Water diffusion permeability of human erythrocytes studied by a pulsed gradient NMR technique.

Water diffusion permeability of human erythrocytes has been measured by NMR using a pulsed magnetic field gradient technique. The measurement of exchange rates was based on restricted diffusion of water molecules within red blood cells. This method avoids addition of paramagnetic ions, such as Mn2+, and is used in vivo. The mean lifetime of water insed human erythrocytes was found to be 17 ms at 24 degrees C. A sulfhydryl reagent, known to inhibit water osmotic permeability, reduced significantly water diffusion across the red cell membrane.     

The basal permeability to water of human red blood cells evaluated by a nuclear magnetic resonance technique

The characteristics of water diffusional permeability (P) of human red blood cells were studied on isolated erythrocytes by a doping nuclear magnetic resonance technique. In order to estimate the basal permeability the maximal inhibition of water diffusion was induced by exposure of red blood cells to p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonate (PCMBS) under various conditions (concentration, duration, temperature). The lowest values of P were around 0.7×10^–3 cm s^–1 at 10°C, 1.2×10^–3 cm s^–1 at 15°C, 1.4×10^–3 cm s^–1 at 20°C, 1.8×10^–3 cm s^–1 at 25°C, 2.1×10^–3 cm s^–1 at 30°C and 3.5×10^–3 cm s^–1 at 37°C. The mean value of the activation energy of water diffusion (E_a,d) was 25 kJ/mol for control and 43.7 kJ/mol for PCMBS-inhibited erythrocytes. The values of P and E_a,d obtained after induction of maximal inhibition of water diffusion by PCMBS can be taken as references for the basal permeability to water of the human red blood cell membrane.     

The entrance of water into beef and dog red cells

The rate constants for diffusion of THO across the red cell membrane of beef and dog, and the rate of entrance of water into the erythrocytes of these species under an osmotic pressure gradient have been measured. For water entrance into the erythrocyte by diffusion the rate constants are 0.10 ± 0.02 msec.^-1 (beef) and 0.14 ± 0.03 msec.^-1 (dog); the permeability coefficients for water entrance under a pressure gradient of 1 osmol./cm³ are 0.28 See PDF for Equation These values permit the calculation of an equivalent pore radius for the erythrocyte membrane of 4.1 A for beef and 7.4 A for dog. In the beef red cell the change in THO diffusion due to osmotically produced cell volume shifts has been studied. The resistance to THO diffusion increases as the cell volume increases. At the maximum volume, (1.06 times normal), THO diffusion is decreased to 0.84 times the normal rate. This change in diffusion is attributed to swelling of the cellular membrane.     

Role of membrane proteins and lipids in water diffusion across red cell membranes

When human red cells are treated with the mercurial sulfhydryl reagent, $\text{p-}\text{chloromercuribenzene sulfonate}$, osmotic water permeability is suppressed and only diffusional water permeability remains (Macey, R.I. and Farmer, R.E.L. (1970) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 211, 104–106). It has been suggested that the route for the remaining water permeation is by diffusion through the membrane lipids. However, after making allowance for the relative lipid area of the membrane, the water diffusion coefficient through lipid bilayers which contain cholesterol is too small by a factor of two or more. We have measured the permeability coefficient of normal human red cells by proton $\text{T}{}_1$ NMR and obtained a value of 4.0 · 10^?3 cm · s^?1, in good agreement with published values. In order to study permeation-through red cell lipids we have perturbed extracted red cell lipids with the lipophilic anesthetic, halothane, and found that halothane increases water permeability. The same concentration of halothane has no effect on the water permeability of human red cells, after maximal pCMBS inhibition. In order to compare halothane mobility in extracted red cell membrane lipids with that in red cell ghost membranes, we have studied halothane quenching of $\text{N-}\text{phenyl}\text{-1-}\text{naphthylamine}$ by equilibrium fluorescence and fluorescence lifetime methods. Since halothane mobility is similar in these two preparations, we have concluded that the primary route of water diffusion in pCMBS-treated red cells is not through membrane lipids, but rather through a membrane protein channel.     

Water exchange through erythrocyte membranes: p-choloromercuribenzene sulfonate inhibition of water diffusion in ghosts studied by a nuclear magnetic resonance technique

A comparison of water diffusion in human erythrocytes and ghosts revealed a longer relaxation time in ghosts, A comparison of water diffusion in human erythrocytes and ghosts revealed a longer relaxation time in ghosts, corresponding to a decreased exchange rate. However, the diffusional permeability of ghosts was not significantly different from that of erythrocytes . The changes in water diffusion following exposure to p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonate (PCMBS) have been studied on ghosts suspended in isotonic solutions. It was found that a significant inhibitory effect of PCMBS on water diffusion occurred only after several minutes of incubation at 37°C. No inhibition was noticed after short incubation at 0°C as previously used in some labelling experiments. This indicates the location in the membrane interior of the SH groups involved in water diffusion across human erythrocyte membranes. The nuclear magnetic resonance ( n . m . r . ) method appears as a useful tool for studying changes in water diffusiofl in erythrocyte ghosts with the aim of locating the water channel.     

D(+)-Glucose permeability in brown trout Salmo trutta L. erythrocytes

D(+)-Glucose penetration in trout erythrocytes was studied with osmotic and tracer methods.
Results give no evidence for a carrier mediated diffusion system like that concerned with glucose permeability as in human red cells. The data show that glucose fails to stimulate erythrocyte respiration.     

Nonelectrolyte diffusion through lecithin-water lamellar phases and red-cell membranes

The longitudinal diffusion of a homologous series of monoamides through lecithin-water lamellar phases with aqueous channel widths of 16–27 Å has been studied. The diffusion coefficients relative to water of the hydrophilic amides, formamide and acetamide, depend logarithmically on solute molar volume, as previously demonstrated in human red cells. Aqueous diffusion of amides in red-cell membranes is similar to that in a lecithin-water phase of aqueous channel width less than 16 Å, the smallest channel width used. Partition coefficients of the lipophilic amides, valeramide and isovaleramide, between lecithin vesicles and water are 1.64 and 1.15 at 20 °C. These data enabled us to compute a valeramide diffusion coefficient of 6.5 · 10⁻⁷cm² · s⁻¹ at 20 °C in the lipid region of a lamellar phase containing 30% water about one order of magnitude greater than the diffusion coefficient of spin-labelled analogs of phosphatidylcholine. The discrimination between the permeability coefficients of valeramide and isovaleramide is more than twice as great in the human red cell as between lipid diffusion coefficients in a phase containing 8% water. This suggests that the lipid region of the human red cell is more highly organized than lipid in the lecithin-water lamellar phase.     

Water exchange through erythrocyte membranes: Nuclear magnetic resonance studies on resealed ghosts compared to human erythrocytes

Summary The water diffusion across human erythrocyte membrane has been studied on intact cells and resealed ghosts by a doping NMR technique. Although the water exchange time of ghosts was longer than that of erythrocytes, no significant differences in their diffusional permeability were noticed for temperatures in the range 2–43°C. Contrary to what was previously noticed in erythrocytes, no significant increase in the water exchange time of ghosts in the acid range of pH occurred.     

On measuring the diffusional water permeability of human red blood cells and ghosts by nuclear magnetic resonance

The characteristics of water diffusional permeability (P) of human red blood cells were studied on isolated erythrocytes and ghosts by a doping nuclear magnetic resonance technique. In contrast to all previous investigations, systematic measurements were performed on blood samples obtained from a large group of donors. The mean values of P ranged from 2.2 X 10(-3) cm.s-1 at 5 degrees C to 8.1 X 10(-3) cm.s-1 at 42 degrees C. The reasons for some of the discrepancies in the permeability coefficients reported by various authors were found. In order to estimate the basal permeability, the maximal inhibition of water diffusion was induced by exposure of red blood cells to p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonate (PCMBS) under various conditions (concentration, duration, temperature). The lowest values of P were around 1.3 X 10(-3) cm.s-1 at 20 degrees C, 1.6 X 10(-3) cm.s-1 at 25 degrees C, 1.9 X 10(-3) cm.s-1 at 30 degrees C and 3.2 X 10(-3) cm.s-1 at 37 degrees C. The results reported here represent the largest series of determinations of water diffusional permeability of human red blood cells (without or with exposure to mercurials) available in the literature, and consequently the best estimates of the characteristics of this transport process. The values of P can be taken as references for the studies of water permeability in various cells or in pathological conditions.     

Studies on the osmotic resistance and the viability of amidinated erythrocytes]

The present studies are concerned with properties of amidinated erythrocytes. The reactions of dimethyladipimidate with proteins in solution and red blood cells, respectively, result in an intermolecular cross-linking. Following an amidination of human serum albumin or human gamma-globulin cross-linked products of increased molecular weight have been demonstrated by polyacrylamide gel and immune electrophoresis. Human erythrocytes previously amidinated intensely, exhibit a restricted motility of membrane particles and cross-linked hemoglobin. Intensely amidinated erythrocytes are resistant against distilled water, and they do no longer agglutinate. The findings presumably indicate an increased permeability of the amidinated red cell membrane. The glycolytic activity was found to be normal in moderately amidinated erythrocytes. In comparison with normal red blood cells, previously moderately amidinated erythrocytes of the rat become sequestered more quickly after re-injection into the vascular system.     

The Effect of the Unstirred Layer on Human Red Cell Water Permeability

A study has been made of water entry into human red blood cells under an osmotic pressure gradient. The measurements were made using a rapid reaction stop flow apparatus, whose construction, calibration, and performance are described in detail. Red cell volume changes were determined from 90° scattered light. The permeability coefficient for water entry under a relative isosmolar concentration of 1 to 1.5 was found to be 0.22 ± 0.01 cm⁴/sec osmol, which agrees well with our previously published value. The experiments were also designed to measure the thickness of the unstirred layer around the6 red cells. This was found to be 5.5 ± 0.8 µ under the present experimental conditions. It is concluded that our previously measured permeability coefficient for water entrance under a diffusion gradient does not require correction on account of the unstirred layer.     

Lack of Aquaporin 3 in bovine erythrocyte membranes correlates with low glycerol permeation

In general, erythrocytes are highly permeable to water, urea and glycerol. However, expression of aquaporin isoforms in erythrocytes appears to be species characteristic. In the present study, human (hRBC) and bovine (bRBC) erythrocytes were chosen for comparative studies due to their significant difference in membrane glycerol permeability.Osmotic water permeability (P_f) at 23 °C was (2.89 ± 0.37) × 10⁻² and (5.12 ± 0.61) × 10⁻² cm s⁻¹ for human and bovine cells, respectively, with similar activation energies for water transport. Glycerol permeability (P_gly) for human ((1.37 ± 0.26) × 10⁻⁵ cm s⁻¹) differed in three orders of magnitude from bovine erythrocytes ((5.82 ± 0.37) × 10⁻⁸ cm s⁻¹) that also showed higher activation energy for glycerol transport. When compared to human, bovine erythrocytes showed a similar expression pattern of AQP1 glycosylated forms on immunoblot analysis, though in slight higher levels, which could be correlated with the 1.5-fold larger P_f found. However, AQP3 expression was not detectable. Immunofluorescence analysis confirmed the absence of AQP3 expression in bovine erythrocyte membranes.In conclusion, lack of AQP3 in bovine erythrocytes points to the lipid pathway as responsible for glycerol permeation and explains the low glycerol permeability and high E_a for transport observed in ruminants.     

Transport of neutral amino acids by human erythrocytes

The transport of several neutral amino acids by human erythrocytes in vitro was studied. The measurements made included steady-state distributions, kinetics of initial rates of uptake, effects of monovalent cations and anions, general mutual inhibitory interactions, kinetics of inhibitions, effluxes, ability to produce accelerative exchange diffusion, and the inhibitory action of the thiol reagent N-ethylmaleimide. The results are interpreted as showing that the human erythrocyte membrane possesses several distinct transport systems for these amino acids, including one Na⁺-dependent system and one dependent on both Na⁺ and a suitable anion, that are qualitatively similar to those systems previously described in pigeon erythrocytes and mammalian reticulocytes. Quantitatively, however, the systems differ among the different kinds of red cell and a major difference lies in their abilities to produce accelerative exchange diffusion.     

Red Cell Membrane Permeability Deduced from Bulk Diffusion Coefficients

The permeability coefficients of dog red cell membrane to tritiated water and to a series of[¹⁴C]amides have been deduced from bulk diffusion measurements through a "tissue" composed of packed red cells. Red cells were packed by centrifugation inside polyethylene tubing. The red cell column was pulsed at one end with radiolabeled solute and diffusion was allowed to proceed for several hours. The distribution of radioactivity along the red cell column was measured by sequential slicing and counting, and the diffusion coefficient was determined by a simple plotting technique, assuming a one-dimensional diffusional model. In order to derive the red cell membrane permeability coefficient from the bulk diffusion coefficient, the red cells were assumed to be packed in a regular manner approximating closely spaced parallelopipeds. The local steady-state diffusional flux was idealized as a one-dimensional intracellular pathway in parallel with a one-dimensional extracellular pathway with solute exchange occurring within the series pathway and between the pathways. The diffusion coefficients in the intracellular and extracellular pathways were estimated from bulk diffusion measurements through concentrated hemoglobin solutions and plasma, respectively; while the volume of the extracellular pathway was determined using radiolabeled sucrose. The membrane permeability coefficients were in satisfactory agreement with the data of Sha'afi, R. I., C. M. Gary-Bobo, and A. K. Solomon (1971. J. Gen. Physiol. 58:238) obtained by a rapid-reaction technique. The method is simple and particularly well suited for rapidly permeating solutes.     

Some Kinetic and Metabolic Characteristics of Calcium-Induced Potassium Transport in Human Red Cells

When fresh human erythrocytes or their ghosts are incubated with Ca + IAA (iodoacetic acid) + adenosine, K permeability increases; K permeability also increases when energy-depleted cells or their ghosts are incubated with Ca alone. Na transport decreases or remains unaltered in both situations. The Ca-induced increase in K permeability in the depleted cell system is qualitatively similar to that seen in the fresh cell system and furnishes a means for studying the metabolic dependence of calcium's action. Studies with the depleted system suggest that the normal refractiveness of the cell to calcium is provided by a metabolically dependent substrate. Removal of this substrate allows Ca to enter the cell and exert its effect. By using ⁴⁷Ca, a maximum value was obtained (3–7 x 10^-6 moles/liter of red blood cells) for the quantity of calcium that is taken up by the cell and responsible for the change in K permeability. Measurements of the unidirectional fluxes of K, obtained during the time Ca increases K permeability, appear to satisfy the flux ratio equation for passive diffusion through a membrane.     

Water exchange through erythrocyte membranes: Nuclear magnetic resonance studies on the effects of inhibitors and of chemical modification of human membranes

The changes in water diffusion across human erythrocyte membranes following exposure to various inhibitors and proteolytic enzymes have been studied on isolated erythrocytes suspended in isotonic buffered solutions. An important issue was to investigate whether the sulfhydryl reacting reagents that have been applied in osmotic experiments showed similar effects on diffusional permeability. It was found that mercurials, including mersalyl, were the only sulfhydryl reacting reagents that were efficient inhibitors. Under optimal conditions a similar degree of inhibition (around 45%) was found with all mercury-containing sulfhydryl reagents. Other reagents, including the sulfhydryl reagent DTNB, phloretin, or H2DIDS, the specific inhibitor of the anion transport system in erythrocyte membrane, did not appear to inhibit significantly the diffusional permeability. No changes in water diffusion were noticed after exposure to erythrocytes to trypsin and chymotrypsin. A new kind of experiments was that in which the effects of exposure of erythrocytes to two or more agents were studied. It was found that none of the chemical manipulations of membranes that did not affect water diffusion hampered the inhibitory action of mercurials. These findings show that the SH groups involved in water diffusion across erythrocyte membrane do not react with any of the other SH reagents aside from mercurials and that the molecular mechanism of water transport is not affected by chymotryptic cleavage of band 3 protein into the 60 and 35 kD fragments. The NMR method appears as a useful tool for studying changes in water diffusion in erythrocyte membranes following various chemical manipulations of the membranes with the aim of locating the water channel.     

Permeability studies on red cell membranes of dog, cat, and beef

Water permeability coefficients of dog, cat, and beef red cell membranes have been measured under an osmotic pressure gradient. The measurements employed a rapid reaction stop flow apparatus with which cell shrinking was measured under a relative osmotic pressure gradient of 1.25 to 1.64 times the isosmolar concentration. For the dog red cell the osmotic permeability coefficient is 0.36 cm⁴/(sec, osmol). The water permeability coefficient for the dog red cell under a diffusion gradient was also measured (rate constant = 0.10/msec). The ratio between the two permeabilities was used to calculate an equivalent pore radius of 5.9 A. This value agrees welt with an equivalent pore radius of 6.2 A obtained from reflection coefficients of nonelectrolyte water-soluble molecules, and is consistent with data on the permeability of the dog red cell membrane to glucose. These data provide evidence supporting the existence of equivalent pores in single biological membranes.     

Water exchange through erythrocyte membranes: Biochemical and nuclear magnetic resonance studies re-evaluating the effects of sulfhydryl reagents and of proteolytic enzymes on human membranes

Summary The water permeability of human red blood cell (RBC) membrane has been monitored by a doping nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique on intact cells and resealed ghosts following exposure to various sulfydryl-reacting (SH) reagents and proteolytic enzymes. The main conclusions are the following: (i) When appropriate conditions for exposure of erythrocytes or ghosts to mercury-containing SH reagents (concentration, temperature and duration of incubation) were found, the maximal inhibition of water diffusion could be obtained with all mercurials (including HgCl₂ and mersalyl that failed to show their inhibitory action on RBC water permeability in some investigations). While previous studies claimed that long incubation times are required for the development of maximal inhibition of water diffusion by mercurials, the present results show that it can be induced in a much shorter time (5–15 min at 37°C) if relatively high concentrations of PCMBS (2–4mm) are used and no washings of the inhibitor are performed after incubation. Higher than optimal concentrations of mercurials and/or longer incubation times result in lower values of inhibition, sometimes a loss of inhibition, or can even lead to higher values of permeability compared to control RBCs. (ii) The conditions for inhibition by mercurials are drastically changed by preincubation of erythrocytes with noninhibitory SH reagents (such as NEM or IAM) or by exposure to proteolytic enzymes. If the cells are digested with papain, the duration of incubation with PCMBS should be decreased in order for inhibition to occur. This explains the lack of inhibition reported previously, when a relatively long duration of incubation with PCMBS was used subsequent to papain digestion. (iii) The degree of inhibition of water diffusion induced by mercurials appeared to be dependent upon the temperature of which the water permeability was measured. The values of maximal inhibition ranged from 45–50% at 37°C, increased 10–15% at 20°C and further increased at lower temperatures, reaching values above 75% below 10°C; these results clarify the conflicting reports of various authors. (iv) The inhibition of water diffusion, either reversible, or irreversible, was not accompanied by significant changes in the pattern of RBC membrane polypeptides fractionated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. (v) The mean value of the activation energy of water diffusion (E _a,d) obtained on 42 donors was 25.6 kJ/mol. The values ofE _a,d increased in parallel with the values of the inhibition of water diffusion induced by PCMBS until the maximal inhibition was reached (whenE _a,d=41 kJ/mol) and then both sets of values decreased in parallel.     

Thallium and rubidium permeability of human and rat erythrocyte membrane

Transport of Tl+ and Rb+ in human and rat erythrocytes was investigated in the presence of ouabain. The chloride-dependent cotransport of Tl+, Rb+ and Na+ was precluded by replacement of Cl- by NO3-. The inward and outward rate constants for the residual fluxes of the cations were determined by measuring the transport of 204Tl and 86Rb in double label experiments. The rate of passive transport of Tl+ exceeded that of Rb+ by one-two orders of magnitude in human as well as rat erythrocytes. The membrane barrier which contributes to the maintenance of ion gradients was shown not to be a barrier for Tl+ which easily penetrates the membrane by an unknown mechanism. In rat erythrocytes the barrier for Rb+ was 10-15 times weaker than that in human red blood cells, while the corresponding ratio of rat/human Tl+ permeabilities was about 1.8-2.0. It follows that Tl+ permeability is only slightly affected by factors modifying the permeability to alkali cations. The increase of temperature from 20 degrees to 37 degrees C resulted in a three-fourfold stimulation of the passive transport of Tl+ both in human and rat erythrocytes. The movement of Tl+ and Rb+ through the erythrocyte membrane differed substantially from their diffusion along the excitable membrane channels characterized both by poor Tl+/K+ selectivity and weak temperature dependence.     

Mechanisms of slower nitric oxide uptake by red blood cells and other hemoglobin-containing vesicles

Nitric oxide (NO) acts as a smooth muscle relaxation factor and plays a crucial role in maintaining vascular homeostasis. NO is scavenged rapidly by hemoglobin (Hb). However, under normal physiological conditions, the encapsulation of Hb inside red blood cells (RBCs) significantly retards NO scavenging, permitting NO to reach the smooth muscle. The rate-limiting factors (diffusion of NO to the RBC surface, through the RBC membrane or inside of the RBC) responsible for this retardation have been the subject of much debate. Knowing the relative contribution of each of these factors is important for several reasons including optimization of the development of blood substitutes where Hb is contained within phospholipid vesicles. We have thus performed experiments of NO uptake by erythrocytes and microparticles derived from erythrocytes and conducted simulations of these data as well as that of others. We have included extracellular diffusion (that is, diffusion of the NO to the membrane) and membrane permeability, in addition to intracellular diffusion of NO, in our computational models. We find that all these mechanisms may modulate NO uptake by membrane-encapsulated Hb and that extracellular diffusion is the main rate-limiting factor for phospholipid vesicles and erythrocytes. In the case of red cell microparticles, we find a major role for membrane permeability. These results are consistent with prior studies indicating that extracellular diffusion of several gas ligands is also rate-limiting for erythrocytes, with some contribution of a low membrane permeability.