Membrane-Bound Immunoglobulins Increase during Red Blood Cell Aging

Abstract

A flow cytofluorimetric method was used to detect the immunoglobulin molecules present on human red blood cells. Normal human erythrocytes were separated into seven fractions of increasing mean age by density centrifugation on discontinuous gradients. Some biochemical and morphological properties of these cells were determined as well as their IgG content. The results obtained suggest that IgG binding during red cell aging is a cumulative process.