title: The role of calcium metabolism in human red blood cell ageing: a proposal.
abstract: The mechanisms of recognition, trapping and destruction of senescent human erythrocytes are not completely understood. Here we discuss some evidences supporting the idea that red cell ageing is closely related to a progressive increase in intracellular ionic Ca. This in turn, is the determining factor of a series of events such as Ca pump proteolysis and opening of the Ca-dependent K channel, that finally lead to the removal of old cells by macrophages at spleen level.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Membrane Physiology, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Central University of Venezuela, Caracas. romepe@mixmail.com
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Romero
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D016922:Cellular Senescence; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels; D002118:Calcium