Effect of temperature on the velocity of erythrocyte aggregation

The velocity of the aggregation of human erythrocytes was examined in the range of 5-43 degrees C with a rheoscope combined with a video camera, an image analyzer and a computer. (1) With increasing temperature, the velocity of erythrocyte aggregation induced by fibrinogen, immunoglobulin G and artificial macromolecules (dextran of 70 kDa and poly(glutamic acid) of 50 kDa) increased. However, the relationship between the velocity of erythrocyte aggregation and the temperature was different among these macromolecules. (2) In 70% autologous plasma, the velocity of erythrocyte aggregation was minimum at 15-18 degrees C, and increased at both higher and lower temperatures. (3) The shape of erythrocyte aggregates in 12 mumol/l fibrinogen (containing 770 mumol/l albumin) and in 70% autologous plasma was dependent on temperature: three-dimensional below 15-18 degrees C and one-dimensional (mainly rouleaux) above 15-18 degrees C. However, the shape of aggregates in 27 mumol/l immunoglobulin G (containing 770 mumol/l albumin) was three-dimensional in all temperature ranges. (4) The temperature dependency of erythrocyte aggregation was discussed in terms of the changes of medium viscosity, of erythrocyte properties and of bridging macromolecules.     

The influence of metmyoglobin and ferrylmyoglobin on the human erythrocyte membrane

Preliminary experiments revealed that ferrylmyoglobin decayed more slowly in the absence than in the presence of intact erythrocytes and erythrocyte membranes. This suggested the existence of interactions between FerrylMb and the erythrocyte membrane. Subsequent studies examined the influence of FerrylMb on the membrane of intact erythrocytes and on isolated erythrocyte membranes. The incubation of intact erythrocytes with FerrylMb did not influence their osmotic fragility or the fluidity of their membranes; the level of peroxidation of the membrane lipids increased only slightly (there was only a slight increase in the level of membrane lipid peroxidation). The activity of acetylcholinesterase significantly increased after 15 minutes of incubation, whereas longer incubation did not lead to any changes in the activity of this enzyme. The incubation of isolated erythrocyte membranes with FerrylMb resulted in an increase in their fluidity and a significant rise in the level of lipid peroxidation.     

The influence of ferrylhemoglobin and methemoglobin on the human erythrocyte membrane

The aim of the study was to examine and compare the effects of methemoglobin (metHb) and ferrylhemoglobin (ferrylHb) on the erythrocyte membrane. Kinetic studies of the decay of ferrylhemoglobin (*HbFe(IV)=O denotes ferryl derivative of hemoglobin present 5 min after initiation of the reaction of metHb with H(2)O(2); ferrylHb) showed that autoredecay of this derivative is slower than its decay in the presence of whole erythrocytes and erythrocyte membranes. It provides evidence for interactions between ferrylHb and the erythrocyte membrane. Both hemoglobin derivatives induced small changes in the structure and function of the erythrocyte membrane which were more pronounced for ferrylHb. The amount of ferrylHb bound to erythrocyte membranes increased with incubation time and, after 2 h, was twice that of membrane-bound metHb. The incubation of erythrocytes with metHb or ferrylHb did not influence osmotic fragility and did not initiate peroxidation of membrane lipids in whole erythrocytes as well as in isolated erythrocyte membranes. Membrane acetylcholinesterase activity increased by about 10% after treatment of whole erythrocytes with both metHb and ferrylHb. ESR spectra of membrane-bound maleimide spin label demonstrated minor changes in the conformation of label-binding proteins in ferrylHb-treated erythrocyte membranes. The fluidity of the membrane surface layer decreased slightly after incubation of erythrocytes and isolated erythrocyte membranes with ferrylHb and metHb. In whole erythrocytes, these changes were not stable and disappeared during longer incubation.     

The influence of ferrylhemoglobin and methemoglobin on the human erythrocyte membrane

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine and compare the effects of methemoglobin (metHb) and ferrylhemoglobin (ferrylHb) on the erythrocyte membrane. Kinetic studies of the decay of ferrylhemoglobin (^*HbFe(IV)=O denotes ferryl derivative of hemoglobin present 5 min after initiation of the reaction of metHb with H₂O₂; ferrylHb) showed that autoredecay of this derivative is slower than its decay in the presence of whole erythrocytes and erythrocyte membranes. It provides evidence for interactions between ferrylHb and the erythrocyte membrane. Both hemoglobin derivatives induced small changes in the structure and function of the erythrocyte membrane which were more pronounced for ferrylHb. The amount of ferrylHb bound to erythrocyte membranes increased with incubation time and, after 2 h, was twice that of membrane-bound metHb. The incubation of erythrocytes with metHb or ferrylHb did not influence osmotic fragility and did not initiate peroxidation of membrane lipids in whole erythrocytes as well as in isolated erythrocyte membranes. Membrane acetylcholinesterase activity increased by about 10% after treatment of whole erythrocytes with both metHb and ferrylHb. ESR spectra of membrane-bound maleimide spin label demonstrated minor changes in the conformation of label-binding proteins in ferrylHb-treated erythrocyte membranes. The fluidity of the membrane surface layer decreased slightly after incubation of erythrocytes and isolated erythrocyte membranes with ferrylHb and metHb. In whole erythrocytes, these changes were not stable and disappeared during longer incubation.     

Changes of physiological and biochemical characteristics of rat erythrocytes after blood loss

In experiments of Wistar male rats, changes are studied of erythrocyte hematological, biochemical (activitities of transport ATPases), and rheological properties (capability for aggregation and deformability) 7 days after bloodletting of 12-15 % of the total blood mass. It has been shown that alongside with an elevation of erythrocyte volume and of the number of immature cells - reticulocytes, there was a statistically significant increase of Na,K-ATPase and Ca-ATPase activities in the whole erythrocytes and their membrane preparations - ghosts, the increment of activity in the case of Na,K-ATPase being essentially higher in the whole cells. This indicates the appearance of an enzyme activator inside the erythrocytes. There are also revealed a decrease of firmness of erythrocyte aggregates, a deceleration of spontaneous aggregation, and an increase of index of erythrocyte deformability. The conclusion is made that changes of erythrocyte rheological properties are interconnected with changes of the Na,K-ATPase activity and are directed to optimization of blood circulation in large vessels and capillary network.     

Changes of physiological and biochemical characteristics of rat erythrocytes after blood loss

In experiments on Wistar male rats, changes are studied of erythrocyte hematological, biochemical (activities of transport ATPases), and rheological properties (capability for aggregation and deformability) 7 days after bloodletting of 12–15% of the total blood mass. It has been shown that alongside with an elevation of erythrocyte volume and of the number of immature cells—reticulocytes, there was a statistically significant increase of Na,K-ATPase and Ca-ATPase activities in the whole erythrocytes and in their membrane preparations—ghosts, the increment of activity in the case of Na,K-ATPase being essentially higher in the whole cells. This indicates the appearance of an enzyme activator inside the erythrocytes. There are also revealed a decrease of firmness of erythrocyte aggregates, a deceleration of spontaneous aggregation, and an increase of index of erythrocyte deformability. The conclusion is made that changes of erythrocyte rheological properties are interconnected with changes of the Na,K-ATPase activity and are aimed at optimization of blood circulation in large vessels and capillary network.     

Plasmodium falciparum: fine structural changes in the cytoskeletons of infected erythrocytes

Following parasitization by Plasmodium falciparum, numerous changes take place in the host erythrocyte membrane. In this study, we used the technique of whole cell mount electron microscopy to determine if the ultrastructure of the erythrocyte cytoskeleton changed following parasitization with knobby and knobless strains of P. falciparum. Using this technique, a network of spectrin filaments (3-10 X 45-120 nm) branching from electron dense junctions (15-25 nm in diameter), the presumed site of bands 4.1 and actin, were visualized. The overall architecture of normal and parasitized erythrocyte cytoskeletons was the same: however, additional patches (35 to 60 nm in size) and aggregates (30 X 150 nm) of electron dense material were present in parasitized skeletons. The ultrastructure of knobby and knobless cytoskeletons was similar, except knobless skeletons usually did not possess the larger aggregates of material. Antigens associated with the erythrocyte cytoskeleton of cells infected with knobby and knobless strains, but not uninfected cells, were demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence. Results suggest that antigens, associated with the erythrocyte cytoskeleton, may contribute to perturbations in the host erythrocyte membrane.     

激光生物学技术研究高脂血症大鼠红细胞变形能力改变及其机制

目的:通过研究红细胞膜流动性以及红细胞骨架结构的改变,进一步探讨高脂血症大鼠红细胞变形能力改变的机制。方法:16只Wistar大鼠随机分为两组:高血症组和对照组。高脂组给予高脂饮食。16周后,腹主动脉采血,采用酶比色法检测血浆甘油三脂、胆固醇含量;并利用激光衍射法测定红细胞变形指数、取向指数,荧光偏振法测定红细胞膜流动性,激光共聚焦显微镜观测红细胞骨架改变和红细胞F-actin的含量。结果:发现高脂血症大鼠红细胞的变形指数、取向指数以及红细胞膜的流动性显著降低(P<0.05),红细胞形态和骨架发生改变,F-actin含量显著降低(P<0.05)。结论:高脂血症大鼠红细胞变形能力降低与红细胞膜结构改变有一定的关系。     

The Effects of N-Terminal Fragments of Immunophilin on Phospholipid Composition of Rat Brain and Human Erythrocyte Membranes

Rat brain slices and human erythrocyte membranes have been incubated in the presence of water-soluble synthetic peptide fragments corresponding to residues 1–9 and 1–15 of the N-terminus of immunophilin and the effects on the phospholipid composition examined. During a 2 h incubation in the presence of 1 nM, 0.1 M, and 10 M concentrations of the peptides there were observed significant and dose-dependent decreases in the amounts of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, as well as increases in the amounts of phosphatidylserine and, to a less extent, phosphatidylinositol, cardiolipin and lysophosphatidylcholine. The overall decrease in the neutral phospholipids of rat brain, and no changes in human erythrocyte membranes with the simultaneous increase in the acidic phospholipids, both in brain and erythrocyte membranes, tended to counteract any changes in the phospholipid composition of the material studied. The results are discussed in terms of the possible effects of immunophilin on modulating phospholipid turnover in brain cell erythrocyte membranes.     

The effect of ischemia and recirculation, hypoxia and recovery on anti-oxidant factors and beta-adrenoceptor density. Is the damage in the erythrocytes a reflection of brain damage caused by complete cerebral ischemia and by hypoxia?

This investigation was focussed on the gravity of tissue injury caused by complete ischemia (for five min) and hypoxia (for three weeks) in the cerebral cortex (homogenate) and the erythrocyte lysate or the erythrocyte membrane of the rat in order to investigate if the changes that occur in brain tissue are reflected in the erythrocyte. To this end, glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were measured, also alterations in beta-adrenoceptor density under these two conditions were examined. It was found that in ischemia partial parallelism in changes that occur in the central nervous system (cerebral cortex) and the erythrocyte exists. The SOD activity became higher and the beta-adrenoceptor density (measured as specific (-)-[125I] iodocyanopindolol binding) was decreased in both tissues. However after the hypoxic condition we established a decrease in the number of beta-adrenoceptors in the cerebral cortex but an increase in beta-adrenoceptor density in the erythrocyte.     

慢性呼吸衰竭病人红细胞膜蛋白和红细胞变形能力的研究

目的：探讨红细胞膜蛋白在红细胞变形性改变中的作用。方法：参照Ｌｅａｍｍｌｉ和Ｐｅａｃｏｃｋ方法,测定了肺心病Ⅰ型呼吸衰竭（Ⅰ组）１８例、Ⅱ型呼吸衰竭（Ⅱ组）１８例和健康对照（ＣＧ）２０例的红细胞膜带３蛋白、膜收缩蛋白二聚体（ＳｐＤ）和四聚体（ＳｐＴ）的相对含量与红细胞变形能力。结果：Ⅰ、Ⅱ组带３蛋白、ＳｐＤ、ＳｐＴ相对含量和红细胞变形指数（ＤＩ）与对照组均有显著差异,且肺心病病人的ＤＩ与带３蛋白相对含量呈显著正相关,与ＳｐＤ／ＳｐＴ比值呈显著负相关。结论：带３蛋白和膜收缩蛋白的异常,可能是导致肺心病人红细胞变形能力降低的重要因素之一。     

Effect of pH on the velocity of erythrocyte aggregation

The effect of pH on the velocity of aggregation of human erythrocytes was quantitatively examined with a rheoscope combined with a video-camera, an image analyzer and a computer, in relation to the morphological changes of erythrocytes and their aggregates. (i) With increasing pH of the medium, the velocity of erythrocyte aggregation increased. (ii) The rouleaux formed at high pH were longer in shape and more stable against the increase of shear rate than those formed at low pH. (iii) With increasing pH, the diameter of erythrocyte increased, the (maximum) thickness decreased, and the cell volume decreased. The pH dependency of erythrocyte aggregation may be mainly due to the morphological change of erythrocytes, and partly due to the changes of erythrocyte deformability and of interaction with macromolecules.     

The effect of ionizing radiation on tryptophan fluorescence of thymocyte and erythrocyte plasma membranes

The effect of ionizing radiation on tryptophan fluorescence of thymocyte and erythrocyte plasma membrane preparations was studied. The intensity of tryptophan fluorescence decreased after applying radiation doses up to 15 Gy. The radiosensitivity of thymocyte membranes appeared to be higher than that of the erythrocyte ghosts. Tryptophan radiolysis did not significantly contribute to the effects of radiation. The fraction of tryptophan residues accessible for quenching by I- decreased from 0.87 in the untreated membranes to 0.63 and 0.49 in membranes after doses of 10 and 250 Gy, respectively. The effective quenching constant and the tryptophan fluorescence polarization increased after irradiation. The mechanisms producing these radiation-induced changes are discussed.     

Change of state of erythrocyte membrane proteins during storage of preserved blood]

Erythrocyte vesiculation, kinetic parameters of tryptophane phosphorescence at room temperature and activity of erythrocyte membrane during storage of human blood at 4 +/- 2 C were studied. It is shown that before the erythrocyte vesiculation stage (10-15 days of storage) two types of changes in the structural state of the membrane proteins occur: 1) on the 1-5th days and 2) on the 5-10th days of blood storage.     

Effect of stress experienced during pregnancy on the rate of lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes and brain tissue of newborn rat pups

The rate of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in erythrocytes and brain homogenate has been assessed by the accumulation of malondialdehyde, the degree of erythrocyte autohemolysis, the content of hydrogen peroxide and catalase activity observed in newborn rats aged 1 hour, 1, 15, 20 and 30 days. Pregnant rats were exposed to emotional stress (aggressive interaction of two pregnant rats in an unavoidable conflict situation provoked by nociceptive irritation. Significant age-dependent differences in the rate of LPO (both in erythrocytes and cerebral tissue) have been found. The highest rate was noted in rats 15 days of age. The emotional stress of pregnant females resulted in the changes of behavioural reactions of newborn rats and LPO activity that was characterized by the increase in LPO rate in 1-hour- and 1-day-old rats and by slowing of LPO rate in 15-day-old rats. These phenomena were observed in erythrocytes and brain tissues of test animals.     

Erythrocyte deformation in simulated weightless human and rabbits

Effect and mechanism of simulated weightlessness (SWL) in humans and rabbits erythrocyte deformation were studied. Erythrocyte deformation and membrane fluidity in humans and rabbits, and erythrocyte morphology and hemorreology indices in control and HDT rabbits were measured. The results were a decrease in erythrocyte deformation and membrane fluidity in humans and rabbits during SWL, a significant increase in abnormal erythrocyte, blood viscosity, hematocrit, fibrinogen, and red blood cell aggregation index in HDT rabbits. These results show that the changes in erythrocyte shape, increase of erythrocyte internal viscosity and changes in erythrocyte visco-elasticity may be causing the decrease of erythrocyte deformation in SWL humans and rabbits.     

Structural reorganizations of the lipids and proteins of erythrocyte membranes under the action of low temperatures

The reversible structural rearrangement of lipids and protein oligomerization has been shown to occur during cooling in membranes of model systems (liposome, erythrocyte shadows) and native erythrocytes. Analysing the dependence of Azz in membrane probes (5- or 15-doxylstearic acids) in the Arrhenius plots a conclusion on the structural changes at 13-19 degrees C and within the range of interior water freezing from -17 up to -19 degrees C has been drawn, the last transition is smoothed out in the presence of glycerin. Using diamide joining spectrin and electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel it has been determined that the low temperatures cause the spatial approach of proteins of spectrin-actinic complex and formation connections between the erythrocyte membrane proteins which aren't destroyed by dodecylsulfate.     

Effect of prolonged administration of insecticide (Cyhalothrin/Karate) on the blood and liver of rabbits.

A sublethal dose of Karate administered to rabbits produced a significant increase in the total erythrocyte count and packed cell volume after 15 days of administration, though no significant change was observed after 30 days. The transaminases (glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, GOT; glutamate pyruvate transaminase, GPT) also increased after 15 days of treatment. The GPT activity increased 119% and 60% after 15 and 30 days, respectively. From amongst metabolites, glucose content increased 17% and 185%, while cholesterol decreased 40% and 66%, and bilirubin 84% and 61%, after 15 and 30 days, respectively. The hepatic AkP activity decreased 30%, while the GPT activity increased 44%. Other enzymes such as AcP, GOT and LDH remained unaffected. The concentration of other metabolites, except for FAA which increased 35%, remained unaffected. Histological changes were marked by atrophied hepatic cells and hypertrophied nuclei and nucleoli. A trend towards necrosis of hepatic cells was also observed. All these results indicate that Karate is moderately toxic to mammals.     

Effect of L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine on the human erythrocyte membrane stability and deformability

In this study we examined the effect of carnitine and acetylcarnitine on the human erythrocyte membrane stability and membrane deformability. Since erythrocyte membranes are impermeable to these compounds, we resealed erythrocyte ghosts in the presence of different concentrations of carnitine or acetylcarnitine. Resealed ghosts can be adequately studied in their cellular deformability and membrane stability properties by means of ektacytometry. Both carnitine and acetylcarnitine alter the membrane stability but not membrane deformability of the red cell membrane. Resealed ghosts containing 20, 50, 150, and 300 microM carnitine had 1.1, 1.6, 0.9, and 0.7 times the normal stability. While resealed ghosts containing 20, 50, 150, and 300 microM acetylcarnitine had 1.1, 1.5, 1.3, and 1.2 times the normal stability. Such changes were found to be reversible. We also conducted SDS PAGE of cytoskeletal membrane proteins from membrane fragments and residual membranes produced during membrane stability analysis, and unsheared resealed membranes in those samples where we observed an increase or a decrease of membrane stability. No changes in the cytoskeletal membrane proteins were noticed, even when the samples, prior SDS PAGE analysis, were treated with or without dithiothreitol. In addition, fluorescence steady state anisotropy of DPH in the erythrocyte membrane treated with carnitine or acetylcarnitine shows no modification of the lipid order parameter. Our results would suggest that both carnitine and its acetyl-ester, at physiological concentrations, may increase membrane stability in mature erythrocytes, most likely via a specific interaction with one or more cytoskeletal proteins, and that this effect would manifest when the erythrocytes are subjected to high shear stress.     

Radiation-induced lipid peroxidation and the fluidity of erythrocyte membrane lipids

The effect of radiation-induced peroxidation on the fluidity of the phospholipids of the erythrocyte membrane was studied using both erythrocyte ghosts and liposomes formed from the polar lipids of erythrocytes. In liposomes, the oxidation of the phospholipids increased with radiation dose, but there was no change in the fluidity of the lipids as measured by spin-label motion. Under the same conditions of irradiation, no oxidation of phospholipid was detected in erythrocyte ghosts, although changes occurred in the motion of spin labels intercalated with the membrane. These changes were attributed to radiation-induced alterations in the membrane proteins. It is concluded that alterations in motion of spin labels, observed with intact membranes after irradiation, are most likely the result of changes in the structure of membrane proteins rather than the lipids.