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  • Marginated aberrant red blood cells induce pathologic vascular stress fluctuations in a computational model of hematologic disorders
Title: Marginated aberrant red blood cells induce pathologic vascular stress fluctuations in a computational model of hematologic disorders
Red blood cell (RBC) disorders such as sickle cell disease affect billions worldwide. While much attention focuses on altered properties of aberrant RBCs and corresponding hemodynamic changes, RBC disorders are also associated with vascular dysfunction, whose origin remains unclear and which provoke severe consequences including stroke. Little research has explored whether biophysical alterations of RBCs affect vascular function. We use a detailed computational model of blood that enables characterization of cell distributions and vascular stresses in blood disorders and compare simulation results with experimental observations. Aberrant RBCs, with their smaller size and higher stiffness, concentrate near vessel walls (marginate) because of contrasts in physical properties relative to normal cells. In a curved channel exemplifying the geometric complexity of the microcirculation, these cells distribute heterogeneously, indicating the importance of geometry. Marginated cells generate large transient stress fluctuations on vessel walls, indicating a mechanism for the observed vascular inflammation.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2042221
PAR ID:
10478086
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
AAAS
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Science Advances
Volume:
9
Issue:
48
ISSN:
2375-2548
Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
blood disorders, aberrant red blood cells, endothelial inflammation.
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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