Association of abnormal erythrocyte morphology with oxidative stress and inflammation in metabolic syndrome

In carrying out their role of free radical scavenging, erythrocytes become damaged due to oxidation of membrane lipids and proteins. Such damage may change the morphology of the erythrocytes. The present study aims to demonstrate change in erythrocyte morphology in MetS and associate the changes with increased oxidative stress and inflammation that were shown in our recent study. One hundred participants were recruited from a rural town of Australia. Whole blood viscosity, erythrocyte aggregation, erythrocyte deformability, lipid profile and blood sugar level, oxidative stress markers (erythrocyte reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, urinary isoprostanes) and inflammatory markers (high sensitivity C-reactive protein) were measured. Erythrocyte morphological study was performed by scanning electron microscopy. Recruited participants were classified into MetS and non-MetS following the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III definition. Data were analyzed by IBM SPSS 20 software. The mean percentages of biconcave cells were decreased whereas acanthocytes, stomatocytes and echinocytes were increased in MetS group compared to healthy controls. Morphologically abnormal erythrocytes were significantly correlated with oxidative stress and chronic inflammation markers. Free radicals generated in increased concentration in MetS seem to damage erythrocyte changing its morphology which possibly could affect other hemorheological parameters.