of mechanical stress on red blood cell (RBC) deformability were evaluated by subjecting cells to a uniform fluid shear stress of 120 Pa for 15-120 seconds at 37 degrees C. This level of stress induced significant impairment of RBC deformability as assessed by ektacytometry, with the degree of impairment independent of extracellular calcium concentration. Inhibition of RBC nitric oxide (NO) synthesis by a competitive inhibitor of NO synthases (N-omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, L-NAME) had no effect on deformability after exposure to mechanical stress. The NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) prevented the deterioration of RBC deformability in a dose-dependent manner with 10(-4) M being the most effective concentration. A similar protective effect by the non-selective potassium channel blocker, tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA) suggests that the effect of NO might be mediated by the inhibition of potassium leakage from RBC. These results suggest that NO may prevent mechanical deterioration of RBC exposed to high shear stresses. While RBC are not exposed to such high levels of shear stresses for prolonged periods under normal circulatory conditions, comparable levels of mechanical stress can be encountered under certain situations (i.e., artificial organs, extracorporeal circulation) and may result in subhemolytic damage and hemorheological alterations.     

低浓度戊二醛对红细胞膜力学特性的影响

采用显微动态图像分析技术无扰、实时、在位地研究了低于0．005％浓度的戊二醛对年轻、老龄红细胞膜变形能力的作用．实验结果表明随着戊二醛浓度的增加,年轻、老龄红细胞膜的弯曲弹性模量明显变大,而老龄红细胞增加幅度更大;且随着戊二醛固定时间的延长,年轻、老龄红细胞膜变形能力的差距越来越大．说明作为免疫分析中常用固定剂的戊二醛对年轻、老龄红细胞细胞骨架的影响差异较大。研究结果可为适当选取在免疫分析测定中,以及以年轻红细胞作为药物载体时需采用的戊二醛浓度提供依据。     

Effects of nitric oxide on red blood cell deformability

In addition to its known action on vascular smooth muscle, nitric oxide (NO) has been suggested to have cardiovascular effects via regulation of red blood cell (RBC) deformability. The present study was designed to further explore this possibility. Human RBCs in autologous plasma were incubated for 1 h with NO synthase (NOS) inhibitors [N(omega)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) and S-methylisothiourea], NO donors [sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and diethylenetriamine (DETA)-NONOate], an NO precursor (l-arginine), soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitors (1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo-[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one and methylene blue), and a potassium channel blocker [triethylammonium (TEA)]. After incubation, RBC deformability at various shear stresses was determined by ektacytometry. Both NOS inhibitors significantly reduced RBC deformability above a threshold concentration, whereas the NO donors increased deformability at optimal concentrations. NO donors, as well as the NO precursor l-arginine and the potassium blocker TEA, were able to reverse the effects of NOS inhibitors. Guanylate cyclase inhibition reduced RBC deformation, with both SNP and DETA-NONOate able to reverse this effect. These results thus indicate the importance of NO as a determinant of RBC mechanical behavior and suggest its regulatory role for normal RBC deformability.     

Effect of lanthanides on red blood cell deformability and response to mechanical stress: role of lanthanide ionic radius

Prior studies exploring the effects of lanthanides (Ln) on red blood cells (RBC) have primarily focused on ion transport, cell fusion, and membrane protein structure. Our previous report [Biorheology 44 (2007), 361-373] dealt only with lanthanum (La) and cell rigidity; the present study extends these observations to other lanthanides (Nd, Sm, Eu, Dy, Er) and to RBC response to mechanical shear. Deformation-shear stress behavior of normal human RBC was measured at Ln concentrations up to 200 μM. In another series of experiments, RBC were exposed to mechanical stress (190 Pa, 300 s) at 50 μM Ln and deformation-stress data obtained prior to and after this stress. Data were fitted to a Lineweaver-Burke model to obtain the shear stress at one-half maximum deformation (SS1/2). Our results include: (1) lanthanides cause decreased cell deformability with the magnitude of the decrease dependent on concentration and shear stress; (2) this decrease of deformability is affected by Ln ionic radius such that La>Nd>Sm>Eu>Dy>Er and is reversible for cells in Ln-free media; (3) mechanical stress decreases deformability (i.e., increases SS1/2) such that compared to control, La and Sm reduce and Dy and Er enhance the mechanical stress effect; (4) the decrease of deformability consequent to mechanical stress scales inversely with Ln ionic radius. These results indicate a reciprocal relation between cell rigidity and sensitivity to mechanical stress that is mediated by Ln ionic radius. Additional studies are clearly warranted, particularly those that explore membrane-glycocalyx and intracellular mechanisms.     

LX-8000R and UriSed 2 fully automated urine analyzers comparison to manual microscopic examination

BackgroundUrinalysis has an important place in evaluating kidney and urinary tract infections. Automated urine analyzers enhance productivity and turnover in laboratories and economize time and labor required for analysis. In the present study, we evaluated and compared analytic and diagnostic performance of UriSed2 with LX-8000R, which is a novel image-based automated urine sediment analyzer.MethodsA total of 178 urine samples sent to our laboratory were evaluated by the two urine analyzers and standard manual microscopy. Precision and comparison studies were done in accordance with CLSI guidelines.ResultsSensitivity assessment revealed similar outcomes with both UriSed2 and LX-8000R devices for erythrocyte count (RBC), whereas UriSed2 device yielded higher outcomes for leukocyte count (WBC) and epithelial cells (EPI) than LX-8000R analyzer. Specificity of UriSed2 for WBC and RBC was higher than that of LX-8000R device. According to Gamma statistics, both urine analyzers showed perfect consistency for WBC, RBC and EPI cell counts. Manuel microscopy revealed statistically significant correlation between LX-8000R and UriSed2 in terms of WBC and RBC. Manual evaluation by Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated lower WBC and RBC values and higher EPI as compared to both UriSed2 and LX-8000R devices. As the result of Passing-Bablok regression analysis, both devices were found to be inconsistent with manual microscopy.ConclusionsWe think that evaluation of automated urine analyzers will be more meaningful when they are evaluated together with urine samples and patient clinical findings in addition to comparing with manual microscopy.     

Cellular determinants of low-shear blood viscosity

Low-shear viscometry is one of the methods commonly used to estimate the degree of red blood cell (RBC) aggregation in various bloods and RBC suspensions. However, it has been previously shown that alterations in RBC morphology and mechanical behavior can affect the low-shear apparent viscosity of RBC suspensions; RBC aggregation is also sensitive to these cellular factors. This study used heat treatment (48°C, 5 min), glutaraldehyde (0.005–0.02%) and hydrogen peroxide (1 mM) to modify cell geometry and deformability. Red blood cell aggregation was assessed via a Myrenne Aggregometer (“M” and “Ml” indexes), RBC suspension viscosity was measured using a Contraves LS-30 viscometer, and RBC shape response to fluid shear stresses (i.e., deformability) was determined by ektacytometry (LORCA system). Our results indicate that low-shear apparent viscosity and related indexes may not always reflect changes of RBC aggregation if cellular properties are altered: for situations where RBC aggregation has been only moderately affected, cellular mechanical factors may be the major determinant of low-shear viscosity. These findings thus imply that in situations which may be associated alterations of RBC geometry and/or deformability, low-shear viscometry should not be the sole measurement technique used to assess RBC aggregation.     

Effect of N‐ethylmaleimide,chymotrypsin, and H2O2 on the viscoelasticity of human erythrocytes: Experimental measurement and theoretical analysis

The physiological functions of erythrocytes depend critically on their morphology, deformability, and aggregation capability in response to external physical and chemical stimuli. The dynamic deformability can be described in terms of their viscoelasticity. We applied jumping optical tweezers to trap and stretch individual red blood cells (RBCs) to characterize its viscoelasticity in terms of the Young's modulus and viscosity by analyzing the experimental data of dynamic deformation using a 2‐parameter Kelvin solid model. The effects of three chemical agents (N ‐ethylmaleimide, Chymotrypsin, and Hydrogen peroxide) on RBC's mechanical properties were studied by comparing the Young's modulus and viscosity of RBCs with and without these chemical treatments. Although the effects of each of these chemicals on the molecular structures of RBC may not be exclusive, based on the dominant effect of each chemical, we attempted to dissect the main contributions of different constituents of the RBC membrane to its viscosity and elasticity. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies against human red blood group cells antigens by laser backscattering

A problem in immunohematology is to define the antibody quality which is related to its affinity expressed by the equilibrium constant. The activity of an antibody can be measured by the strength of its interaction, related to the adhesive energy exchanged during RBC agglutination which depends on the antigen-antibody liaison strength. To estimate this adhesive energy, two methods are used in this paper. Firstly, the dissociation behaviour of suspended RBC agglutinates was analysed by laser backscattering intensity (r) in a Couette flow. Backscattered intensity issued from shear-induced mechanical dissociation is recorded and submitted to a numerical process to obtain the energy parameter (ED). Secondly, a modification of this technique is proposed for measuring specific binding energy. Samples were exposed to increasing shear stress, and backscattered intensity was recorded. A constant increase of this intensity with raising shear stress was observed, pointed to a progressive dissociation of RBC agglutinates into smaller ones. Considering that complete dissociation of agglutinates is only approached asymptotically it is assumed that the final break-up of doublets (two-cell agglutinates) is produced at a critical shear stress (tauC) reflecting the work done to breaking-up the molecular bridges between both adjacent cells. This shear stress is defined by the extrapolation of the linear part of the curves [r-log tau] to the backscattered signal (r0) corresponding to the complete dispersion of RBCs. These approaches permit to define the specific surface adhesive energy (Gamma) by using the Derjaguin relation and to assess the functional characterization of specific immunoglobulins. In conclusion, two parameters characterizing monoclonal antibody agglutination properties, ED and Gamma, were estimated by laser backscattering methods, which could be very useful for antibodies quality control.