Analysis of Ion Channels in Erythrocytes

Ion channels in erythrocytes are part of complex programs such as stress-induced programmed erythrocyte death. Creative Bioarray is committed to providing clients with analysis services of ion channels in human erythrocytes through advanced electrophysiological techniques and non-electrophysiological methods. Our unique systematic approach will help you identify and understand the role of ion channels in erythrocytes in health and disease.

Introduction

Erythrocytes make up at least 60% of all cells in the human body and are responsible for important physiological functions, including gas transport and regulation of vascular tone. Erythrocytes undergo a variety of physical stimulations (such as pressure and shear stress) and chemical stimulations (such as hormonal or osmolarity changes) during different physiological processes. These signals are translated into cellular responses through ion channels in erythrocytes, which are considered the most important players in physiology and pathophysiology.

At present, a variety of ion channels have been found to exist in human (mouse) erythrocytes, such as CFTR, acid-sensitive anion channel, TRPC6 and possibly TRPC3 non-selective cation channel, acetylcholine-stimulated cation channel, and pannexin-1 ATP-release channel. However, there are still many bottlenecks in the study of ion channels in human erythrocytes, and most of the information available about these channels is scattered, resulting in the inability to reconstruct the whole jigsaw puzzle to obtain the complete physiological explanation of ion channels in erythrocytes. Nowadays, the development of automated high-throughput patch-clamp robots and in vitro erythropoiesis technology makes it possible to overcome technical bottlenecks in ion channel research in erythrocytes.

Fig. 1 The proposed research activities in erythrocyte ion channel research. (von Lindern, 2022)

Our Methods

Our research team has established a variety of protocols to help clients directly or indirectly study ion channels in erythrocytes.

• Patch-clamp recording in human and mouse erythrocytes.
• Activation of dormant erythrocyte channels, such as activation of Gardos K_Ca 3.1 K⁺ channels, nonselective cation channels, organic osmolyte and anion channels, ClC-2 Cl⁻ channels, and 18 pS Cl⁻ channels.
• Indirect measures of erythrocyte ion channels, such as Ca²⁺-permeable channels measured by Ca²⁺-sensitive fluorescence dyes, Gardos K⁺ channels measured by cell volume changes, organic osmolyte and anion channels measured by isosmotic hemolysis, and Pannexin-1 and VDAC ATP channels measured by extracellular ATP accumulation.

Our Services

Our services include but not limited to:

• Measurement of ion channel activity and membrane potential.
• Systematic analysis of the interactions of ion channels in erythrocytes, the modulation of external factors, and the induced signals in erythrocytes.
• In vitro culture of genetically manipulated erythrocytes. we help clients achieve various gene manipulations to functionalize erythrocytes, such as overexpression and knockout or downregulation of ion channels. This is a strategy that combines functional electrophysiology with genetic methods to analyze the function of ion channels in erythrocytes.
• Assessment of the ion channel functions during erythrocyte production.

Applications

• Study on the molecular regulation of erythrocyte channelopathies
• Study on the role of ion channels in erythrocytes during maturation
• Development of more accurate diagnosis and evaluation of disease status

Creative Bioarray has rich experience in the field of ion channel analysis in natural tissues. Our professional ion channel analysis service in erythrocytes will greatly accelerate the research on the role of ion channels in health and disease. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us for more details.

Reference

1. von Lindern, M.; et al. The function of ion channels and membrane potential in red blood cells: toward a systematic analysis of the erythroid channelome. Frontiers in Physiology, 2022: 16.