Alterations of the Erythrocyte Membrane during Sepsis

Table 1

Main modifications of the RBC membrane observed during sepsis.

Membrane components	Model	Modifications reported	Effects	References
Proteins	Human RBCs	Membrane glycophorin A content increased during sepsis	Desialylation facilitates glycophorin A fixation	[9]
	Human serum of patients with meningococcemia	No changes in serum glycophorin A during the first 36 hours		[10]
	Mice RBCs with sepsis induced by caecal ligature and perforation	Increased band 3/α-spectrin ratio	Associated altered RBC deformability	[11]
		Phosphorylation of the band 3 and anion transporter capacity	No effects on anion transporter capacity	[12]
	Human RBCs	Decreased RBC proteins in septic and non-septic patients	No difference between septic and nonseptic patients	[13]
Lipids	Human RBCs	Increased membrane phosphatidylserine exposition	Increased entry of calcium → increased eryptosis ?	[14]
	Human RBCs	Increased membrane lipid peroxidation	Modifications of RBC lipid organization	[15]
	Rat RBCs	Controversial results on membrane lipid peroxidation	Effects on membrane fluidity?	[16, 17]
Carbohydrates	Human RBCs	Decreased sialic acid membrane content	Inverse relationship between spherical shape and decreased sialic acid membrane content. Stimulation of RBC glycolysis (increased lactate, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate)	[9]