title: Alterations in erythrocyte membrane fluidity in children with trisomy 21: a fluorescence study.
abstract: Membrane fluidity of erythrocytes obtained from 15 children with trisomy 21 and 20 healthy controls were studied by measuring steady-state fluorescence anisotropy and fluorescence lifetime of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) and 1-(4-trimethylammoniumphenyl)-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (TMA-DPH) incorporated in hemoglobin-free erythrocyte membranes. Our results demonstrate a significant decrease in DPH fluorescence anisotropy and a significant increase in TMA-DPH fluorescence anistropy in erythrocytes from subjects with trisomy 21. No significant differences between the two groups were observed in the fluorescence lifetime of DPH and TMA-DPH. These data suggest an increase in membrane fluidity in the interior part of the membrane and a decrease in fluidity at the lipid-water interface region. This could be in part attributed to an increased oxidative damage in trisomy 21.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kantar
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Giorgi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Curatola
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fiorini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004161:Diphenylhexatriene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane; D005260:Female; D005454:Fluorescence Polarization; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008560:Membrane Fluidity; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D010743:Phospholipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D004161:Diphenylhexatriene; C033628:1-(4-(trimethylamino)phenyl)-6-phenylhexa-1,3,5-triene; D002784:Cholesterol