Adhesion of sickle red cells to endothelium: Myths and future directions

Sickle RBC are abnormally adherent to vascular endothelial cells. We briefly review the mechanisms that underlie this type of cell/cell adhesion, expose a number of extant myths about RBC adhesion, and discuss some aspects that need consideration via future experimentation. The relationship of this phenomenon of RBC-endothelial adhesion to the cytoadherence of parasitized sickle RBC is not yet clear. (c) 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.