Characterization of red blood cells with multiwavelength transmission spectroscopy.

Yulia M Serebrennikova,Luis H Garcia-Rubio,Debra E Huffman

doi:10.1155/2015/382641

Abstract

Multiwavelength transmission (MWT) spectroscopy was applied to the investigation of the morphological parameters and composition of red blood cells (RBCs). The MWT spectra were quantitatively analyzed with a Mie theory based interpretation model modified to incorporate the effects of the nonsphericity and orientation of RBCs. The MWT spectra of the healthy and anemic samples were investigated for the RBC indices in open and blinded studies. When MWT performance was evaluated against a standard reference system, very good agreement between two methods, with R 2 > 0.85 for all indices studied, was demonstrated. The RBC morphological parameters were used to characterize three types of anemia and to draw an association between RBC morphology and anemia severity. The MWT spectra of RBCs infected with malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum at different life cycle stages were analyzed for RBC morphological parameters. The changes in the RBC volume, surface area, aspect ratio, and hemoglobin composition were used to trace the morphological and compositional alterations in the infected RBCs occurring with parasites' development and to provide insights into parasite-host interactions. The MWT method was shown to be reliable for determination of the RBC morphological parameters and to be valuable for identification of the RBC pathologic changes and disease states.

Highlights

Numerous diseases result in pathomorphological changes in the red blood cell (RBC) shape, structure, composition, and count [1]
The aim of this study was to demonstrate that Multiwavelength transmission (MWT) spectroscopy combined with appropriate spectral interpretation techniques provides reliable quantitative estimates of Healthy donors Anemic patients Noninfected RBCs Ring-infected RBCs
We showed adequate performance of the MWT method as its estimates of the RBC indices were in very good agreement with those obtained with a reference laboratory system in both open and blinded studies

Summary

Introduction

Numerous diseases result in pathomorphological changes in the red blood cell (RBC) shape, structure, composition, and count [1]. Anemia is a common complication in renal disease patients and can be coupled with echinocytosis and stomatocytosis of RBCs due to hemodialysis oxidative stress [4]. Anemia is frequently associated with abnormalities in the shape of the RBCs such as tear drop, echinocyte, acanthocyte, and sickle cells, along with others [5]. Intracellular parasites of Plasmodium spp. induce alterations to the infected RBC morphology and biomechanical properties during their development and eventually rupture the host cells. Pathomorphological changes in the RBCs shape reduce their deformability such that the red cell functions are impaired and the cell survival is shortened [1]

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