Investigation of the metabolic activity of erythrocytes of patients with sickle cell anemia with and without treatment with hydroxyurea using chip calorimeter and the segmented flow method

Abstract

This request aid to FAPESP for visiting Professor Johannes Lerchner IQ Unicamp, during the period (November first 2014 to December first 2014) is the target of a joint project between the group of Prof. Pedro L.O. Volpe (Institute of Chemistry - UNICAMP) and the group of Prof. Dr. Fernando Ferreira Costa (Blood Center - FCM - UNICAMP) with the group of Prof. Dr. Johannes Lerchner (TU Bergakademie Freiberg - Germany). The goal of this research is the development of new calorimetric methods and their application for direct determination of the heat of metabolic activities in blood cells suspension in real time. The focus of the project is mainly the use of microcalorimetry in the study of the heat produced during the metabolic activity of red cells from sickle cell patients with and without treatment with hydroxyurea (HU), using the Chip microcalorimeter operating on the mode of segmented continuous flow (STF - Segmented Flow Technology). The substantial progress of the implementation of SFT in analytical methods using micro-fluidic systems is the strong motivation of this project where this methodology will be adapted to the Chip microcalorimeter developed at TU Freiberg Bergakademie for the study of biological samples (red cells) collected from patients with sickle cell anemia. The expected success of the work will come from a combination of different areas of expertise of the groups involved in the project. The research of Prof. Dr. Fernando Ferreira Costa involves the investigation of clinical and molecular features in hematological, especially inherited disorders of red blood cells including hemoglobinopathies. Sickle cell anemia is one of the diseases most research in his laboratory at the Blood Center at UNICAMP. Prof. Volpe has experience in the physical chemical application of calorimetry in the study of biological systems and, consequently, the conditions for a successful introduction of new technologies of heat in your group. The partners of TU Bergakademie Freiberg can contribute with the experience in methodology especially in the development and application of new technologies such as the application of the chip calorimeter on the heat monitoring of metabolic processes in living cells in real time.In his first visit to the IQ-UNICAMP during 10 days in July 2013, Prof. Johannes Lerchner (Bergakademie TU Freiberg, Germany) brought a Chip calorimeter which was tested with blood cells suspensions in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Pedro Volpe (Institute of Chemistry), and researchers of the Blood Center - Prof. Dr. Fernando Ferreira Costa, Dra. Lanaro Carolina, Dra. Dulcinea Martins de Albuquerque, Dr. Andrey dos Santos (Medical Sciences) and Prof. Dr. Kleber Fertrin Y. (Department of Pathology). Preliminary results of the metabolic activity heat production of erythro leukemic cells (K562 cells), in comparison to normal cells have, clearly confirmed the potential and the utility of the chip calorimeter for this type of study and analysis in the medical field. In this project, experiments will be conducted at the Institute of Chemistry, UNICAMP. For this, a Chip microcalorimeter of the University of Freiberg operating on the mode of segmented flow will be installed at the Institute of Chemistry, UNICAMP, at least during the duration of the project. The continued use of this calorimeter in IQ-UNICAMP for further scientific activities is considered by the TU-Freiberg group, and is directly related to the success of this project. In addition, a postgraduate course in IQ-UNICAMP will be offered by Professor Lerchner to support research activities in calorimetry. (AU)