Platelets mediate the clearance of senescent red blood cells by forming pro-phagocytic platelet-cell complexes

In humans approximately 0.1-0.3% of circulating red blood cells (RBC) are present as platelet-RBC (P-RBC) complexes, and 1-2% in mice. Excessive P-RBC complexes are found in diseases that compromise RBC health (e.g. sickle cell disease and malaria) and contribute to pathogenesis. However, the physiological role of P-RBC complexes in healthy blood is unknown. As a result of damage accumulated over their lifetime, RBC nearing senescence exhibit physiological and molecular changes akin …