Red Blood Cell Metabolism In Vivo and In Vitro

Red blood cells (RBC) are the most abundant cell in human body, with a central role oxygen transport and its delivery to tissues. However, omics technologies recently revealed unanticipated complexity of RBC proteome metabolome, paving way for reinterpretation mechanisms by which metabolism regulates systems biology beyond transport. The new data analytical tools also informed dissection changes that RBCs undergo during refrigerated storage under bank conditions, logistic necessity makes >100 million units available life-saving transfusions every year worldwide. In this narrative review, we summarize last decade advances field vivo vitro, largely influenced authors’ own journeys field. We hope review will stimulate further research interesting medically important area or, at least, serve as testament our fascination simple, yet complex, cell.