Presence of cytosolic peroxiredoxin 2 in the erythrocyte membrane of patients with hereditary spherocytosis.

We studied 82 Portuguese individuals, 57 with hereditary spherocytosis (HS) and 25 unaffected controls. We performed standardized diagnosis tests, including electrophoretic membrane protein analysis to identify and quantify protein deficiencies underlying HS. Membrane bound hemoglobin (MBH) and band 3 profiles were determined as oxidative stress and aging markers. A protein of about 22 kDa, present in 21 of 57 HS patients, but not in controls, was identified as peroxiredoxin 2 (Prx2), by mass-spectroscopy and by immunoblotting. Human erythrocyte Prx2 is a peroxiredoxin with thiol-specific antioxidant activity. The presence of Prx2 in erythrocyte membranes was linked to higher levels of oxidative stress, as reflected by significantly increased MBH in those HS patients. No relation with HS clinical severity was observed and Prx2 was detected in all types of membrane protein abnormalities. Prx2 membrane linkage is associated with a higher oxidative stress susceptibility of HS erythrocytes.

Fetal lipoprotein changes in pre-eclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of maternal lipid changes upon the fetus in pre-eclampsia (PE) by evaluating lipid profile simultaneously in maternal and umbilical cord blood (UCB). DESIGN: Case-control study performed on healthy and pre-eclamptic pregnant women and their neonates. SETTING: The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital S. Joao and Faculty of Pharmacy, Porto, Portugal. SAMPLES: Forty-two healthy pregnancies and 46 pregnancies complicated with PE. Methods. Total cholesterol (TChol), HDL-cholesterol (HDLc), LDL-cholesterol (LDLc) and triglycerides (TG) levels were determined using enzymatic methods. Apolipoprotein (apo) A-I, apoB and lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] values were measured by immunoturbidimetry. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fetal and maternal plasma levels of TChol, HDLc, LDLc, TG, apoA-I, apoB and Lp(a). RESULTS: Pre-eclamptic women presented significantly higher values for TChol, LDLc, HDLc, TG, apoA-I and apoB compared to normal pregnant women. In the UCB from pre-eclamptic pregnancies, we observed significantly lower values for HDLc and apoA-I, and significantly higher TG concentrations and LDLc/HDLc ratio when compared to normal cases. A positive correlation was observed between maternal TG levels and proteinuria, a marker of PE severity (r =0.40, p <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that pre-eclamptic pregnancy is associated with an enhanced hyperlipidemia, which seems to have a negative impact on fetal lipid profile, as reflected by a higher atherogenic LDLc/HDLc ratio and higher TG levels. These children, born of women with PE, may deserve a closer clinical follow-up later in life.