title: Gel-filtration of sickle erythrocytes: separation based on cell deformability.
abstract: Filtration of red blood cells (RBC) through columns of pre-swollen agarose-based beads has been evaluated using cells from subjects with sickle cell disease. Elution profiles from these gels showed elution times close to normal controls for a large fraction of sickle erythrocytes and a prolonged elution time for a sub-population of these cells. Analysis of red blood cell deformability using a computerized micropore filtration system (CTA) indicated that the deformability of sickle red blood cells in the first fraction was similar to controls but that the last fraction contained a sub-population of rigid RBC. We thus conclude that sickle red blood cell separation in columns of agarose-based beads is based upon cell deformability. Gel filtration therefore appears to be an interesting tool for the study of red blood cells in a variety of disorders with sub-populations of rigid, abnormal cells, and seems especially suited for studies in various sickle cell diseases.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Deformability, gel filtration, sickle cell disease, erythrocyte
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik, Kantonsspital Chur, Switzerland.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Baerlocher
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Meiselman
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Reinhart
mesh_terms: D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D001781:Blood Component Removal; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans