Kamruzzahan A S M, Kienberger Ferry, Stroh Cordula M, Berg Jörg, Huss Ralf, Ebner Andreas, Zhu Rong, Rankl Christian, Gruber Hermann J, Hinterdorfer Peter
Institute of Biophysics, University of Linz, Altenbergerstr. 69, A-4040 Linz, Austria.
Biol Chem. 2004 Oct;385(10):955-60. doi: 10.1515/BC.2004.124.
The surface topography of red blood cells (RBCs) was investigated under near-physiological conditions using atomic force microscopy (AFM). An immobilization protocol was established where RBCs are coupled via molecular bonds of the membrane glycoproteins to wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), which is covalently and flexibly tethered to the support. This results in a tight but non-invasive attachment of the cells. Using tapping-mode AFM, which is known as gentle imaging mode and therefore most appropriate for soft biological samples like erythrocytes, it was possible to resolve membrane skeleton structures without major distortions or deformations of the cell surface. Significant differences in the morphology of RBCs from healthy humans and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were observed on topographical images. The surface of RBCs from SLE patients showed characteristic circular-shaped holes with approx. 200 nm in diameter under physiological conditions, a possible morphological correlate to previously published changes in the SLE erythrocyte membrane.
在接近生理条件下,使用原子力显微镜(AFM)对红细胞(RBC)的表面形貌进行了研究。建立了一种固定化方案,其中红细胞通过膜糖蛋白的分子键与小麦胚凝集素(WGA)偶联,WGA共价且灵活地连接到支持物上。这导致细胞紧密但非侵入性的附着。使用敲击模式AFM,这是一种已知的温和成像模式,因此最适合像红细胞这样的软生物样品,可以分辨膜骨架结构而不会对细胞表面造成重大扭曲或变形。在形貌图像上观察到健康人和系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)患者的红细胞形态存在显著差异。在生理条件下,SLE患者的红细胞表面显示出特征性的圆形孔,直径约为200 nm,这可能是与先前发表的SLE红细胞膜变化相关的形态学特征。