Clustering of erythrocytes by fibrinogen is inhibited by carnitine: evidence that sulfhydryl groups on red blood cell membranes are involved in carnitine actions.
Carnitine is bound by intact red blood cells, by red blood cell ghosts, and by glutaraldehyde-fixed human erythrocytes in a non-saturable, temperature-dependent manner. Binding of carnitine by these preparations is blocked by sulfhydryl reagents. Incubation or preincubation of red blood cell preparations with carnitine inhibits the aggregation of erythrocytes otherwise elicited by fibrinogen. Identical effects are obtained with red blood cell ghosts. In contrast, choline, even at high concentrations, is inactive in preventing the aggregation of erythrocytes. We discuss possible mechanisms by which carnitine favors the dispersion of red blood cells, and we present data indicating that sulfhydryl groups on erythrocyte membranes are required to permit these carnitine actions to be manifested.
Fritz
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IB
Banting and Best Department of Medical Research, C.H. Best Institute, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Wong
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K
Burdzy
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K
D002331:Carnitine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051152:Clusterin; D004903:Erythrocyte Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology
C495242:CLU protein, human; D051152:Clusterin; D006023:Glycoproteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002331:Carnitine