Regensburg 2010 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 31: Posters: Membranes and Vesicles

BP 31.1: Poster

Donnerstag, 25. März 2010, 17:15–20:00, Poster B1

Investigation of Erythrocytes Cell-Cell Adhesion using Holographic Optical Tweezers — •Patrick Steffen and Christian Wagner — Universität des Sarlandes, Saarbrücken

In the classical model, the role of red blood cells (erythrocytes) in blood clot formation is thought to be passive. It is supposed that they get caught into a fibrin-network, generated in the clotting process, just for reasons of geometrical restrictions. Additionally, it is commonly believed that there exist no adhesion forces among the cells. The main part in clot formation take activated platelets. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a messenger released from these activated platelets. Treating red blood cells (RBC) with LPA leads to a Ca2+ influx into the cells. The consecutive rise of internal calcium level activates the Scramblase protein whereby the negatively charged Phosphatidylserine (PS) gets to the outer leaflet of the cell membrane. Thus the objective is to investigate the contribution of red blood cells in blood clot formation. In order to test this hypothesis we built up an integrated microfluidic holographic optical tweezers setup to study this cell adhesion. Measurements with LPA and the calcium Ionophor A23187 showed that by this increased intracellular calcium level an adhesion of the cells among each other occurs. Thus, we postulate that the response of RBCs on LPA reveals a direct and active participation of these cells in blood clot formation.