title: Structural and functional changes in the membrane and membrane skeleton of red blood cells induced by peroxynitrite.
abstract: The changes in passive ion permeability of the red blood cell membrane after peroxynitrite action (3 microM-3 mM) have been studied by biophysical (using radioisotopes of rubidium, sodium and sulphur (sulphate)) and electrophysiological methods. The enhancement of passive membrane permeability to cations (potassium and sodium ions) and the inhibition of anion flux through the anion exchanger in peroxynitrite-treated red blood cells were revealed. In patch-clamp experiments the whole-cell conductance after peroxynitrite (80 microM) treatment of red blood cells increased 3-3.5-fold with a shift in the reversal potential from -7.0+/-1.5 mV to -4.3+/-0.9 mV (n=7, p=0.005). The addition of cobalt and nickel ions to red blood cell suspensions before peroxynitrite treatment had no effect on the peroxynitrite-induced cation flux but zinc ions in the same condition decreased cation flux about 2-fold. Using atomic force microscopy methods we revealed an increase in red blood cell membrane stiffness and the membrane skeleton complexity after peroxynitrite action. We conclude that the peroxynitrite-induced water and ion imbalance and reorganization in membrane structure lead to crenation of red blood cells.
authors.affiliation: Gomel State Medical University, Lange strasse 5, Gomel, Belarus. starodubtseva_mn@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Maria N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Starodubtseva
authors.forename: Amanda L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Tattersall
authors.forename: Tatyana G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Kuznetsova
authors.forename: Nicolai I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Yegorenkov
authors.forename: J Clive
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ellory
mesh_terms: D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D030421:Peroxynitrous Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D028561:Transition Elements / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D028561:Transition Elements; D030421:Peroxynitrous Acid; D011188:Potassium