Gel-filtration of sickle erythrocytes: separation based on cell deformability.

UNLABELLED: Filtration of red blood cells (RBC) through columns of pre-swollen agarose-based beads has been evaluated using cells from subjects with sickle cell disease. Elution profiles from these gels showed elution times close to normal controls for a large fraction of sickle erythrocytes and a prolonged elution time for a sub-population of these cells. Analysis of red blood cell deformability using a computerized micropore filtration system (CTA) indicated that the deformability of sickle red blood cells in the first fraction was similar to controls but that the last fraction contained a sub-population of rigid RBC. We thus conclude that sickle red blood cell separation in columns of agarose-based beads is based upon cell deformability. Gel filtration therefore appears to be an interesting tool for the study of red blood cells in a variety of disorders with sub-populations of rigid, abnormal cells, and seems especially suited for studies in various sickle cell diseases. KEYWORDS: Deformability, gel filtration, sickle cell disease, erythrocyte