Cigarette smokers develop altered erythrocyte membrane composition: an investigation unmasking the role of membrane bound integral protein GLUT 1

Increased eryptosis in smokers is associated with the antioxidant status and C-reactive protein levels

“…In line with this, we have shown in the present study a marginal increase (non significant trend) of FSC (higher cell volume) in erythrocytes from smokers to be possibly ascribed to the presence of high quantities of stomatocytes. However, and contrary to the expected, we have failed to see a lower resistance to hemolysis in smokers, as previously reported (Asgary et al, 2005;Padmavathi et al, 2010;Masilamani et al, 2016;Sikdar et al, 2017). Instead, our results are in agreement with Pannuru et al (2011) who indicated no significant changes in erythrocyte hemolysis in moderate smokers versus controls, attributed to the increase in nitric oxide and antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD and GSH-Px) that may quench free radicals produced by smoking and protect cells from hemolysis.…”

“…Thus, a decline in GSH is expected, which is possibly associated with higher circulating eryptotic red blood cells. Another study has associated the oxidative milieu produced by smoking with a rise in ROS and osmotic fragility together with a decline in GSH levels in erythrocytes (Sikdar et al, 2017). Furthermore, these authors indicated the alteration of erythrocytes morphology with an increase in stomatocytes (increased volume potentially linked with hemolysis) and spherocytes (associated with reduced pliability and osmotic fragility) (Sikdar et al, 2017).…”

“…Another study has associated the oxidative milieu produced by smoking with a rise in ROS and osmotic fragility together with a decline in GSH levels in erythrocytes (Sikdar et al, 2017). Furthermore, these authors indicated the alteration of erythrocytes morphology with an increase in stomatocytes (increased volume potentially linked with hemolysis) and spherocytes (associated with reduced pliability and osmotic fragility) (Sikdar et al, 2017). Moreover, we have previously reported ex vivo that tert-butylhydroperoxide induced oxidative stress in erythrocytes resulted in two cell populations, with low size (FSC < 20, associated with eryptosis) and big size (FSC > 80, associated with a preliminary step of hemolysis) (Álvarez-Sala et al, 2018).…”

“…In this context, ex vivo studies showed that acrolein (a cytotoxic highly reactive aldehyde present in huge quantities in cigarette smoke) stimulates eryptosis through a decrease in cell volume and increase in phosphatidylserine externalization, hemolysis and ceramide formation, without changes in cytosolic Ca 2+ (Ahmed et al, 2013). Likewise, cigarette smoking has revealed in vivo an increase in erythrocyte hemolysis and ROS, a decrease is -SH groups and membrane fluidity, and modifications in erythrocyte morphology in smokers versus non-smokers (Sikdar et al, 2017). Although several biomarkers related to oxidative stress, inflammation and lipid parameters have been established for smokers compared with never-smokers, increase in eryptosis do not appear in such a list (Seet et al, 2011;Haswell et al, 2014).…”

Cord and peripheral blood erythrocyte analysis by scanning electron microscopy and flow cytometry

“…Twenty microliters of erythrocyte suspension (25%) from both the groups were gently transferred into tubes containing 2 ml of graded concentrations of NaCl, that is 0.85 g%, 0.44 g% and 0 g%. All the tubes were incubated at 37°C for 30 min and then centrifuged at 1300 g for 5 min 14,15 . The supernatant thus obtained contained various concentrations of haemoglobin derived from haemolysed erythrocyte.…”