Detailed simulations reveal new information on sickle cell disease
Although there has yet to be a cure for sickle cell disease, researchers recently created detailed simulations on the
Comet system at the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) showing how these stiff red blood cells flow through blood vessels, deforming and colliding along the way.
The study, recently published in the
Physical Review Fluids journal, reveals new information regarding the ways in which sickle cells collide with one another as well as healthy cells and blood vessel walls.
Our new simulations showed how the motions of sickle cells near vessel walls generate large forces. The forces caused by these sickle cells impact healthy cells on the blood vessel walls, which in turns causes inflammation.