RBC BIOLOGY

RED BLOOD CELLS

• 120 days – life span
• Anucleate biconcave cells filled with a reddish
protein hemoglobin which transports oxygen and
carbon dioxide
• 6-8 microns in diameter with a zone of pallor
covering 1/3 of their center
• 1.5-2.5 micron thick

Composed of:

I. BIOCHEMICAL RBC MEMBRANE

• 52% PROTEIN
• 40% LIPIDS
o Phospholipid: main lipid component
o External: rich in Glycolipids and Choline
Phospholipid
o Internal: Rich in Amino Phospholipid
o 8% Carbohydrates 2 IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS OF RBC MEMBRANE

INTEGRAL PROTEINS DEFORMABILITY

serve as transport and adhesion sites and signal • Loss of ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATE (ATP) energy
receptors leads to decrease phosphorylation of SPECTRIN and
in turn a loss membrane deformability
• Aquaphorin 1
• Increase in deposition of membrane calcium results
• Glycophorin A
• Increase in membrane rigidity and loss of pliability
• Glycophorin B
o Becomes Spherocytes and Bite cells
• Glycophorin C
• Band 3 PERMEABILITY
o Anion transporter supports ABH antigens • Prevents colloidal hemolysis and control the volume
o MOST abundant of the RBC
• Any abnormality that increases permeability alters
PERIPHERAL PROTEINS
cationic transport may decrease the RBC survival
Skeletal proteins: do not penetrate bilayer
o Impermeable cations: Sodium and Potassium
• Alpha spectrin ▪ These two cations control the RBC volume
• Beta spectrin and Water hemostasis
o Principal skeleton protein of RBC ▪ Potassium require energy in form if ATP
o Without this, RBC becomes spherocyte and o Freely permeable: Water and Anions
nawawala ang discord shape o Erythrocyte intracellular – Extracellular ratio:
• Adducin ▪ Potassium and sodium (1:12 and 25:1)
• Ankyrin ▪ PISO – Potassium inside; Sodium outside
• Dematin
• F actin
METABOLLIC PATHWAYS SHIFT COMPARISON

1. Embden Meyerhof LEFT RIGHT

• Glycolysis: generates about 90% of the ATP needed • Increase abnormal Hb Decrease pH
by the RBC • Increase pH Increase in 2,3 DPG
• Decrease in 2,3 DPG Temperature
2. Phosphogluconate/Pentose phosphate Temperature P50
• 10% of ATP in glycolysis P50 ACIDOSIS
• DEFICIENT: the amount of reduced glutathione ALKALOSIS ANEMIA
becomes insufficient to neutralize intracellular Increase in HbF HYPOXIA
REJECTS oxygen
oxidants
LOVES oxygen Raise 2,3 DPG, H+CO2
3. Methemoglobin Reductase LOW 2,3 DPG, temp,
• It maintains the heme iron of hemoglobin in the H+CO2
ferrous (Fe2+) functional state
• DEFECT: significant to RBC post transfusion survival REMEMBER!!!
and function
SHIFT TO THE LEFT:
4. Leubering-Rapaport 12% oxygen released to the tissue
• It permits the accumulation of important RBC
organic phosphate, 2,3-DPG (diphosphoglycerate) SHIFT TO THE RIGHT:
o The large amount of 2,3 DPG found within the 50% oxygen released to the tissue
RBCs has a significant effect on the affinity of
hemoglobin for oxygen Normal P50: 28mmHg (26-30mmHg)
o Higher DPG, more oxygen adhesion

II. HEMOGLOBIN

• 95% dry weight of RBC; 33% weight by volume

• 4 hemes (2 alpha, 2 betachain + heme
(ferroprotophyrin IX)
• 92-95% HbA (2 alpha; 2 beta chains)
• 2-3% HbA2 (2 alpha; 2 delta)
• 1-3% HbF (2 alpha; 2 gamma)

2, 3 DPG and oxygen reaction:

➢ TENSE: it has a LOWER affinity for oxygen

o Deoxyhemoglobin
➢ RELAXED: it has a HIGHER affinity of oxygen
o Oxyhemoglobin

NORMAL OXYGEN DELIVERY:

• p02 (L): AVERAGE 40mmHg

• Hb. Saturation: 75%
• Oxygen-Tissue: 25%