Erythrocytes as Active Regulators of Blood Flow: A Brief Overview.

While the primary function of red blood cells (RBCs) in the human body is the transport of gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) in the vascular system, research conducted over the past few decades has demonstrated that RBCs also play a role in the active regulation of blood flow by releasing vasoactive substances (adenosine triphosphate, ATP, and nitric oxide, NO). This chapter provides an overview of the process involved in this ATP- and NO-mediated vasodilation of RBCs, and its relevance to human physiology and pathophysiology.