title: Increased reticulocyte count from cord blood samples using hypotonic lysis.
abstract: Human reticulocytes are one of the fundamental components needed to study the in vitro invasion processes of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax. Additionally examinations of reticulocytes and their binding proteins are difficult in areas of the world that do not have access to advanced equipment or stem cell lines. These issues are particularly relevant to malaria vaccine candidate studies that are directed against surface proteins that the parasites use to gain entry into erythrocytes. Described here is a simple and inexpensive method to increase the reticulocyte count of cord blood samples. Exposure of cord blood to hypotonic saline (0.2%) for 5 min selectively lyses the non-reticulocytes resulting in an average 3.6-fold increase in reticulocyte count. Our studies show that this enrichment process does not damage the hemoglobin of the remaining erythrocytes which are still capable of supporting Plasmodium falciparum invasion and growth. This economical and rapid method of enrichment could facilitate studies of in vitro laboratory culturing of other malaria parasite species which preferentially invade reticulocytes such as P. vivax.
authors: Center for Global Health and Disease, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-4983, United States.
authors: Brian T
authors: BT
authors: Grimberg
authors: Emily A
authors: EA
authors: Scheetz
authors: John J
authors: JJ
authors: Erickson
authors: Jacquelyn M
authors: JM
authors: Bales
authors: Makindi
authors: M
authors: David
authors: Kathleen
authors: K
authors: Daum-Woods
authors: Christopher L
authors: CL
authors: King
authors: Peter A
authors: PA
authors: Zimmerman
mesh_terms: D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000469:parasitology; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007038:Hypotonic Solutions / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000254:growth & development; D011247:Pregnancy; D017701:Reticulocyte Count; D012156:Reticulocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D007038:Hypotonic Solutions