Author: Lars Kaestner

Publisher: Frontiers Media SA

Published: 2019-02-05

Total Pages: 238

ISBN-13: 2889457028

The eBook ‘The red cell life-cycle from erythropoiesis to clearance’ continues the discussion of questions like: What are the changes associated with red blood cell maturation, adulthood and senescence? What are the determinants of red blood cell life span and clearance? What are the mechanisms in control of red blood cell mass in healthy humans and patients with various forms of anaemia? Can red blood cells be 'trained' to provide the body with more oxygen during endurance exercises? What are the markers of circulating red blood cell senescence and in cells during storage and transfusion? And what can be learned from various species that developed advanced adaptations to maintain oxygen delivery under stress conditions such as exercising to the limit, diving or living in anaerobic aquatic habitats or at high altitude? Within the approximately 120 days (or 40 in a mouse, or 150-170 in a horse) life span of 'healthy' red blood cells, many cellular properties change leading to aged mixed cell populations in the circulation. Red blood cells seem to be genetically terminated by the time they become red blood cells and the contributions of this eBook increase the understanding of this process. There are surprisingly versatile remodeling processes happening during the red blood cell life span. Numerous disorders are associated with the premature onset of the 'ageing process' of red blood cells. Furthermore, in vitro ageing and/or modifications as well as the slowing down of the modifications is an important issue in transfusion medicine. Many of the molecular mechanisms behind such effects are elucidated in this eBook.