<P> The aging red blood cell undergoes changes in its plasma membrane , making it susceptible to selective recognition by macrophages and subsequent phagocytosis in the mononuclear phagocyte system ( spleen , liver and lymph nodes ) , thus removing old and defective cells and continually purging the blood . This process is termed eryptosis , red blood cell programmed cell death . This process normally occurs at the same rate of production by erythropoiesis , balancing the total circulating red blood cell count . Eryptosis is increased in a wide variety of diseases including sepsis , haemolytic uremic syndrome , malaria , sickle cell anemia , beta - thalassemia , glucose - 6 - phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency , phosphate depletion , iron deficiency and Wilson 's disease . Eryptosis can be elicited by osmotic shock , oxidative stress , energy depletion as well as a wide variety of endogenous mediators and xenobiotics . Excessive eryptosis is observed in red blood cells lacking the cGMP - dependent protein kinase type I or the AMP - activated protein kinase AMPK . Inhibitors of eryptosis include erythropoietin , nitric oxide , catecholamines and high concentrations of urea . </P>
<P> The aging red blood cell undergoes changes in its plasma membrane , making it susceptible to selective recognition by macrophages and subsequent phagocytosis in the mononuclear phagocyte system ( spleen , liver and lymph nodes ) , thus removing old and defective cells and continually purging the blood . This process is termed eryptosis , red blood cell programmed cell death . This process normally occurs at the same rate of production by erythropoiesis , balancing the total circulating red blood cell count . Eryptosis is increased in a wide variety of diseases including sepsis , haemolytic uremic syndrome , malaria , sickle cell anemia , beta - thalassemia , glucose - 6 - phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency , phosphate depletion , iron deficiency and Wilson 's disease . Eryptosis can be elicited by osmotic shock , oxidative stress , energy depletion as well as a wide variety of endogenous mediators and xenobiotics . Excessive eryptosis is observed in red blood cells lacking the cGMP - dependent protein kinase type I or the AMP - activated protein kinase AMPK . Inhibitors of eryptosis include erythropoietin , nitric oxide , catecholamines and high concentrations of urea . </P>
where does the breakdown of red blood cells occur
where does the breakdown of red blood cells occur
in the mononuclear phagocyte system ( spleen , liver and lymph nodes )
in the mononuclear phagocyte system ( spleen , liver and lymph nodes )