A Procedure to Convert Sickle Cell Blood Cells to
Normal Blood
Dr. Marina Kameneva of the McGowan Center of Regenerative Medicine has partnered with CMI
to begin development of a real-world procedure to convert Sickle Cell Disease blood cells (RBC
HbS) into normal, healthy blood cells (RBC Hb).
Sickle Cell Disease is caused by mutant
hemoglobin (HbS), which forces RBCs into a
sickle shape, reducing their survivability
(Figure 1). The procedure under development
aims to extract patient’s blood, remove the
mutant HbS, and replace it with healthy donor
hemoglobin (Hb) before returning the blood
cells to the patient (Figure 2).
Figure 1: A comparison of normal and Sickle
Cell Disease red blood cells2
Sickle Cell Disease affects approximately
100,000 Americans, primarily of African
descent. It is even more common in Africa
(approximately 1/100 children are born with
it), and Southeast Asia. Over time, patients
with the disease will develop multiple organ
failure, leading to a greatly reduced life
expectancy, as well as massive medical
expense. Current treatments involve drugs
and red blood cell transplants. However, the
drugs are expensive and can have dangerous
side effects. And cell transplants from donors
often trigger immune responses (especially
across different races), which can nullify the
treatment or even lead to death.
The new procedure replaces the defective protein inside the RBCs, instead of the cells themselves,
eliminating the potential immune response, providing a more effective treatment with enhanced
long-term viability.
Figure 2: A diagram of Dr. Kameneva’s procedure
Biography1: Dr. Marina Kameneva is a Research Professor of Surgery and Professor of
Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh, as well as the Director of the Artificial Blood
Program at the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Dr. Kameneva received her PhD in
Mechanical Engineering from the School of Mathematics and Mechanics at Moscow State
University (former Soviet Union) and subsequently worked at the Research Institute of Mechanics,
Moscow State University. After emigration to the United States, Dr. Kameneva joined the faculty of
the University of Pittsburgh as a Visiting Scientist of the Artificial Heart and Lung Program and was
appointed as a Research Assistant Professor of Surgery in 1996, as a Research Associate Professor of
Surgery in 2000, and as Research Professor of Surgery and Bioengineering in 2006. Her major areas
of expertise are biorheology, hemorheology, macro- and microhemodynamics, drag-reducing
polymers (DRPs) and their potential biomedical applications, and mechanical blood trauma in
artificial organs. She is also the author of over 400 peer reviewed journal articles,
conference/symposia proceedings, and abstracts, as well as several book chapters in the areas of
Fluid Mechanics, Bioengineering, and Bio-rheology.
Bibliography:
1. http://www.mirm.pitt.edu/people/bios/Kameneva1.asp
2. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sca