Novel model of erythrophagocytosis

Scientific illustration

Scientific illustration showing how senescent red blood cells (RBC) are selectively retained in the spleen, where they undergo shear stress-induced hemolysis. Then, macrophages present in the red pulp phagocytize ghost remnants of aged RBCs. Macrophage-mediated iron recycling is facilitated by haptoglobin and hemopexin, which scavenge the hemoglobin and heme content release in the extracellular space. Illustration made for Somersault18:24 and published in Vinchi F. and Vance S. Z. HemaSphere. 2021.