Topo-optical investigations of human erythrocyte glycocalyx conformational changes induced by dextran.

Cell surface properties are involved in the aggregation process of red blood cells. Using the topo-optical toluidine blue reaction, conformational changes of the glycocalyx (main component glycophorin A) were found when red blood cells were incubated and fixed in the presence of dextran. Relative differences in optical path as a measure of red blood cell membrane anisotropy decreased in relation to dextran concentration during fixation. These conformational changes could not be detected by electrophoretic measurements. When incubating, fixing and staining red blood cells in the presence of dextran, anisotropy decreased only at low dextran concentrations and increased at rising dextran concentrations. This biphasic course of differences in optical path seems to be due to different effects of dextran superimposing upon each other: a disturbing influence on the spatial order of sialic acid carrying oligosaccharide side chains due to H-bond interaction, and an increase in the size of dye aggregates and suppression of the thermal motion of macromolecules at higher dextran concentrations.

The rate of lateral diffusion of phospholipids in erythrocyte microvesicles.

31P-NMR spectra of phospholipids in membranes of erythrocyte microvesicles isolated from outdated blood units were recorded in the temperature range 5 to 55 degrees C. Within that range the lineshape is strongly influenced by an increasing rate of lateral diffusion of phospholipids. At 36 degrees C a diffusion constant, D, of (2 +/- 1) X 10(-12) m2/s was obtained. The diffusion rate is by a factor of 3 to 10 greater than in erythrocyte membranes measured by the photobleaching technique and is comparable with values obtained for several lipid model membranes. The differences in lateral diffusion rates are probably connected with the depletion of microvesicle membranes in membrane proteins.

Fas/CD95/APO-1 can function as a death receptor for neuronal cells in vitro and in vivo and is upregulated following cerebral hypoxic-ischemic injury to the developing rat brain.

Fas/CD95/Apo-1 is a cell surface receptor that transduces apoptotic death signals following activation and has been implicated in triggering apoptosis in infected or damaged cells in disease states. Apoptosis is a major mechanism of neuronal loss following hypoxic-ischemic injury to the developing brain, although the role of Fas in this process has not been studied in detail. In the present study, we have investigated the expression and function of Fas in neuronal cells in vitro and in vivo. Fas was found to be expressed in the 14 day old rat brain, with strongest expression in the cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum. Cross-linking of Fas induced neuronal apoptosis both in neuronal PC12 cells in culture and following intracerebral injection in vivo, indicating that neuronal Fas was functional as a death receptor. This death was shown to be caspase dependent in primary neuronal cultures and was blocked by the selective caspase 8 inhibitor IETD. Finally, cerebral hypoxia-ischemia resulted in a strong lateralised upregulation of Fas in the hippocampus, that peaked six to twelve hours after the insult and was greater on the side of injury. These results suggest that Fas may be involved in neuronal apoptosis following hypoxic-ischemic injury to the developing brain.

Red blood cell aging--membrane skeleton alteration and IgG receptor expression.

Investigations were performed on aging of erythrocytes. It has been assumed that structural changes of the membrane result after exposer of the cells to certain environmental influences in vivo or in vitro. Cell aging can be connected with varying combinations of membrane structure disturbances. It is postulated that the messenger which signals membrane structure lesion is involved in a mechanism given by the expression of immunoglobulin G (IgG) receptor sites which bind autologous IgG1 and IgG3. This antibodies are cytophilic for macrophages. The performed studies demonstrated that an intact molecular arrangement of the membrane skeleton is not only a supposition for stabilization of the membrane asymmetry but also for IgG receptor masking to prevent an early elimination of the red blood cells from the organism.

The histochemical detection of acetylcholine esterase--an indicator of the disintegration of membranes.

The presence of ACHE in erythrocytes membrane in vitro but not detectable ultrahistochemically has been explored as a sign of membranes disintegration. The final results of the investigations have shown, that the increase in ACHE activity of the erythrocyte membrane is a qualitative sign and a semiquantitative measure of serious disturbances in the membrane structure.

Porosity and surface area of anionic resins: limitations in the employment of model substrates for the colloidal iron reaction.

Quantitative evaluations of the uptake of an acid ferric hydroxide sol revealed the iron binding of model substrates unrelated to their ion binding capacity. Electron microscopy showed iron particles bound exclusively or mainly to the surfaces of model substrates. Morphometric estimations resulted in a good agreement of the surface/volume ratio with the amount of bound iron. The results are discussed with regard to the steric hindrance of the colloidal iron reaction resulting in a nonstoichiometric interaction.

Phosphorylated spectrins are likely constituents of major Ca2+ affinity sites.

Fixation with Ca2+ -glutaraldehyde of ghosts results in opaque membrane associated deposits similar to Ca2+ binding sites of native human erythrocytes. Following brief incubation in an ATP medium the number and size of major Ca2+ affinity sites is considerably enhanced. In addition to major Ca2+ affinity sites multiple minor sites are lining either aspect of the ghost membrane. Ghosts fixed with EDTA-glutaraldehyde are devoid of major Ca2+ affinity sites and they exhibit extreme low overall opacity. Ghosts previously partially despectrinated by incubation in 0.5 mM EDTA have lost major Ca2+ affinity sites, although minor binding sites appear unimpaired. The findings provide evidence of the demonstration of phosphorylated spectrins in major Ca2+ affinity sites.

Adsorbed proteins mask negatively charged sites of the erythrocyte glycocalyx.

Protein masking of charged sites of the erythrocyte glycocalyx was studied by means of the colloidal iron affinity. Washed red cells were fixed with glutaraldehyde such as to stabilize their glycocalyx and to inhibit conformational changes during posttreatment. Following the incubation in an ionic protein solution, proteins adsorbed to the cell surface were insolubilized by repeated treatment with low ionic isotonic surcose. Erythrocytes coated with precipitated proteins exhibited a rough surface. Their iron binding capacity was reduced considerably. In comparison with serum albumin, masking by gamma globulin was more efficient, apparently, because of its insolubility in low ionic media. High ionic incubation of coated erythrocytes resolubilized adsorbed proteins and unmasked negatively charged groups of the glycocalyx.

Alteration of the enucleating erythroblast glycocalyx.

Plasmalemmal differentiation of the enucleating normoblast of rabbit and rat was studied by means of cytochemical methods and freeze-etching. Staining with colloidal iron revealed about identical amounts of iron particles bound to various areas of the normoblast membrane. Cationized ferritin and ruthenium red, likewise, failed in the demonstration of significant changes of the enucleating normoblast glycocalyx. Despite these findings the topo-optical staining with toluidine blue showed the plasmalemmal envelope of the protruding normoblast nucleus moderately birefringent, clearly discriminated from the intense anisotropic staining of the future reticulocyte membrane. The ferritin-labeled snail lectin anti AHP localized a great number of binding sites at the plasmalemmal envelope of the nucleus under extrusion. That is in sharp contrast with rather low lectin binding to the future reticulocyte membrane which amounts to about 30 to 50% of the nuclear envelope label. The findings provide evidence of unmasking of bindings sites of the normoblast membrane. Apparently, the effect is due to conformational changes of the cell membrane, rather than it could be attributed to degradation of glycoproteins. Moreover, enucleation kinetics may also be related to supramolecular changes of membrane structure albeit missing evidence for the rearrangement of membrane particles.

Reversible conformational changes of plasmalemmal glycoproteins.

Repeated incubations of human red blood cells in low ionic isotonic sucrose result in an instantaneous agglutination. In the same medium which had caused the agglutination, erythrocytes completely disagglutinate within 60 to 90 min. Disagglutination is accompanied by the efflux of cellular ions, which causes a 500-fold increase of extracellular K+. Decomposition of agglutinates occurs at once upon addition to the medium of about 3 mM KCL. It will be inhibited for hours, if the medium is renewed twice an hour. Erythrocytes washed successively with phosphate buffered saline and isotonic sucrose are devoid of adhering blood plasma proteins. If these cells were fixed with glutaraldehyde in isotonic sucrose they had lost a) their anisotropic staining with toluidine blue, and b) most of their colloidal iron binding capacity. The staining with ruthenium red and the electrophoretic velocity of these erythrocytes apparently were identical with the controls. The findings are considered evidence of the reversible unfolding of glycocalyx glycoproteins in the low ionic medium.

[The altered membrane of the erythrocyte. I. Ultrahistochemical and biocellular investigations for the detection of activated acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) and demasking of IgG receptor sites (author's transl)]. / Die alterierte Erythrocytenmembran. I. Ultrahistochemische und zellbiologische Untersuchungen zur Aktivierung der Acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) und Demaskierung von IgG-Receptoren.

Different states of the erythrocyte membrane with regard to its disintegration are characterized. The binding power of autologous and allogenic IgG, the degree of the activation of the membrane associated acetylcholinesterase (inhibited in the intact plasmalemma of red blood cells), and the membrane vesiculation served as criteria. The findings demonstrate that, obviously, the IgG binding increases in dependence on the extent of the disturbance of the membrane structure. The acetylcholinesterase is increasingly activated. The enzyme can be demonstrated by spectrophotometrical and ultrahistochemical methods. Microvesiculation is understood as expression of fundamental disturbances of the membrane structure. These disturbances express local remodelling processes in the membrane of banked red blood cells. Highly extended damage of red blood cells after mechanical stress, heat or urea incubation lead to comparatively high rates of vesiculation, partially even to cell fragmentation. Extremely spectrindeficient ghosts tend to microvesiculation, which leads to complete microvesicular decay of the ghost membrane. The membrane associated autologous IgG is demonstrated by means of immuneological and ultrahistochemical methods. Its importance as homeostatically effective immun-signal for the elimination of red blood cells aged in vivo or in vitro, ghosts and microvesicles by the reticulohistiocytic-system is evidenced by means of model experiments. Molecular mechanisms for unmasking of IgG-receptor sites and activation of acetylcholineesterase in the altered erythrocyte membrane are discussed.

[Structure of the erythrocyte membrane]. / Die Struktur der Erythrozytenmembran.

A short survey is given about the components and the structure of the human erythrocyte membrane. The dominating transmembrane proteins, the anion exchange protein as a main constituent of the intramembranous particles and as an anchoring site of the membrane skeleton, and the glycophorin A as the main component of the glycocalyx are discussed in particular. The structure of the membrane skeleton, its binding sites at the inner membrane aspect as well as the nature of the junctions of that network and the functions of the membrane skeleton are spoken about.

[Extraction of membrane proteins in low ionic strengths]. / Extraktion von Membranproteinen bei niedrigen Ionenstärken.

Hemoglobin and the low molecular weight proteins 8 and 9 are extracted from ghosts during low ionic washing after the hypotonic hemolysis of erythrocytes. Furthermore, a loss of the proteins 4.5 and 7 was observed. The protein patterns of ghosts after isotonic hemolysis by freezing and thawing resemble the ghost protein patterns after hypotonic hemolysis and incomplete deprivation of Hb. Many if not all membrane proteins are eluted by repeated incubations of the ghosts in solutions of low ionic strength in the presence of EDTA. The spectrins, the proteins 5, 4.5, 7 and residual Hb are extracted preferentially. A selective extraction of the spectrins and the protein 5 is not detectable under these conditions. Often the spectrin bands are subdivided following low ionic incubation.

Preservation of resuspended red cell concentrates. Rate of vesiculation and of spontaneous hemolysis.

In resuspended red cell concentrates addition of sucrose, mannitol and sorbitol (30 mM final concentration each) to the SAG medium (150 mM NaCl, 50 mM glucose, 1.25 mM adenine) results in a significant reduction of the spontaneous hemolysis of the cells to about 25% after 3 weeks and to about 40% after 6 weeks preservation. Furthermore, in comparison to the SAG medium the vesiculation rate is reduced to about 40% after 3 weeks preservation. Clear cut differences in the effects between the three additives could not be found. The addition of guanosine (1.25 mM final concentration) to the SAG-sucrose or SAG-sorbitol medium has no significant effects on hemolysis and vesiculation.

[The creatine levels--a criterion for preservation damage in erythrocytes?]. / Der Kreatingehalt--ein Kriterium für den Konservierungsschaden von Erythrozyten?

The creatine content of human erythrocytes decreases during in vivo ageing. On the other hand, banking of erythrocytes in ACD-AG- or CPD-medium, respectively, causes an initial distinct increase with following slow decrease of the creatine level. When compared with the initial value the creatine content is still elevated after 6 weeks of banking. Hitherto, the reason of this behaviour is unknown. The creatine content does not represent a suitable criterion for banking related damage of erythrocytes.

Remarks on the spatial structure of the external segment of glycophorin A.

A model of the possible structure of the N-terminal part of glycophorin A is suggested. According to this model, in isotonic salt solutions of physiologic pH the peptide chain of the extracellular segment of glycophorin A is arranged parallel to the membrane with its carbohydrate side chains orientated perpendicularly to the lipid bilayer. Decreases of the pH or of the ionic strength result in a structural remodeling of this segment, there is at the very least a partial detachment of the glycosylated peptide backbone from the membrane's lipid layer.

Conformational calculations of the N-terminal hydrophilic segment of human erythrocyte glycophorin.

The study is focused on the secondary structure of the external N-terminal segment of human erythrocyte glycophorin A (NN) which was determined by applying methods of CHOU et FASMAN and LIM. This hydrophilic glycophorin segment is assumed to consist of 48.5% ordered (alpha-helix, beta-sheet, beta-turn) and 51.5% unordered sequences. From the secondary structure suggestions are made concerning (i) peptide interaction and (ii) binding to the lipid bilayer of the N-terminal segment.