title: Stochastic nature and red cell population distribution of the sickling-induced Ca2+ permeability.
abstract: To explore basic properties of the sickling-induced cation permeability pathway, the Ca2+ component (Psickle-Ca) was studied in density-fractionated sickle cell anemia (SS) discocytes through its effects on the activity of the cells' Ca2+sensitive K+-channels (KCa). The instant state of KCa channel activation was monitored during continuous or cyclic deoxygenation of the cells using a novel thiocyanate-densecell formation method. Each deoxy pulse caused a reversible, sustained Psickle-Ca, which activated KCa channels in only 10-45% of cells at physiological [Ca2+]o ("activated cells"). After removal of cells activated by each previous deoxy pulse, subsequent pulses generated similar activated cell fractions, indicating a random determination rather than the response of a specific vulnerable subpopulation. The fraction of activated cells rose monotonically with [Ca2+]o along a curve reflecting the cells' distribution of Psickle-Ca, with values high enough in a small cell fraction to trigger near-maximal KCa channels. Consistent with the stochastic nature of Psickle-Ca, repeated deoxygenated-oxygenated pulsing led to progressive dense cell formation, whereas single long pulses caused one early density shift. Thus deoxygenation-induced Ca2+-permeabilization in SS cells is a probabilistic event with large cumulative dehydrating potential. The possible molecular nature of Psickle-Ca is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Physiological Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 EG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Lew
authors.forename: O E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bookchin
mesh_terms: D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D017136:Ion Transport; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels; D002118:Calcium