The Role of Red Blood Cell Hemodynamic Functionality in Health and Disease

Dear Colleagues,

Red Blood Cells (RBCs) have special morphological and structural characteristics, expressed by their membrane and cytoskeleton composition and their interactions with hemoglobin and other cytosolic molecules, enabling their unique physiological functions. The primary role of RBC is the transport of respiratory gases. However, RBCs also have unique flow-affecting properties, which determine their hemodynamic functionality, namely, their potential to affect blood circulation and the vascular system. These include RBC deformability, the potential adherence to the blood vessel wall, self-aggregability, and fragility. These properties are altered in numerous pathological conditions (e.g., congenital hemoglobinopathies, cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, and more) and during blood processing and storage in the blood bank. They are associated with structural and biochemical changes. RBCs with impaired hemodynamic functionality interfere with blood circulation and may lead to circulatory disorders, vascular occlusion, and infarction.

In the current Special Issue, we collect new investigations addressing the hemodynamic aspects of RBCs in different pathological states. In addition, we intend to discuss the correlation between biochemical/biophysical features of RBC and their hemodynamics. Moreover, a discussion of the influence of external factors (e.g., oxidative stress, glucose, and shear stress) on RBC hemodynamics would be welcome. These issues can be discussed from an experimental, clinical, or numerical point of view. Since IJMS is a journal of molecular science, pure clinical studies will not be suitable for our journal. However, clinical submissions with biomolecular experiments are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Saul Yedgar
Dr. Gregory Barshtein
Guest Editors

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• red blood cells
• RBC flow-affecting properties
• RBC deformability
• RBC aggregation
• RBC adherence
• RBC fragility
• blood circulation disorders
• blood transfusion