Cells Found in Sickle Cell Disease Blood Sample (IMAGE)
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Researchers have established new biomarkers that could help improve the understanding of sickle cell disease treatments. 1) Researchers separated cells in blood samples from patients with sickle cell disease to isolate cells of different densities. Hydroxyurea, an FDA-approved drug, improved the biophysical markers across all densities. 2) Red blood cells in people with the disease have an abnormal type of hemoglobin that causes the cells to become sickle shaped when they lose oxygen. 3.) The least dense cells were disc-shaped and most like normal red blood cells. 4) When the sickled blood cells return to areas of the body with more oxygen, most of them regain their original shape, while accumulating damages after each sickling cycle. 5) As the cells circulate through the body repeatedly, they gradually become more dense and some of them become irreversibly sickled. Credit: Carnegie Mellon University
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Carnegie Mellon University
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