Study on membrane fluidity and erythrocyte aggregation in equine, bovine and human species.
Abstract: The aim of the present paper is to analyze whether membrane fluidity can be predicted from its lipid composition and to assay the possible relationship between such variable and the aggregating properties of erythrocytes from equine, bovine and human species due to the widely acknowledged differences in their tendency to form aggregates. The main difference between phospholipids from plasma membrane in these species lies in the concentration levels of sphyngomyelin (SM) and phosphatidilcoline (PC); more precisely, in the external hemilayer of the lipid bilayer. Membrane fluidity was estimated by the fluorescence polarization method, while erythrocyte aggregation was assessed by an optical method. According to our results, bovine erythrocytes containing high SM and low PC levels, presented the highest anisotropy value as well as an imperceptible aggregation value. Equine erythrocytes, which contain a considerable PC percentage and scarce SM levels, showed the lowest anisotropy value and the highest values of the aggregation parameters. Human erythrocytes presented intermediate values for both properties. Our hypothesis claims that the phospholipid composition would constitute one of the factors determining erythrocyte membrane fluidity and also taking part in the different aggregation tendency shown by equine, bovine and human species.
Publication Date: 2008-02-02 PubMed ID: 18239259
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research is analyzing whether the lipid composition of membranes can predict membrane fluidity, and how this relationship plays into erythrocyte (red blood cell) aggregation in horses, cows, and humans. The results highlight how phospholipid composition plays a role in membrane fluidity and differing aggregation propensity in these species.
Analyzing Membrane Fluidity
- In this research, the scientists were trying to understand if the lipid composition of membranes could forecast their fluidity. Membrane fluidity refers to the viscosity of the lipid bilayer in a cell membrane that allows it to change shape and move.
The Importance of Lipid Composition
- The main difference between the phospholipids of the plasma membrane in horses, cows, and humans is in the concentration levels of sphingomyelin (SM) and phosphatidylcholine (PC), specifically in the external hemilayer of the lipid bilayer. SM & PC are important components in cell membranes, playing a critical role in functions like cell signaling.
Measuring Techniques
- The researchers measured membrane fluidity using the fluorescence polarization method, a commonly used technique for this purpose. The aggregation of erythrocytes was assessed using an optical method.
Findings & Hypothesis
- The results showed that bovine erythrocytes, which contained high levels of SM and low levels of PC, had the highest anisotropy value (a measure of the variation in physical properties) and the least visible aggregation.
- Conversely, equine erythrocytes, with a considerable amount of PC and low SM levels, showed the lowest anisotropy value but the highest aggregation parameters.
- Human erythrocytes presented intermediate values for both properties.
- The scientists concluded that the phospholipid composition could be one of the factors that determine erythrocyte membrane fluidity. It seems to also influence the different tendencies for erythrocyte aggregation in horses, cows, and humans.
Cite This Article
APA
Spengler MI, Bertoluzzo SM, Catalani G, Rasia ML.
(2008).
Study on membrane fluidity and erythrocyte aggregation in equine, bovine and human species.
Clin Hemorheol Microcirc, 38(3), 171-176.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas, Cátedra de Física Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Santa Fe 3100, CP 2000, Rosario, Argentina. isabelspengler@hotmail.com
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cattle
- Erythrocyte Aggregation / drug effects
- Erythrocyte Aggregation / physiology
- Erythrocyte Membrane / drug effects
- Erythrocyte Membrane / physiology
- Hemorheology / methods
- Horses
- Humans
- Membrane Fluidity / drug effects
- Membrane Fluidity / physiology
- Phosphatidylcholines / pharmacology
- Species Specificity
- Sphingomyelins / pharmacology
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Goyal Y, Koul A, Ranawat P. Ellagic acid modulates cisplatin toxicity in DMH induced colorectal cancer: Studies on membrane alterations.. Biochem Biophys Rep 2022 Sep;31:101319.
- Kämpf S, Seiler E, Bujok J, Hofmann-Lehmann R, Riond B, Makhro A, Bogdanova A. Aging Markers in Equine Red Blood Cells.. Front Physiol 2019;10:893.
- de Arvelos LR, Rocha VC, Felix GP, da Cunha CC, Bernardino Neto M, da Silva Garrote Filho M, de Fátima Pinheiro C, Resende ES, Penha-Silva N. Bivariate and multivariate analyses of the influence of blood variables of patients submitted to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass on the stability of erythrocyte membrane against the chaotropic action of ethanol.. J Membr Biol 2013 Mar;246(3):231-42.
- Ferlazzo AM, Bruschetta G, Di Pietro P, Medica P, Notti A, Rotondo E. Phospholipid composition of plasma and erythrocyte membranes in animal species by 31P NMR.. Vet Res Commun 2011 Dec;35(8):521-30.
- Nanne EE, Aucoin CP, Leonard EF. Shear rate and hematocrit effects on the apparent diffusivity of urea in suspensions of bovine erythrocytes.. ASAIO J 2010 May-Jun;56(3):151-6.
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