Erythrocytes morphology and hemorheology in severe bacterial infection

BACKGROUND: Severe bacterial infections initiate inadequate inflammation that leads to disseminated intravascular coagulation and death. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the influence of bacterial infection on blood viscosity and red blood cells (RBCs) morphology, and the ability of Calotropis procera proteins (CpLP) to prevent the patho-hemorheology in infected animals. METHODS: Rheology of blood, atomic force microscopy measurements on specific blood elements and blood count were performed to examine changes in blood viscosity, RBCs morphology, platelets activation, and RBCs indices. FINDINGS: Infected mice hold their blood rheological behaviour as compared to that of the control group. However, they presented hyperactivated platelets, RBCs at different stages of eryptosis, and variation on RBCs indices. CpLP administration in healthy animals altered blood behaviour from pseudoplastic to Bingham-like fluid. Such effect disappeared over time and by inhibiting its proteases. No alterations were observed in RBCs morphology or platelets. Treatment of infected animals with CpLP prevented the changes in RBCs indices and morphology. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: The inflammatory process triggered by bacterial infection induced pathological changes in RBCs and platelets activation. Treatment of infected animals with CpLP prevented the emergence of RBCs abnormal morphology and this may have implications in the protective effect of CpLP, avoiding animal death.