The Role of Calcium Metabolism in Human Red Blood Cell Ageing: A Proposal

ABSTRACT: The mechanisms of recognition, trapping and destruction of senescent human erythrocytes are not completely understood. Here we discuss some evidences supporting the idea that red cell ageing is closely related to a progressive increase in intracellular ionic Ca. This in turn, is the determining factor of a series of events such as Ca pump proteolysis and opening of the Ca-dependent K channel, that finally lead to the removal of old cells by macrophages at spleen level.