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Comment
. 2008 May 15;111(10):4831-2.
doi: 10.1182/blood-2008-02-140947.

Hypoxic erythrocytes spark lung leukocyte adhesion

Affiliations
Comment

Hypoxic erythrocytes spark lung leukocyte adhesion

Guy A Zimmerman. Blood. .

Abstract

Erythrocytes are generally expected to passively transit microvascular beds, carrying oxygen but not delivering ROS. In contrast, Kiefmann and colleagues report in this issue of Blood that, in hypoxic lungs, erythrocytes release ROS, activate endothelium, and trigger leukocyte accumulation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict-of-interest disclosure: The author declares no competing financial interests. ■

Figures

None
In hypoxic rodent lungs, H2O2 is generated in RBCs by auto-oxidation of membrane-bound Hb and is exported to microvascular endothelial cells. This triggers increased cytosolic calcium, translocation of P-selectin to the EC plasma membrane, and leukocyte adhesion in venules and septal capillaries. Illustration by Diana Lim.

Comment on

  • Red blood cells induce hypoxic lung inflammation.
    Kiefmann R, Rifkind JM, Nagababu E, Bhattacharya J. Kiefmann R, et al. Blood. 2008 May 15;111(10):5205-14. doi: 10.1182/blood-2007-09-113902. Epub 2008 Feb 12. Blood. 2008. PMID: 18270324 Free PMC article.

References

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