Red cell aging and active calcium transport.
The authors have investigated the relationships between the active calcium transport across the human red blood cell (RBC) membrane and the RBC aging processes in vivo and in vitro. For the study of this biological system, the authors have determined the active calcium uptake by inside-out membrane vesicles obtained from selected RBC populations. This model provided an optimal way to assess the biochemical and functional responses of the human cell to the oxidative stimulus triggered by the cellular aging processes. The activity of the calcium pump is indeed strictly correlated to the oxidative damage suffered by the RBC, being higher in the aged RBC. It appears that the main controller of the active calcium transport is the age-dependent protein inhibitor of the calcium pump.
Samaja
M
M
Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biomediche, Istituto Scientifico, San Raffaele, Milano, Italy.
Rubinacci
A
A
Motterlini
R
R
De Ponti
A
A
Portinaro
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged
D002118:Calcium