Eryptosis: The suicidal death of erythrocytes

Abstract

Eryptosis, a form of erythrocyte cell death, occurs when cells experience a survival-threatening injury, often due to hyperosmolarity, oxidative stress, energy depletion, heavy metal exposure, and antibiotics. Eryptosis exhibits all the hallmarks of apoptosis, including cell shrinkage, membrane blebbing, and cell membrane scrambling. It is primarily caused by increased calcium ions in the cytoplasm, facilitated by PGE2-activated non-selective cation channels. Cytosolic calcium levels trigger three processes: phosphatidylserine flip, sphingomyelinase stimulation, and µ-calpain activation, causing membrane blebbing and degrading cytoskeletal components. Eryptosis is triggered by various factors including oxidative stress, hyperosmolarity, energy depletion, α-lipoic acid, hyperosmolarity, oxidative stress, energy depletion, heavy metal exposure, and antibiotics. The inhibitors of eryptosis include erythropoietin, nitric oxide, catecholamines, and thymol. Eryptosis can be caused by various clinical conditions including tumors, diabetes, renal insufficiency, genetic disorders, malaria, sepsis, sickle cell anaemia, hepatic failure, and iron deficiency anaemia.