Adhesion of erythrocytes to endothelium in pathological situations: a review article

Abstract

Erythrocyte-endothelial cell interactions were rediscovered using endothelial cells in culture and radiolabelled erythrocytes. Increased adherence of erythrocytes from patients with sickle cell anaemia was found to be related to the occurrence of vaso-occlusive episodes. In diabetes mellitus and sickle cell anaemia, the adhesion was shown to be potentiated by plasmatic factors such as fibrinogen and fibronectin and to induce endothelial cell activation and enhanced prostacyclin production. The molecular basis of the abnormal adherence of diabetic erythrocytes was shown to be linked to Advanced Glycosylated End-products (AGE) present on the cell membrane and to RAGE 35 receptors exposed by the endothelium. Intercellular Adhesion Molecule (ICAM) was identified as an ubiquitous receptor present on endothelium and involved in leucocyte adhesion and it was more recently demonstrated that erythrocytes infested by Plasmodium falciparum bind to ICAM. This adhesion may be important for the dissemination of Plasmodium falciparum and the complications of the disease. In summary, interactions between endothelium and erythrocytes appear to be involved in the pathophysiology of a number of affections and could constitute a new therapeutic target.