Morphological Effects Induced In Vitro by Propranolol on Human Erythrocytes.

Despite the extended use and well-documented information, there are insufficient reports concerning the effects of propranolol on the structure and functions of cell membranes, particularly those of human erythrocytes. Aimed to better understand the molecular mechanisms of its interactions with cell membranes, human erythrocyte and molecular models of the red cell membrane were utilized. The latter consisted of bilayers of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DMPE), representative of phospholipid classes located in the outer and inner monolayers of the human erythrocyte membrane, respectively. The capacity of propranolol to perturb the multibilayer structures of DMPC and DMPE was evaluated by X-ray diffraction. Moreover, we took advantage of the capability of differential scanning calorimetry to detect the changes in the thermotropic phase behavior of lipid bilayers resulting from propranolol interaction with DMPC and DMPE multilamellar vesicles. In an attempt to further elucidate their effects on cell membranes, the present work also examined their influence on the morphology of intact human erythrocytes by means of defocusing and scanning electron microscopy. Results indicated that propranolol induced morphological changes to human erythrocytes and interacted in a concentration-dependent manner with phospholipid bilayer.

In vitro effects of benzimidazole/thioether-copper complexes with antitumor activity on human erythrocytes.

Two cytotoxic copper(II) complexes with N-H and N-methylated benzimidazole-derived ligands (Cu-L1 and Cu-L1Me; L1=bis(2-methylbenzimidazolyl)(2-methylthioethyl)amine, L1Me=bis(1-methyl-2-methylbenzimidazolyl)(2-methylthioethyl)amine) were synthesized and exposed to human erythrocytes and molecular models of its membrane. The latter were bilayers built-up of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DMPE), classes of lipids present in the external and internal moieties of the human red cell membrane, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of erythrocytes incubated with solutions of both Cu(II) complexes showed that they induced morphological changes to the normal cells to echinocytes, and hemolysis at higher concentrations. Real-time observation of the dose-dependent effects of the complexes on live erythrocytes by defocusing microscopy (DM) confirmed SEM results. The formation of echinocytes implied that complex molecules inserted into the outer moiety of the red cell membrane. X-ray diffraction studies on DMPC and DMPE showed that none of these complexes interacted with DMPE and only Cu-L1 interacted with DMPC. This difference was explained by the fact that Cu-L1Me complex is more voluminous than Cu-L1 because it has two additional methyl groups; on the other hand, DMPC molecule has three methyl groups in its bulky terminal amino end. Thus, by steric hindrance Cu-L1Me molecules cannot intercalate into DMPC bilayer, which besides is present in the gel phase. These results, together with the increased antiproliferative capacity of the N-methylated complex Cu-L1Me over that of Cu-L1 are rationalized mainly based on its higher lipophilicity.

Interactions of the antiviral and antiparkinson agent amantadine with lipid membranes and human erythrocytes.

Aimed to better understand the molecular mechanisms of its interactions with cell membranes, human erythrocyte and molecular models of the red cell membrane were utilized. The latter consisted of bilayers of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DMPE), representative of phospholipid classes located in the outer and inner monolayers of the human erythrocyte membrane, respectively. The capacity of amantadine to perturb the bilayer structures of DMPC and DMPE was evaluated by X-ray diffraction, fluorescence spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In an attempt to further elucidate its effects on cell membranes, the present work also examined amantadine influence on the morphology of intact human erythrocytes by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results indicated that amantadine induced morphological changes to human erythrocytes and interacted in a concentration-dependent manner with DMPC bilayers in contrast to DMPE that was hardly affected by the presence of the drug.