Hormones, metabolism and body composition as major determinants of blood rheology: potential pathophysiological meaning

Abstract

The rheological properties of plasma and blood cells are markedly influenced by the surrounding milieu: physicochemical factors, metabolism and hormones. Acid/base status, osmolality, lipid status and plasma protein pattern are well known to exert a major influence. The oxidative stress induced by increased free radicals production decreases red cell deformability. Among circulating substances, the divalent cations magnesium and zinc improve red cell deformability probably via calcium antagonistic effects. Some metabolites like lactate or ketone bodies decrease red cell deformability, although the former has apparently the opposite effect in highly trained individuals. Endothelium-derived factors such as nitric oxide (NO) and several arachidonic acid derivatives modulate both RBC and white cell mechanics. Endothelium regulates also blood rheology via the release of PAI-1 which governs plasma fibrinogen levels. However, endothelium is not the only organ involved in the regulation of blood rheology: the kidney (by releasing erythropoietin which is a major "viscoregulatory" factor), the endocrine pancreas (via the action of insulin and glucagon on red cells), the adrenal gland (norepinephrine) and the endocrine heart (atrial natriuretic peptide) are also likely to exert important effects. Recently, increasing evidence is accumulating for a role of two other endocrine tissues in the regulation of blood rheology: the adipose tissue (free fatty acids, PAI-1, IL-6, leptin) and the pituitary gland (growth hormone-somatomedin axis, including the somatomedin carrier protein IGFBP1). These organs provide a link between body composition and hemorheology, since GH and somatomedins are major regulators of the body content in fat and water while the endocrine activity of fat mass is apparently proportional to its size. These mechanisms explain to some extent why many situations, either physiological (diet, exercise) or pathological (diabetes, uremia) are associated with marked changes in blood rheology that may in turn modify micro and macrocirculatory hemodynamics and the distribution of O(2) and fuels to tissues.