A multifaceted study is proposed to measure the viscous dissipation (viscosity) in red cells and red cell membrane. In addition, it is proposed to study the role of cell and membrane viscosity in governing the lateral diffusion of membrane proteins, the deformability of individual cells in capillary flow and the bulk rheological properties of concentrated cell suspensions. Measurement of the viscous properties of red cells and red cell membrane is accomplished by using micromanipulation and micropipet aspiration techniques to produce well-defined rates of deformation and flow of cells and membrane. These flows include (1) the continuous, axisymmetric flow of membrane from a spherical cell body to an elastic, cylindrical membrane strand or """"""""tether"""""""", (2) the axisymmetric flow produced by the fusion of two cells (note that this particular experiment permits the nearly simultaneous measurement of viscosity and diffusivity), (3) the surface shear flow produced by the recovery of a red cell from an elongated shape to a biconcave disk and (4) the hemoglobin flow produced during the unfolding of a red cell after it is ejected from a small (3-4 Mum diameter) pipet. Continuous fluorescence photobleaching will be used to measure the diffusivity of fluorescent membrane particles as they diffuse from cell body to tether. The diffusivity subsequent to the fusion of two cells will be studied by following the motion of fluorescently tagged membrane proteins in the membrane of one of the cells as they diffuse across an equatorial line. Finally, the role of membrane and cellular viscosity in governing the deformability of cells will be determined by studying the flow of red cells through a single pore and by measuring the bulk rheological properties of microliter quantities of packed cell suspensions in a magneto-acoustic viscometer. From a fundamental viewpoint, membrane viscosity is a manifestation of the collective interaction of membrane molecules. Thus, studies of membrane viscosity give insight into membrane structure. From a practical viewpoint, viscous dissipation in the membrane surface influences its response to infectious disease, immunological reactions and hemolytic phenomena. In addition, the ability of red cell to respond to rapid shape changes as it moves through the circulation is influenced and controlled by the viscous nature of the membrane. All of these factors (membrane and cell viscosity, membrane diffusivity and cell deformability) will be studied.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL023728-10
Application #
3337404
Study Section
Surgery and Bioengineering Study Section (SB)
Project Start
1979-04-01
Project End
1990-11-30
Budget Start
1988-12-01
Budget End
1989-11-30
Support Year
10
Fiscal Year
1989
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Duke University
Department
Type
Biomed Engr/Col Engr/Engr Sta
DUNS #
071723621
City
Durham
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27705
Hochmuth, Robert M; Marcus, Warren D (2002) Membrane tethers formed from blood cells with available area and determination of their adhesion energy. Biophys J 82:2964-9
Marcus, Warren D; Hochmuth, Robert M (2002) Experimental studies of membrane tethers formed from human neutrophils. Ann Biomed Eng 30:1273-80
Levin, J D; Ting-Beall, H P; Hochmuth, R M (2001) Correlating the kinetics of cytokine-induced E-selectin adhesion and expression on endothelial cells. Biophys J 80:656-67
Hochmuth, R M (2000) Micropipette aspiration of living cells. J Biomech 33:15-22
Dai, J; Ting-Beall, H P; Hochmuth, R M et al. (1999) Myosin I contributes to the generation of resting cortical tension. Biophys J 77:1168-76
Shao, J Y; Hochmuth, R M (1999) Mechanical anchoring strength of L-selectin, beta2 integrins, and CD45 to neutrophil cytoskeleton and membrane. Biophys J 77:587-96
Gerald, N; Dai, J; Ting-Beall, H P et al. (1998) A role for Dictyostelium racE in cortical tension and cleavage furrow progression. J Cell Biol 141:483-92
Shao, J Y; Ting-Beall, H P; Hochmuth, R M (1998) Static and dynamic lengths of neutrophil microvilli. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 95:6797-802
Shao, J Y; Hochmuth, R M (1997) The resistance to flow of individual human neutrophils in glass capillary tubes with diameters between 4.65 and 7.75 microns. Microcirculation 4:61-74
Shao, J Y; Hochmuth, R M (1996) Micropipette suction for measuring piconewton forces of adhesion and tether formation from neutrophil membranes. Biophys J 71:2892-901

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