Flow Cytofluorometric Analysis of Molecular Mechanisms of Premature Red Blood Cell Death.

ABSTRACT

This chapter describes, in detail, the operational principles and experimental design to analyze the premature death of human red blood cells (RBCs; erythrocytes). Necrosis (i.e., hemolysis), eryptosis, and necroptosis are the three types of cell death thus far known to exist in RBCs, and distinctive markers of each are well established. Here, methods based on flow cytometry are presented in an easily reproducible form. Moreover, manipulation of incubation medium to promote or inhibit certain physiological phenomena, along with a step-by-step approach to examine membrane scrambling, cell volume, surface complexity, calcium activity, oxidative stress, and signal transduction pathways are also discussed.