Cholesterol’s Role in Red Blood Cell Dysfunction
Faculty Mentor
Judd Case
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
May 2025
End Date
May 2025
Location
PUB NCR
Primary Discipline of Presentation
Biology
Abstract
Red blood cells (RBCs) are essential for the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide, and they also play a critical role in maintaining lipid homeostasis, particularly in cholesterol regulation. Cholesterol is a vital component of cell membranes, and its transport in the body is primarily mediated by plasma lipoproteins, which carry cholesterol as cholesterol esters. RBCs act as an important intermediate and temporary storage vehicle during the process of reverse cholesterol transport, which facilitates the removal of excess cholesterol from cells. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) are key players in this process, assisting in the transfer of cholesterol from RBCs to the liver for excretion. We aimed to assess how cholesterol affects the structural and functional integrity of RBCs in pathological conditions. We found that cholesterol regulation is often disrupted in abnormal RBCs (target cells, burr cells, or stomatocytes), as seen in conditions such as sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and liver disease. In these conditions, altered RBC membrane composition and impaired cholesterol metabolism contribute to cellular dysfunction, compromising RBC integrity and promoting disease progression. Accumulation of cholesterol in the RBC membrane can alter membrane fluidity and permeability, plus impaired flexibility, increasing RBCs susceptibility to hemolysis.
Recommended Citation
Brandt, Jodi, "Cholesterol’s Role in Red Blood Cell Dysfunction" (2025). 2025 Symposium. 7.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2025/ps_2025/p1_2025/7
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Cholesterol’s Role in Red Blood Cell Dysfunction
PUB NCR
Red blood cells (RBCs) are essential for the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide, and they also play a critical role in maintaining lipid homeostasis, particularly in cholesterol regulation. Cholesterol is a vital component of cell membranes, and its transport in the body is primarily mediated by plasma lipoproteins, which carry cholesterol as cholesterol esters. RBCs act as an important intermediate and temporary storage vehicle during the process of reverse cholesterol transport, which facilitates the removal of excess cholesterol from cells. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) are key players in this process, assisting in the transfer of cholesterol from RBCs to the liver for excretion. We aimed to assess how cholesterol affects the structural and functional integrity of RBCs in pathological conditions. We found that cholesterol regulation is often disrupted in abnormal RBCs (target cells, burr cells, or stomatocytes), as seen in conditions such as sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and liver disease. In these conditions, altered RBC membrane composition and impaired cholesterol metabolism contribute to cellular dysfunction, compromising RBC integrity and promoting disease progression. Accumulation of cholesterol in the RBC membrane can alter membrane fluidity and permeability, plus impaired flexibility, increasing RBCs susceptibility to hemolysis.
