The objective of this project is to develop a validated multiscale modeling methodology for quantifying the biophysical characteristics of sickle cell disease (SCD) -- a hematological disorder that affects tens of thousands of people in US with one in every 500 African-American births resulting in a child with SCD. The pathogenesis of SCD results from (1) irregular red blood cell (RBC) shapes due to hemoglobin polymerization inside the RBCs; (2) stiffening of the RBC membrane; and (3) adhesion of sickle RBCs to the endothelium and the other blood cells. The combination of these phenomena results in vaso-occlusive events or crises responsible for the majority of morbidity and mortality associated with SCD but little is certain about the proximal causes or the circumstances in which they occur. The spatio-temporal scales involved in accurately modeling SCD blood flow and vaso-occlusion span at least four orders of magnitude, hence new numerical methods are needed to simulate such multiscale phenomena. We present a general methodology based on 3D dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) to model flow and soft matter seamlessly, i.e., RBCs and other blood cells, blood plasma, cytosol, hemoglobin polymerization, and adhesive dynamics. DPD can be interfaced with molecular dynamics (MD) and with continuum-based description (e.g. Navier-Stokes) based on the triple-decker algorithm we have developed in order to capture molecular details or for computational efficiency in simulating large arteries or networks, respectively. We adopt the same approach here that has proven very effective in our previous work on malaria, namely that models for single RBCs (healthy or sickled), informed and validated from comprehensive single-cell measurements, will be used to predict the collective dynamics and rheology of SCD blood flow. We also present a systematic experimental plan, using microfluidics, nanomechanics and advanced optical techniques, to validate the various stages of the development of our models by targeting individual scales as well as interactions between scales. We will extend the first generation of models to study different modalities of existing and experimental therapeutic interventions for SCD, including simple transfusion, fetal hemoglobin (HbF) induction by hydroxyurea, and RBC hydration. Predictability of multiscale models requires quantifying uncertainty, and, to this end, we will incorporate polynomial chaos methods to model and propagate parametric uncertainties through the multiscale system. We plan to disseminate our models, software tools, and experimental data including the general-purpose triple-decker algorithm, via web-based repositories, existing public open-ware sites, tutorials and through the MSM consortium.

Public Health Relevance

We propose to develop and validate a multiscale modeling methodology for sickle cell disease (SCD) affecting 72,000 people in US. We will model multiscale phenomena across more than four orders of magnitude in spatio-temporal scales. We will develop a new generation of models to study different modalities of therapeutic interventions for SCD, including simple transfusion, HbF induction by hydroxyurea, and RBC hydration.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project--Cooperative Agreements (U01)
Project #
5U01HL114476-03
Application #
8857236
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZEB1)
Program Officer
Qasba, Pankaj
Project Start
2013-09-01
Project End
2016-05-31
Budget Start
2015-06-01
Budget End
2016-05-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Brown University
Department
Biostatistics & Other Math Sci
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
001785542
City
Providence
State
RI
Country
United States
Zip Code
Li, He; Lu, Lu; Li, Xuejin et al. (2018) Mechanics of diseased red blood cells in human spleen and consequences for hereditary blood disorders. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 115:9574-9579
Papageorgiou, Dimitrios P; Abidi, Sabia Z; Chang, Hung-Yu et al. (2018) Simultaneous polymerization and adhesion under hypoxia in sickle cell disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 115:9473-9478
Li, He; Yang, Jun; Chu, Trang T et al. (2018) Cytoskeleton Remodeling Induces Membrane Stiffness and Stability Changes of Maturing Reticulocytes. Biophys J 114:2014-2023
Li, Xuejin; Li, He; Chang, Hung-Yu et al. (2017) Computational Biomechanics of Human Red Blood Cells in Hematological Disorders. J Biomech Eng 139:
Chang, Hung-Yu; Li, Xuejin; Karniadakis, George Em (2017) Modeling of Biomechanics and Biorheology of Red Blood Cells in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Biophys J 113:481-490
Li, Xuejin; Du, E; Dao, Ming et al. (2017) Patient-specific modeling of individual sickle cell behavior under transient hypoxia. PLoS Comput Biol 13:e1005426
Li, Xuejin; Dao, Ming; Lykotrafitis, George et al. (2017) Biomechanics and biorheology of red blood cells in sickle cell anemia. J Biomech 50:34-41
Lu, Lu; Li, He; Bian, Xin et al. (2017) Mesoscopic Adaptive Resolution Scheme toward Understanding of Interactions between Sickle Cell Fibers. Biophys J 113:48-59
Blumers, Ansel L; Tang, Yu-Hang; Li, Zhen et al. (2017) GPU-accelerated Red Blood Cells Simulations with Transport Dissipative Particle Dynamics. Comput Phys Commun 217:171-179
Tang, Yu-Hang; Lu, Lu; Li, He et al. (2017) OpenRBC: A Fast Simulator of Red Blood Cells at Protein Resolution. Biophys J 112:2030-2037

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