Methodical approaches based on atomic force microscopy in the study of the mechanical properties of the blood cells surface

M. Skorkina, E. Sladkova, N. Zhernakova, E. Shamray, S. Belyaeva, T. Tikunova

Abstract: In the model of mechanical stress (in vitro) an increase in the concentration of ATP in the blood by 2.3 times and a change in the biophysical properties of the plasmalemma of granulocytes and erythrocytes have been observed. Under the influence of mechanical stress, the stiffness of the granulocyte’s cell surface decreased by 15.8% (p < 0.05) and the surface charge became more negative, ultimately contributing to an increase in adhesion force in the “erythrocyte-granulocyte” system. The obtained data point out the leading regulatory role of the ATP molecule that acts as the paracrine regulator of the biophysical properties of granulocytes’ plasmalemma under the conditions required of stimulation of mechanical deformation of blood cells. Our experimental data have a meaning in the investigation of the intercellular interaction mechanisms in the microcirculation and can be taken into account by searching for and developing pharmacological regulators of vascular tone.

Keywords: Atomic force microscopy, erythrocytes, granulocytes, mechanical stress, elastic and adhesive properties of biomembrane, potential of the surface of RBCs and granulocytes

Series on Biomechanics, Vol.32, No.3 (2018), 26-35

Keywords: Atomic force microscopy; elastic and adhesive properties of biomembrane; erythrocytes; granulocytes; mechanical stress; potential of the surface of RBCs and granulocytes

Date published: 2018-12-16