title: Changes in lipid composition of erythrocyte membranes with administration of S-adenosyl-L-methionine in chronic liver disease.
abstract: This study was undertaken to determine whether S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) changes the lipid composition and fluidity of erythrocyte membranes in chronic liver disease. SAMe was administered intravenously at a daily dose of 600 mg for 2 weeks to 10 patients; 6 patients with cirrhosis and four with primary biliary cirrhosis. The elevated free cholesterol to phospholipid molar (C/PL) ratio of the erythrocyte membranes of the patients (0.857 +/- 0.018) significantly decreased after the administration of SAMe (1 week, 0.823 +/- 0.021; 2 weeks, 0.823 +/- 0.013). In all of the four patients whose erythrocyte membrane fluidity was measured, fluidity improved with the administration of SAMe and correlated with the C/PL ratio of the membranes. These results suggest that SAMe decreases the C/PL ratio of erythrocyte membranes and thus improves membrane fluidity in chronic liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kakimoto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawata
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inada
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsuzawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tarui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000097:blood; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood*; D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010743:Phospholipids; D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine; D002784:Cholesterol