Fusion of intact human erythrocytes and erythrocyte ghosts.

Sendai virus is able to induce the fusion of human erythrocytes. Bivalent cations or ATP are not essential for polyerythrocyte formation. High fusion indices were obtained when Sendai virus was added to cells incubated in the presence of both EDTA and iodoacetic acid. Human erythrocyte ghosts prepared by gradual hemolysis still retain the potential to undergo virus-induced fusion. Fusion of human red blood cells without the addition of viruses was obtained by incubation of erythrocytes at pH 10.5 in the presence of Ca(++) (40 mM) or by addition of phospholipase C Clostridium perfringens preparations to cells previously agglutinated or polylysine.