A Model of Piezo1-based Regulation of Red Blood Cell Volume

A red blood cell (RBC) performs its function of adequately carrying respiratory gases in blood by its volume being about 60 % of that of a sphere with the same membrane area. For this purpose, human and most other vertebrate RBCs regulate their content of potassium (K+) and sodium (Na+) ions. The focus considered here is on K+ efflux through calcium ion (Ca++) activated Gárdos channels. These channels open under conditions that allow Ca++ to enter RBCs through Piezo1 mechanosensitive cation permeable channels.

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