Infrared spectroscopic investigation of erythrocyte membrane-smoke interactions due to chronic cigarette smoking.

ABSTRACT

Cigarette smoking is a serious health problem throughout the world, with a complicated and not totally clear bio-effect. In this study, erythrocytes were obtained from healthy male volunteers aged 22 ± 2 years and, the possible effects of three cigarette smoking rates namely 10, 15 and 20 cigarette/day on erythrocytes membrane characteristics were examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results of this study indicate many smoking-dependent variations on erythrocytes membrane without an obvious dose-response relationship. There was disruption in the acyl chain packing; changes in membrane order and phases as well as membrane proteins becoming more folded. These physico-chemical changes should have an impact on the function of erythrocytes and may explain the complex interaction of cigarette smoke mainstream with erythrocyte membrane and to some extent clarify the pathological processes associated with cigarette smoking.