Unexpectedly, a ground-breaking study that was published in Nature revealed that hemoglobin is not only found in red blood cells. Chinese researchers have found that chondrocytes—the cells that make cartilage—also make hemoglobin, which seems to be essential to their survival. For many years, textbooks have said that hemoglobin, which is only found in red blood cells (RBCs) and is responsible for turning blood red and carrying oxygen, is only found in RBCs.
What is a Cartilage?
Cartilage is a tough, flexible connective tissue found throughout the human body, providing structural support and reducing friction between bones.
New Breakthrough: Haemoglobin Bodies (Hedy)
- Pathologists Crucial for Survival: Studies conducted on genetically altered mice demonstrated that chondrocytes deficient in hemoglobin underwent apoptosis, underscoring the crucial function of Hedy.
- Oxygen Transport: Haemoglobin in chondrocytes probably acts as an oxygen supply and store, much like RBCs do. This keeps cartilage cells from being subjected to hypoxic stress, or low oxygen levels.
Functionality of Hedy
- Crucial for Survival: Studies conducted on genetically altered mice demonstrated that chondrocytes deficient in hemoglobin underwent apoptosis, underscoring the crucial function of Hedy.
- Oxygen Transport: Haemoglobin in chondrocytes probably acts as an oxygen supply and store, much like RBCs do. This keeps cartilage cells from being subjected to hypoxic stress, or low oxygen levels.
Haemoglobin’s Broader Implications
- New Research Pathways: The finding closes knowledge gaps in the fields of skeletal biology and haematology, opening up new avenues for studying the connection between hemoglobin and stem cell destiny in growth plates.
- Prospects for Understanding Joint Disease: The possibility that cartilage may be involved in bone abnormalities and joint illnesses is increased by functional hemoglobin, providing new information about the mechanisms underlying disease.
