About this Research Topic

Background

RBCs produce and are exposed to significant levels of oxidants in the circulation. RBCs themselves are designed to regulate oxidant levels within tightly controlled limits, thereby modulating essential signaling pathways. However, RBC and tissue damage can occur where oxidant levels exceed antioxidant capacity, resulting in redox imbalance. This arises when either oxidant production is increased and/or antioxidant capacity is limited. Such redox imbalance has important implications for vascular homeostasis, playing a key role in the pathogenesis of many diseases (i.e., hypertension, ischemic heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, sickle cell disease). Often however, the role of RBCs in disease progression is unfortunately overlooked.

The role of RBCs in vascular redox regulation is not well understood and grossly under explored. The main goal of this Research Topic is to focus specifically on the role played by RBCs in the maintenance of vascular redox homeostasis. This includes (1) general basic experimentation of RBC reactive oxygen species (ROS) biology, including specific sources and targets of ROS or the mechanisms underlying the fine tuning of ROS levels. We are also interested in (2) how RBC oxidant levels and/or antioxidant capacity is regulated in health and disease, (3) the effect of this on system redox balance, and (4) the biological effect of redox imbalance. Furthermore, we are interested in (5) new methodologies and/or probes to study ROS biology related to the vascular system and in particular the RBC.

Authors are welcome to submit original research articles, reviews, and mini reviews covering, but not limited to, the following topic areas:

1. RBCs as sources and sinks for ROS in the circulation
2. How RBCs contribute to ROS generation and ROS clearance
3. Sources and mechanisms of enhanced intra RBC ROS generation (i.e., eNOS uncoupling)
4. Regulation of RBC antioxidant capacity in health and disease
5. The link between RBC antioxidant capacity and metabolism
6. Effect of RBC aging and RBC storage on RBC vascular redox regulation (role of exogenous antioxidants in RBC storage solutions to stabilize RBC redox balance)
7. Role of RBCs in vascular redox homeostasis in health and disease
8. Role of RBC derived microparticles in vascular redox regulation
9. Effect of exercise on RBC redox regulation
10. New or modified methodologies to allow quantification of RBC redox balance.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• ... View all formats

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Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Red blood cells, vascular, redox, RBC, physiology

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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