Peroxynitrite induces senescence and apoptosis of red blood cells through the activation of aspartyl and cysteinyl proteases

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Abstract
SPECIFIC AIMSErythrocytes are “simplified” cells that, having undergone oxidative imbalance, are committed to senescence and finally to their own destruction. Red blood cells (RBC) from patients with different redox-associated pathologies have been analyzed from functional, structural, or biochemical points of view. The aim was to correlate oxidative changes occurring in RBC with the pathogenesis of certain human diseases and eventually identify specific cellular markers of degeneration. The importance of redox-induced changes in RBC integrity and function is recognized as a pathogenic mechanism of some acquired and genetic diseases, especially surface molecules associated with the clearance of senescent RBC. Glycophorin A (GA) and apoptosis (i.e., phosphatidylserine, or PS) have been studied. Expression of the first (GA) was described to be altered in some pathological conditions (some respiratory diseases). PS, originally detected in nucleated cells by annexin V (AV) binding, was recently described as a...
Funding Information
  • Institute for Southern Studies, University of South Carolina