Studying Ion Channels in Human Erythrocytes by Direct and Indirect Means

Mature human or mouse erythrocytes functionally express an unexpected diversity of ion channels that endows these small enucleated cells with a toolkit for electrosignaling. Being largely dormant under resting conditions, these ion channels enable erythrocytes to quickly respond to internal or external stimuli. They are integral modules of complex programs such as oxygen-regulated ATP release or stress-induced programmed erythrocyte death. This article summarizes electrophysiologial and non-electrophysiological methods to analyze erythrocyte ion channels and provides protocols for channel activation.