Disease relevance of Acanthocytes

• Patients with abetalipoproteinemia have an inborn absence of the major apoprotein of low density plasma lipoproteins, an abnormal serum and red cell lipid profile, and spiny erythrocytes, called acanthocytes [1].

High impact information on Acanthocytes

• In the present study, we report an alteration of band 3 molecule that is associated with the following changes: erythrocyte shape change from discoid to "thorny cells" (acanthocytes), restriction of rotational diffusion of band 3 in the membrane, increase in anion transport, and decrease in the number of high-affinity ankyrin-binding sites [2].
• Effect of phosphatidylserine on the shape of McLeod red cell acanthocytes [3].
• Unlike controls, the ghosts and membrane skeletons obtained from urea-generated acanthocytes were imprinted with spicules [4].
• Apoprotein B was absent in both cases and each patient had > 50% acanthocytes present on peripheral blood smear [5].
• In unfixed wet blood preparations of both EDTA blood and isotonically diluted blood, acanthocyte levels were significantly higher than in standard dry blood smear preparations [6].

Biological context of Acanthocytes

• Tris acetylacetonate aluminium(III) induces osmotic fragility and acanthocyte formation in suspended erythrocytes [7].

Associations of Acanthocytes with chemical compounds

• Acanthocyte membrane is enriched in cholesterol by an abnormal plasma lipoprotein [8].
• On heating above 62 degree C, albumin released ligands, such as lysophosphatidylcholine, in quantities sufficient to convert erythrocytes to acanthocytes [9].

Gene context of Acanthocytes

• Computed tomography (CT) scans of lower leg muscles reveal a selective pattern of fat infiltration in the posterior compartment with spared gracilis, semitendinosus, and the lateral head of the gastrocnemius in both McLeod syndrome and chorea-acanthocytosis, which are disorders characterized by the presence of circulating acanthocytes [10].

References