Background: We have showed that secretory Apolipoprotein J/Clusterin (sCLU) is down-regulated in senescent, stressed or
diseased red blood cells (RBCs). It was hypothesized that sCLU loss relates to RBCs vesiculation, a mechanism that removes
erythrocyte membrane patches containing defective or potentially harmful components.
Methodology/Principal Findings: To investigate this issue we employed a combination of biochemical and microscopical
approaches in freshly prepared RBCs or RBCs stored under standard blood bank conditions, an in vitro model system of
cellular aging. We found that sCLU is effectively exocytosed in vivo during membrane vesiculation of freshly prepared RBCs.
In support, the RBCs’ sCLU content was progressively reduced during RBCs ex vivo maturation and senescence under cold
storage due to its selective exocytosis in membrane vesicles. A range of typical vesicular components, also involved in RBCs
senescence, like Band 3, CD59, hemoglobin and carbonylated membrane proteins were found to physically interact with
sCLU.
Conclusions/Significance: The maturation of RBCs is associated with a progressive loss of sCLU. We propose that sCLU is
functionally involved in the disposal of oxidized/defected material through RBCs vesiculation. This process most probably
takes place through sCLU interaction with RBCs membrane proteins that are implicit vesicular components. Therefore, sCLU
represents a pro-survival factor acting for the postponement of the untimely clearance of RBCs.