The Toxic Influence of Excess Free Iron on Red Blood Cells in the Biophysical Experiment: An In Vitro Study

Abstract

Iron is needed for life-essential processes, but free iron overload causes dangerous clinical consequences. The study of the role of red blood cells (RBCs) in the influence of excess free iron in the blood on the pathological consequences in an organism is relevant. Here, in a direct biophysical experiment in vitro, we studied the action of free iron overload on the packed red blood cell (pRBC) characteristics. In experiments, we incubated pRBCs with the ferrous sulfate solution (Fe2+). Wе used free iron in a wide range of concentrations. High Fe 2 + concentrations made us possible to establish the pattern of the toxic effect of excess iron on pRBCs during a reduced incubation time in a biophysical experiment in vitro. It was found that excess free iron causes changes in pRBC morphology, the appearance of bridges between cells, and the formation of clots, increasing the membrane stiffness and methemoglobin concentration. We created a kinetic model of changes in the hemoglobin derivatives. The complex of simultaneous distortions of pRBCs established in our experiments can be taken into account when studying the mechanism of the toxic influence of excess free iron in the blood on pathological changes in an organism.

Structural Configuration of Blood Cell Membranes Determines Their Nonlinear Deformation Properties

“…It is the cytoskeleton network that allows RBCs to change their shape and thereby circulate in the capillary system. The mechanism of stiffness of the cytoskeletal RBC network continues to be discussed in the scientific literature [ 2 , 49 , 52 – 54 ].…”

Mechanochemical Synergism of Reactive Oxygen Species Influences on RBC Membrane

“…Equation (20) was created based on biophysical principles [ 47 ]. The fitting curve was chosen on the basis of the biophysical law of light absorption, the Bouguer–Beer–Lambert law, considering that absorption in a solution containing two ions ( ions, ions) is a nonlinear function.…”

Hemoglobin Derivatives in Beef Irradiated with Accelerated Electrons

“…According to the Fenton reaction, Fe 2+ converts into Fe 3+ in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, H 2 O 2 , which leads to an increase in methemoglobin concentration. In this reaction, the H 2 O 2 molecules are converted into HO • free radicals that can initiate the lipid peroxidation forming organic radicals that also can oxidize hemoglobin [40,41].…”

“…where l is the number of wavelengths; ε Hb,l (λ l ), ε HbO 2 ,l (λ l ), and ε MetHb,l (λ l ) are molar absorption coefficients of deoxyhemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin, and methemoglobin, respectively; C Hb , C HbO 2 , and C MetHb are the concentrations of deoxyhemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin, and methemoglobin, respectively; L = 1 cm is the thickness of the solution layer; E and K are scattering coefficients [25,40]. According to the current research literature, the molar absorption coefficient of beef erythrocyte hemoglobin derivatives practically coincides with those of human hemoglobin [48].…”