Abstract
The effect of gamma radiation on the ultrastructure of the cell membranes of red blood cells has been probed using a powerful tool, namely, atomic force microscopy. We used mice erythrocytes as a model. Blood samples withdrawn from mice were gamma-irradiated using a 60Co source unit with doses of 10,15,20,25 and 30 Gy. Structural changes appeared in the form of nanoscale potholes, depressions and alterations of the cell membrane roughness. The roughness of the cell membrane increased dramatically with increasing doses, although at 10 Gy , the cell membrane roughness was less than that of normal red blood cells (controls). Therefore, such modifications at the nano-scale level may affect the biophysical properties of membranes, resulting in impairment of their function.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Reiser H, Stadecker MJ (1996) Costimulatory B7 molecules in the pathogenesis of infectious and autoimmune diseases. N Engl J Med 335(18):1369–1377. doi:10.1056/NEJM199610313351807
Button LN, DeWolf WC, Newburger PE, Jacobson MS, Kevy SV (1981) The effects of irradiation on blood components. Transfusion 21(4):419–426. doi:10.1046/j.1537-2995.1981.21481275998.x
Williamson LM, Warwick RM (1995) Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease and its prevention. Blood Rev 9(4):251–261. doi:10.1016/S0268-960X(95)90016-0
Hart S, Cserti-Gazdewich C, McCluskey S (2015) Red cell transfusion and the immune system. Anaesthesia 70(s1):38-e16
Xu D, Peng M, Zhang Z, Dong G, Zhang Y, Yu H (2012) Study of damage to red blood cells exposed to different doses of gamma-ray irradiation. Blood Transfus 10:321–330
Maia G, de Oliveira Renó C, Medina J, da Silveira A, Mignaco J, Atella G et al (2014) The effect of gamma radiation on the lipid profile of irradiated red blood cells. Ann Hematol 93(5):753–760. doi:10.1007/s00277-013-1944-5
Olivo RA, da Silva MV, Garcia FB, Soares S, Rodrigues Junior V, Moraes-Souza H (2015) Evaluation of the effectiveness of packed red blood cell irradiation by a linear accelerator. Revista Brasileira de Hematologia e Hemoterapia 37(3):153–159. doi:10.1016/j.bjhh.2015.03.001
Hirayama J, Abe H, Azuma H, Ikeda H (2005) Leakage of potassium from red blood cells following gamma ray irradiation in the presence of dipyridamole, trolox, human plasma or mannitol. Biol Pharm Bull 28(7):1318
Dinning G, Doughty R, Reid M, Lloyd H (1991) Potassium concentrations in irradiated blood. BMJ 303(6810):1110
Barjas-Castro M, Brandao M, Fontes A, Costa F, Cesar C, Saad S (2002) Elastic properties of irradiated RBCs measured by optical tweezers. Transfusion 42(9):1196–1199
Brugnara C, Churchill W (1992) Effect of irradiation on red cell cation content and transport. Transfusion 32(3):246–252
Jacobs GP (1998) A review on the effects of ionizing radiation on blood and blood components. Radiat Phys Chem 53(5):511–523. doi:10.1016/S0969-806X(98)00185-6
Fournier J-B, Lacoste D, Raphaël E (2004) Fluctuation spectrum of fluid membranes coupled to an elastic meshwork: jump of the effective surface tension at the mesh size. Phys Rev Lett 92(1):018102
Anand A, Dzik W, Imam A, Sadrzadeh S (1997) Radiation-induced red cell damage: role of reactive oxygen species. Transfusion 37(2):160–165
Adams F, Bellairs G, Bird AR, Oguntibeju OO (2015) Biochemical storage lesions occurring in nonirradiated and irradiated red blood cells: a brief review. BioMed Res Int 2015:8. doi:10.1155/2015/968302
Shi Y, Li R-y Tu, Z-c Ma D, Wang H, X-q Huang et al (2015) Effect of γ-irradiation on the physicochemical properties and structure of fish myofibrillar proteins. Radiat Phys Chem 109:70–72
Winter K, Johnson L, Kwok M, Reid S, Alarimi Z, Wong J et al (2014) Understanding the effects of gamma-irradiation on potassium levels in red cell concentrates stored in SAG-M for neonatal red cell transfusion. Vox Sang 108:141–150
Chadwick K, Leenhouts H (2014) Radiation risk is linear with dose at low doses. Br J Radiol 78:8–10
Kim Y-K, Kwon E-H, Kim D-H, Won D-I, Shin S, Suh J-S (2008) Susceptibility of oxidative stress on red blood cells exposed to gamma rays: hemorheological evaluation. Clin Hemorheol Microcirc 40(4):315–324
Anand AJ, Dzik WH, Imam A, Sadrzadeh SMH (1997) Radiation-induced red cell damage: role of reactive oxygen species. Transfusion 37(2):160–165. doi:10.1046/j.1537-2995.1997.37297203518.x
Relevy H, Koshkaryev A, Manny N, Yedgar S, Barshtein G (2008) Blood banking-induced alteration of red blood cell flow properties. Transfusion 48(1):136–146. doi:10.1111/j.1537-2995.2007.01491.x
Zachée P, Snauwaert J, Vandenberghe P, Hellemans L, Boogaerts M (1996) Imaging red blood cells with the atomic force microscope. Br J Haematol 95(3):472–481. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2141.1996.tb08991.x
Maia GAS, de Oliveira Renó C, Medina JM, da Silveira AB, Mignaco JA, Atella GC et al (2014) The effect of gamma radiation on the lipid profile of irradiated red blood cells. Ann Hematol 93(5):753–760
Asgary S, Naderi G, Ghannady A (2005) Effects of cigarette smoke, nicotine and cotinine on red blood cell hemolysis and their-SH capacity. Exp Clin Cardiol 10(2):116
Edwards R, Peet M, Shay J, Horrobin D (1998) Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid levels in the diet and in red blood cell membranes of depressed patients. J Affect Disord 48(2–3):149–155. doi:10.1016/S0165-0327(97)00166-3
Wu D, Cederbaum AI (2003) Alcohol, oxidative stress, and free radical damage. Alcohol Res Health 27:277–284
Chiu DT, Huang T-M, Hung I-J, Wei J-S, Liu T, Stern A (1997) Hemin-induced membrane sulfhydryl oxidation: possible involvement of thiyl radicils. Free Radical Res 27(1):55–62
Chiu DT-Y, Van Den Berg J, Kuypers FA, Hung I-J, Wei J-S, Liu T-Z (1996) Correlation of membrane lipid peroxidation with oxidation of hemoglobin variants: possibly related to the rates of hemin release. Free Radic Biol Med 21(1):89–95. doi:10.1016/0891-5849(96)00035-4
Kozlova E, Chernysh A, Moroz V, Gudkova O, Sergunova V, Kuzovlev A (2014) Transformation of membrane nanosurface of red blood cells under hemin action. Sci Rep 4:6033
Shaklai N, Avissar N, Rabizadeh E, Shaklai M (1986) Disintegration of red cell membrane cytoskeleton by hemin. Biochem Int 13(3):467–477
Agarwal P, Ray V, Choudhury N, Chaudhary R (2005) Effect of pre-storage gamma irradiation on red blood cells. Indian J Med Res 122(5):385
Benderitter M, Vincent-Genod L, Pouget J, Voisin P (2009) The cell membrane as a biosensor of oxidative stress induced by radiation exposure: a multiparameter investigation. Radiat Res 159:471–483
Hattingh J, Smith EM (1976) Anticoagulants for avian and reptilian blood: heparin and EDTA. Pflug Arch 363(3):267–269. doi:10.1007/bf00594613
Muro J, Cuenca R, Pastor J, Vinas L, Lavin S (1998) Effects of lithium heparin and tripotassium EDTA on hematologic values of Hermann’s tortoises (Testudo hermanni). J Zoo Wildl Med 29:40–44
Walencik J, Witeska M (2007) The effects of anticoagulants on hematological indices and blood cell morphology of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). Comp Biochem Physiol C: Toxicol Pharmacol 146(3):331–335
Maqbool A, Ahmed I, Sheikh ZA (2013) Effects of two commonly used anticoagulants on haematology and erythrocyte morphology of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Int J Fish Aquat Stud 2:239–243
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by King Saud University, Deanship of Scientific Research, College of Science Research Center.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Ethical approval
All applicable international, national, and institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
AlZahrani, K., Al-Sewaidan, H. Nanostructural Changes in the Cell Membrane of Gamma-Irradiated Red Blood Cells. Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus 33, 109–115 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12288-016-0657-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12288-016-0657-z