title: Curcumin Protects -SH Groups and Sulphate Transport after Oxidative Damage in Human Erythrocytes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Erythrocytes, continuously exposed to oxygen pressure and toxic compounds, are sensitive to oxidative stress, namely acting on integral Band 3 protein, with consequences on cell membranes deformability and anion transport efficiency. The aim of the present investigation, conducted on human erythrocytes, is to verify whether curcumin (1 or 10µM), a natural compound with proved antioxidant properties, may counteract Band 3-mediated anion transport alterations due to oxidative stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oxidative conditions were induced by exposure to, alternatively, either 2 mM N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) or pH-modified solutions (6.5 and 8.5). Rate constant for SO4(=) uptake and -SH groups estimation were measured to verify the effect of oxidative stress on anion transport efficiency and erythrocyte membranes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the exposure of erythrocytes to, alternatively, NEM or pH-modified solutions, a significant decrease in both rate constant for SO4(=) uptake and -SH groups was observed, which was prevented by curcumin, with a dose-dependent effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that: i) the decreased efficiency of anion transport may be due to changes in Band 3 protein structure caused by cysteine -SH groups oxidation, especially after exposure to NEM and pH 6.5; ii) 10 µM Curcumin is effective in protecting erythrocytes from oxidative stress events at level of cell membrane transport.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Rossana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morabito
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Falliti
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Geraci
authors.forename: Giuseppa La
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Spada
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marino
mesh_terms: D001457:Anion Exchange Protein 1, Erythrocyte / Q000378:metabolism; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005033:Ethylmaleimide / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D013431:Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism*; D013439:Sulfhydryl Reagents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001457:Anion Exchange Protein 1, Erythrocyte; D000975:Antioxidants; C454201:SLC4A1 protein, human; D013431:Sulfates; D013439:Sulfhydryl Reagents; D003474:Curcumin; D005033:Ethylmaleimide