Hypotonic hemolysis of human red blood cells: a two-phase process.

Previous use of hemolysis time measurement to determine permeability coefficients for the red blood cell membrane rested on the assumption that cells swelling in a hypotonic medium hemolyzed immediately on reaching critical volume. By preswelling red cells to various volumes prior to immersion in hemolytic solutions we extrapolate to the hemolysis time of red cells immersed at critical volume and thereby find a significant period of time during which the cells apparently remain in a spherical form prior to release of hemoglobin. Revised estimates of permeability coefficients follow from including this spherical (nonswelling) phase. In addition, the appreciation of a characteristic time period during which the membrane is under tension provides new opportunity to study physical and chemical properties of the membrane.     

Hypotonic hemolysis of human red blood cells: a two-phase process

Summary Previous use of hemolysis time measurement to determine permeability coefficients for the red blood cell membrane rested on the assumption that cells swelling in a hypotonic medium hemolyzed immediately on reaching critical volume. By preswelling red cells to various volumes prior to immersion in hemolytic solutions we extrapolate to the hemolysis time of red cells immersed at critical volume and thereby find a significant period of time during which the cells apparently remain in a spherical form prior to release of hemoglobin. Revised estimates of permeability coefficients follow from including this spherical (nonswelling) phase. In addition, the appreciation of a characteristic time period during which the membrane is under tension provides new opportunity to study physical and chemical properties of the membrane.Presented in part at the 1974 joint meeting of the Biophysical Society and the American Society of Biological Chemists.     

Utilization of membranous lipid substrates by membranous enzymes: activation of the latent sphingomyelinase of hen erythrocyte membrane

Previous studies demonstrated that hen erythrocytes have an inoperative, latent sphingomyelinase which is activated when the cells are hemolyzed in a hypotonic medium. Within minutes after hemolysis about 60-80% of the sphingomyelin (SPM) of the RBC "ghost" membrane was hydrolyzed. In this paper, expression of sphingomyelinase activity was further investigated. The percentage of total SPM hydrolyzed depended on the volume of the hypotonic hemolyzing buffer. Thus, suspending the erythrocytes in 4 vol of the buffer resulted in clumping of the hemolyzed "ghosts" and no hydrolysis of SPM. In comparison, suspension in 19 vol of the hypotonic buffer showed no clumping and sphingomyelinase activity was fully expressed. But centrifugation of the latter or, alternatively, addition of concanavalin A induced clumping and elimination of sphingomyelinase activity. Hen RBC could also be hemolyzed in an isotonic medium in the presence of Triton X-100, mellitin, halothane, and phospholipase C. Activation of the latent sphingomyelinase occurred at concentrations of these reagents which caused cell lysis. Hen RBC were dispersed in an isotonic medium containing glutaraldehyde (0.1%) or formaldehyde (10%). This rendered the cells resistant to hemolysis, even when subsequently dispersed in a hypotonic medium or water. But incubation of the "fixed" cells in a hypotonic or isotonic medium activated the enzyme, resulting in hydrolysis of 60% of the cellular SPM. In contrast, when glutaraldehyde was included in the hypotonic buffer, hemolysis occurred but sphingomyelinase activity was eliminated.     

Plasmodium falciparum activates endogenous Cl(-) channels of human erythrocytes by membrane oxidation.

Intraerythrocytic survival of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum requires that host cells supply nutrients and dispose of waste products. This solute transport is accomplished by infection-induced new permeability pathways (NPP) in the erythrocyte membrane. Here, whole-cell patch-clamp and hemolysis experiments were performed to define properties of the NPP. Parasitized but not control erythrocytes constitutively expressed two types of anion conductances, differing in voltage dependence and sensitivity to inhibitors. In addition, infected but not control cells hemolyzed in isosmotic sorbitol solution. Both conductances and hemolysis of infected cells were inhibited by reducing agents. Conversely, oxidation induced identical conductances and hemolysis in non-infected erythrocytes. In conclusion, P.falciparum activates endogenous erythrocyte channels by applying oxidative stress to the host cell membrane.     

The relationship of membrane lipids to species specific hemolysis by hemolytic factors from Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae)

Posterior-midgut homogenate from female stable flies prepared at 12 h after feeding hemolyzed erythrocytes from 6 different mammalian species more readily than homogenate prepared at 22 h. A significant correlation was obtained between the per cent sphingomyelin content of the erythrocyte membrane and the time required for lysis by the 12 h homogenate. Erythrocytes with low sphingomyelin content were more sensitive to lysis than cells with high sphingomyelin. No such correlation exists for hemolysis by 22 h homogenate. Mean corpuscular volume and osmotic fragilities of erythrocytes were not related to hemolysis either by 12 or 22 h homogenate. Determination of phospholipase C and sphingomyelinase activities showed that the hydrolysis rate of phospholipase C in homogenates prepared at 12–14 h was almost twice as much as sphingomyelinase activity. Whereas hydrolysis rates in 22–24 h homogenate were not different and markedly reduced compared to the 12–14 h homogenate. The times required for erythrocyte hemolysis related to the phospholipase C and sphingomyelinase activity profiles suggests that these enzyme activities participate in the in vitro hemolysis of red blood cells. Bovine and human erythrocytes change their biconcave contour into a spiculated spherical shape when they are exposed to midgut homogenate. This shape change is interpreted as a detergent induced modification of the red cell membrane which renders the erythrocytes more vulnerable to hemolysis.     

Shape and Volume Changes in Frog Erythrocytes Following Ultraviolet Radiation

Frog erythrocytes in Ringer's solution were exposed to ultraviolet radiation and then followed in camera lucida drawings for changes in shape and dimension. Cell thickness was found to increase while cell width remained constant throughout the period prior to hemolysis. The cell shortened and bulged at the ends during the middle third of the prolytic period while a region around the cell center remained constricted. When this constricted region gave way, the cell became spherical and hemolyzed. Cell volume as calculated from the cell's dimensions increased linearly with time throughout the prolytic period to hemolysis then dropped rapidly to a constant value somewhat higher than the original cell volume. These changes in shape and volume are consistent with a colloid osmotic type of hemolysis but with other factors acting to limit the rate of swelling and the forms assumed during the swelling process. The relationship between the time of hemolysis and the cell surface area exposed to the ultraviolet is discussed as it applies to the site of ultraviolet damage.     

Factors affecting the hemolytic action of "lysolecithin" upon rabbit erythrocytes

1. Lysolipid was prepared by the action of snake venom on egg yolk, and a study was made of the factors affecting its hemolytic action upon rabbit erythrocytes. 2. Lysis proceeded very rapidly at first, then ceased within a few minutes at room temperature. A given amount of lysin appeared to hemolyze a fixed number of cells, under specified conditions. 3. The more dilute erythrocyte suspensions required relatively more lysin per cell, for 50 per cent hemolysis of the suspension. There may be an equilibrium between the lysin dissolved in the medium and that adsorbed on the cells. 4. The degree of hemolysis for varying lysin concentrations was measured, and the cells showed a typical distribution of resistance to hemolysis. 5. As the temperature was lowered lysis was more extensive. Adsorption of the lysin on the cell surface was apparently increased. 6. The resistance of the erythrocytes to lysis increased slightly as the pH was raised from 5.5 to 7.8. 7. Resistance to lysis was independent of the tonicity of the medium and of initial cell volume. The magnitude of the cell surface was probably the determining factor. 8. A marked shrinkage of the erythrocytes was observed in the presence of calcium ions and lysin, but not in the absence of the lysin. 9. Hemolytic resistance curves obtained by the Wilbrandt technique were of the "colloid-osmotic" type. However, there was no evidence of prolytic loss of potassium ions. 10. Hypotonic fragility of the cells was slightly increased in the presence of the lysin. The rate of penetration of thiourea was greatly increased.     

Studies on the role of goat heart galectin-1 as an erythrocyte membrane perturbing agent

Galectins are β-galactoside binding lectins with a potential hemolytic role on erythrocyte membrane integrity and permeability. In the present study, goat heart galectin-1 (GHG-1) was purified and investigated for its hemolytic actions on erythrocyte membrane. When exposed to various saccharides, lactose and sucrose provided maximum protection against hemolysis, while glucose and galactose provided lesser protection against hemolysis. GHG-1 agglutinated erythrocytes were found to be significantly hemolyzed in comparison with unagglutinated erythrocytes. A concentration dependent rise in the hemolysis of trypsinized rabbit erythrocytes was observed in the presence of GHG-1. Similarly, a temperature dependent gradual increase in percent hemolysis was observed in GHG-1 agglutinated erythrocytes as compared to negligible hemolysis in unagglutinated cells. The hemolysis of GHG-1 treated erythrocytes showed a sharp rise with the increasing pH up to 7.5 which became constant till pH 9.5. The extent of erythrocyte hemolysis increased with the increase in the incubation period, with maximum hemolysis after 5 h of incubation. The results of this study establish the ability of galectins as a potential hemolytic agent of erythrocyte membrane, which in turn opens an interesting avenue in the field of proteomics and glycobiology.     

Effect of lysophosphatidylcholine on salt permeability through the erythrocyte membrane under haemolytic conditions

Human erythrocytes were incubated in haemolytic salt or sucrose media and the amount of potassium and haemoglobin released were monitored. In hypotonic NaCl and KCl solutions potassium release and haemolysis increased with time showing that the cell membrane had been injured and became permeable to intra- and extracellular cations which, due to intracellular haemoglobin, causes water influx and continuous haemolysis. Both potassium release and haemolysis remained, however, at their 2-minute level in the presence of LPC. Thus, LPC could reseal the membrane and prevent continuous salt fluxes. It protected erythrocytes from hypotonic haemolysis and the protection was more efficient in NaCl than in sucrose media. This suggests that the increase in the critical volume of erythrocytes caused by LPC occurs both in electrolyte and sucrose media, and the additional protection observed in electrolyte media is due to the resealing of the injured cell membrane by LPC. The repairing mechanism was mediated via the membrane lipids or integral proteins, since the time-course of haemolysis of erythrocytes swollen in NaCl media at the spectrin-denaturing temperature of 49.5 degrees C was similar to that at room temperature with and without LPC. LPC did not protect erythrocytes from colloid osmotic haemolysis caused by ammonia influx in an isotonic NH4Cl medium, but protected the cells from colloid osmotic haemolysis caused by sodium influx through nystatin-channels in NaCl media without any area or volume increase. Hence, LPC could not prevent ammonia influx through the lipid bilayer, but suppressed sodium influx through nystatin-channels presumably via LPC interference with cholesterol.     

Hemolytic Interaction of Newcastle Disease Virus and Chicken Erythrocytes. I. Quantitative Comparison Procedure

The extent to which erythrocytes are hemolyzed by Newcastle disease virus is a function of the relative concentrations of both virus and erythrocytes. Under proper conditions, the interaction of a single virus particle with an erythrocyte is sufficient to cause lysis. The extent of hemolysis is directly proportional to virus concentration only when the virus-erythrocyte ratio is very low. At the higher virus-erythrocyte ratios usually employed in hemolysis experiments, the extent of hemolysis is proportional to the logarithm of the virus concentration. Thus, quantitative comparisons of hemolytic activities of different virus preparations cannot be made by directly comparing the extent of hemolysis. Relative hemolytic activities must be determined by comparing virus concentrations which yield equivalent amounts of hemolysis (the quantitative comparison procedure).     

Effect of factors of favism on the protein and lipid components of rat erythrocyte membrane

Erythrocytes prepared from riboflavin- and tocopherol-deficient (RT^?) and from control rats were used to investigate the mechanism of oxidative hemolysis by the factors of favism. RT^? erythrocytes have a defense system against the oxidative stress which is blocked either where regeneration of GSH occurs or the scavenging of the radicals from the membrane is prevented. The oxidative factors used were isouramil, divicine and diamide. When RT^? erythrocytes were treated with isouramil, GSH decreased to undetectable levels and was not regenerated. Complete hemolysis occurred, but no oxidation of SH groups of membrane proteins or formation of spectrin polymers was detected. A similar effect was observed with diamide. However, SH groups of membrane proteins were completely oxidized and spectrin polymers were formed. Extensive lipid peroxidation was also detected together with a 30% fall in the arachidonic acid level. Control erythrocytes treated with either isouramil or diamide were not hemolyzed. When treated with isouramil, after a fall in the first few minutes, the GSH level was completely regenerated after 20 min. Incubation with diamide caused extensive oxidation of SH groups of membrane proteins and formation of spectrin polymers. No lipid peroxidation was detected after treatment with isouramil, but the same decrease of arachidonic acid occurred as in RT^? erythrocytes. These results support the hypothesis that oxidative hemolysis by the factors of favism is caused by uncontrolled peroxidation of membrane lipids.     

The mechanism of cryohemolysis: by direct observation with the cryomicroscope and the electron microscope.

Blood films (3–8 μm thick) supported between two glass coverslips were frozen to ?20 °C. In the extracellular areas, ice cavities of the order of 0.2 μm separated by bands of dense plasma were evident when examined with the electron microscope; intracellular ice was not observed with the light microscope. Electron microscopy also showed the presence of intracellular ice particles of the order of 0.2–0.7 μm, these appeared as fine reticulations when observed with the light microscope. Upon gradual rewarming the following changes were observed: recrystallization in the extracellular matrix (?18 to ?8 °C), intracellular recrystallization (?13 to ?10 °C), transfer of water from erythrocytes to extracellular areas (?9 to ?7 °C), and melting and hemolysis (?6 to ?2 °C).Freezing of blood at ?3 °C and subsequent thawing did not cause hemolysis of the red cells. In blood frozen at ?3 °C and cooled to ?20 °C or frozen by abrupt exposure to 20 °C the erythrocytes hemolyzed in 7/16–11/16 of a second, whereas in blood frozen at ?3 °C and cooled to ?10 °C the cells hemolyzed in 5–15 sec even though the mode if lysis (i.e., uniform seepage of hemoglobin from the surface of the cell) was similar in all cases. This indicates that the presence of intracellular ice does not seem to play a major role in the injury to the erythrocytes. The mechanism of cryoinjury demonstrated by hemolysis has been discussed.     

Anemia and Mechanism of Erythrocyte Destruction in Ducks with Acute Leucocytozoon Infections*

SYNOPSIS. In the anemia which accompanies infection by Leucocytozoon simondi in Pekin ducks there was a far greater loss of erythrocytes than could be accounted for as a result of direct physical rupture by the parasite. Erythrocyte loss began at the same time the 1st parasites appeared in the blood and was severest just prior to maximum parasitemia. Blood replacement and parasite loss occurred simultaneously. Examination of the spleen and bone marrow revealed that erythrophagocytosis was not the cause of anemia as reported for infections of Plasmodium, Babesia and Anaplasma. An anti-erythrocyte (A-E) factor was found in the serum of acutely infected ducks which agglutinated and hemolyzed normal untreated duck erythrocytes as well as infected cells. This A-E factor appeared when the 1st red cell loss was detected and reached its maximum titer just prior to the greatest red cell loss. Titers of the A-E factor were determined using normal uninfected erythrocytes at temperatures between 4 and 42 C. Cells agglutinated below 25 C and hemolyzed at 37 and 42 C. These results indicated that the A-E factor could be responsible for loss of cells other than those which were infected and could thus produce an excess loss of red cells. Attempts to implicate the A-E factor as an autoantibody were all negative. The A-E factor was present in the gamma fraction of acute serum but no anamnestic response could be detected when recovered ducks were reinfected. Anemia was never as severe in reinfections as in primary infections. The A-E factor also never reached as high a titer and was removed from the circulation very rapidly in reinfected ducks. It is concluded that red cell loss in ducks with acute Leucocytozoon disease results from intravascular hemolysis rather than erythrophagocytosis. The A-E factor responsible for hemolysis is more likely a parasite product rather than autoantibody.     

Morpho-functional alterations in lymphocytes and erythrocytes of Japanese quail due to prolonged in vivo exposure to heavy metal complexes

BackgroundLead and cadmium are significant environmental pollutants that cause pathophysiological responses in many organs. Heavy metal absorption into many tissues is very fast due to a pronounced affinity for metallothioneins.MethodJapanese quail were exposed to different concentrations of metals (cadmium 0.20 mg/L and lead 0.25 and 0.50 mg/L) for 20 days. Erythrocytes (normal and hemolyzed) and lymphocytes (normal and altered) were monitored in this study. The analysis observed the percentage of normal and altered cells, as well as erythrocyte surface area. Cell counts were analyzed using light microscopy, while surface area and cytological changes in cells and nuclei were analyzed using licensed software.ResultsDifferent concentrations of metals have caused erythrocyte hemolysis as well as structural and morphological alterations in lymphocytes. Destruction of cell and nucleus membrane, changes in cell size, erythrocyte denucleation and reduced erythrocyte surface area were observed. Cadmium has caused erythrocyte hemolysis (29.30 %) and lymphocyte damage (92.10 %). Higher doses of lead resulted in greater damage to lymphocytes (63 %). Also, treatment with higher dose of lead produced a higher percentage of hemolyzed erythrocytes (19.20 %) in comparison to lower dose (9.90 %).ConclusionThe toxicity of heavy metals leads to reduced maturation of the blast, which causes the appearance of immature cells in peripheral circulation and severe destruction of blood cell membranes. Erythrocyte hemolysis can lead to anemia, while lymphocyte damage can lead to lymphocytopenia.     

A quantitative study of ultramicroinjection of macromolecules into animal cells.

Improvements in the technique of ultramicroinjection of macromolecules into animal cells are described. The method is based on the Sendai virus-induced fusion of animal cells with erythrocyte ghosts containing trapped macromolecules. Fusion of hepatoma tissue culture (HTC) cells with ghosts prepared by hemolysis of erythrocytes in the presence of cytochrome C is much more efficient than fusion with ghosts prepared in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) as in previous investigations. La+++ is more fficient in promoting fusion and less toxic to cells than Mn++, which was used previously. Thus in all subsequent experiments, erythrocytes were hemolyzed in the presence of cytochrome C plus other macromolecules to be trapped, and the resultant ghosts fused in the presence of La+++. The percentage of HTC cells which fused with ghosts reached 80% in many experiments. Ghosts containing 125I-BSA were used to measure the number of BSA molecules injected into HTC cells. About 10(6) BSA molecules were injected per fused cell. The overall efficiency of injection was low (about 0.02% of the starting material).     

Activation of the calcium permeability of erythrocyte membranes by perfringolysin O

Calcium ions inhibited perfringolysin O-induced hemolysis at a concentration lower than 1 mM, but not the hemolysis by digitonin at 10 mM. The introduction of calcium ions into ghosts inhibited the lysis more strongly than the addition of calcium ions outside ghosts. When erythrocytes were treated with perfringolysin O in the presence of 1 mM CaCl2 containing 45CaCl2, the radioactivities inside cells rapidly increased during incubation. On the other hand, when perfringolysin O-treated erythrocytes were incubated in a calcium-free medium, the erythrocytes released calcium ions at a 3.3-fold higher rate than untreated cells. These results suggested that perfringolysin O accelerated both the calcium influx into and efflux from erythrocytes.     

Hemolysis and lysosomal activation by solid state tyrosine.

L-Tyrosine crystals hemolyzed human erythrocytes. Erythrocytes within dialysis bags suspended in tyrosine suspensions were not significantly hemolyzed. Ortho and meta tyrosine caused less hemolysis than para tyrosine. L-Tyrosine crystals labilized lysosomal β-glucuronidase from rat liver lysosomal preparations. Sucrose, glucose, propylene glycol, Me₂SO, polyethylene glycols, serum, albumin, globulins and cyclic AMP protected against the effect of tyrosine. Tyrosine analogues with a lower pK of the phenolic hydroxyl group than tyrosine, or with steric blockage of the phenolic hydroxyl group, had less hemolytic activity than tyrosine. It is proposed that tyrosine crystals $\text{in vitro}$ possess membraneolytic effects by donation of phenolic hydrogens to membrane components.     

Enhancement of (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity of human erythrocyte membranes by hemolysis in isosmotic imidazole buffer. I. General properties of variously prepared membranes and the mechanism of the isosmotic imidazole effect.

1. Membranes prepared from human erythrocytes hemolyzed in isosmotic (310 imosM) imidazole buffer, pH 7.4, show enhanced and stabilized (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity compared with membranes prepared from erythrocytes hemolyzed in hypotonic (20 imosM) phosphate or imidazole buffer, pH 7.4. 2. Exposure of intact erythrocytes or well-washed erythrocyte membranes to isosmotic imidazole does not cause enhanced (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity. 3. Exposure of erythrocyte membranes, in the presence of isosmotic imidazole, to the supernatant of erythrocyte hemolysis or to a partially purified endogenous (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activator, promotes enhanced (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity. Under appropriate conditions, NaCl can be shown to substitute for imidazole. The results demonstrate that imidazole does not act directly on the erythrocyte membrane but rather by promoting interaction between an endogenous (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activator and the erythrocyte membrane.     

The prevention of erythrocyte swelling upon dilution after freezing and thawing

Cellular swelling of erythrocytes exposed to Me2SO during freezing and thawing may lead to hemolysis upon dilution of the cryoprotectant with pure electrolyte buffer. Excessive cell swelling is effectively avoided by exposing the RBC to the nonpenetrating sorbitol after thawing and before dilution. Due to the initial reduction in volume by sorbitol, cell swelling upon dilution may not cause hemolysis particularly with concentrations of 0.05 to 0.15 M of sorbitol in the diluting electrolyte buffer. Membrane damage incurred during freezing and thawing is particularly pronounced with the older red cell population, while the younger population membrane integrity can be preserved to an optimal degree.     

The relationship between cell injury and osmotic volume reduction: II. Red cell lysis correlates with cell volume rather than intracellular salt concentration

It is possible to simulate freezing by suspending cells in progressively hyperosmotic solutions. It is not generally possible, however, to discriminate between cell volume reduction and solute concentration as the cause of injury since, in a normal cell behaving as an osmometer, volume is an obligate function of solution osmolality. The paper describes experiments in which osmolality and volume were disassociated by loading red cells with additional KCl by making them slowly permeable to potassium through treatment with valinomycin. It is shown that cell hemolysis is associated with the reduction of cell volume beyond some minimum volume regardless of the concentration of intracellular or extracellular electrolyte. Similarly, it is shown that hemolysis from thermal shock is related to a decrease in cell volume rather than to an increase in solute concentration.