Red cells constitute ~70% of all cells in the human body and in healthy individuals their circulatory life span is ~ 120 days. At steady state the bone marrow produces 2.5 million red cells per second to maintain normal hemoglobin levels. Anemia characterized by decreased hemoglobin levels is a major global health problem affecting nearly 2 billion individuals. Decreased red cell life span and/or decreased red cell production in the bone marrow account for anemia in various inherited and acquired hemolytic anemias. Significant progress has been and is continuing to be made in our understanding of the mechanistic basis for anemia. The three presentations in the symposium will highlight recent advances in our understanding of red cell biology and of anemia.

Dr. Patrick Gallagher will discuss recent advances which have expanded understanding of the many roles of the erythrocyte membrane. An update on the diagnosis and treatment of membrane disorders and potential emerging therapies will be discussed.

Dr. Naomi Taylor will highlight the pivotal role of metabolite transporters and fuel choice in erythroid lineage commitment and terminal erythroid differentiation. The importance of metabolic reprogramming in diseases of disordered and ineffective erythropoiesis will be discussed.

Dr. Olivier Hermine will explain the mechanisms that control red cell production during terminal erythroid differentiation, focusing on the processes that determine the fate of erythroid precursors between differentiation or cell death. The discussion will also touch upon how these mechanisms are impacted in hemoglobinopathies and myelodysplastic disorders, which can result in ineffective erythropoiesis and anemia. Additionally, therapeutic implications arising from these insights will be emphasized.