title: Epinephrine modulates BCAM/Lu and ICAM-4 expression on the sickle cell trait red blood cell membrane.
abstract: Collapse and sudden death in physical training are the most serious complications of sickle cell trait (SCT). There is evidence that erythrocytes in SCT patients aggregate during strenuous exercise, likely because of adhesive interactions with the extracellular matrix (ECM) and endothelial cells, and because of their irregular viscoelastic properties. This results in inflammation, blood flow impairment, and vaso-occlusive events. However, the exact role of stress conditions and how they lead to these complications is virtually unknown. Using single-molecule atomic force microscopy experiments, we found that epinephrine, a hormone that is secreted under stressful conditions, increases both the frequency and strength of adhesion events between basal cell adhesion molecule (BCAM/Lu) and ECM laminin, and between intercellular adhesion molecule-4 (ICAM-4) and endothelial α(v)β(3), compared with nonstimulated SCT erythrocytes. Increases in adhesion frequency provide significant evidence of the role of epinephrine in BCAM/Lu-laminin and ICAM-4-α(v)β(3) bonding, and suggest mechanisms of vaso-occlusion during physical exertion in SCT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: Jamie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Maciaszek
authors.forename: Biree
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Andemariam
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lykotrafitis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D039302:Integrin alphaVbeta3 / Q000378:metabolism; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism; D008188:Lutheran Blood-Group System / Q000378:metabolism*; D012805:Sickle Cell Trait / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C090228:BCAM protein, human; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; C095100:ICAM4 protein, human; D039302:Integrin alphaVbeta3; D007797:Laminin; D008188:Lutheran Blood-Group System; D004837:Epinephrine