# ERYTHROCYTE SENESCENCE

> **NIH NIH R01** · SCRIPPS CLINIC AND RESEARCH FOUNDATION · 1989 · $97,932

## Abstract

The mechanism of erythrocyte senescence remains an unsolved problem.  Even
though the study of genetically determined hemolytic anemias has
demonstrated a variety of defects which can shorten the erythrocyte life
span, no clear cut answer has emerged as to the normal mechanisms which
determine erythrocyte survival.  The examination of erythrocyte senescence
has been hindered by the difficulty of isolating aged cells.  A variety of
techniques have been utilized for obtaining these senescent erythrocytes
but most are not satisfactory.  This proposal describes a new procedure for
the isolation of senescent erythrocytes from the rabbit.  With this
technique, rabbit erythrocytes are covalently labeled with biotin by
reaction with N-hydroxysuccinimido biotin.  The bound biotin has been shown
to not affect erythrocyte survival when the derivatized cells are infused
into the rabbit.  At various times after infusion, the biotinylated
erythrocytes can be selectively recovered by avidin affinity
chromatography.  With this procedure, erythrocytes are routinely isolated
within 5 to 10 days of their expected death.  These senescent erythrocytes
have been found to have normal levels of adenosine 5' - triphosphate.  The
present proposal will examine additional characteristics of these senescent
erythrocytes including the integrity of the glycolytic and
hexosemonophosphate pathways, the enzymes related to adenine nucleotide
metabolism, the state of the cellular anti-oxidant defenses, the level of
antibodies on the cell surface and the integrity of the skeleton/membrane
complex.  A careful examination of these parameters should lead to a better
understanding of factors which control the normal senescence of
erythrocytes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3120240
- **Project number:** 1R01AG008545-01
- **Recipient organization:** SCRIPPS CLINIC AND RESEARCH FOUNDATION
- **Principal Investigator:** GEORGE LESLIE DALE
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1989
- **Award amount:** $97,932
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 1989-01-01 → 1991-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3120240

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3120240, ERYTHROCYTE SENESCENCE (1R01AG008545-01). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3120240. Licensed CC0.

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