Is the erythrocyte sodium pump altered in human obesity?

Ouabain binding and electrolyte concentrations of erythrocytes, and Na+, K+-ATPase activity of red cell ghosts were measured in normal and obese subjects, ranging from 88-257% of their ideal body weight. All three independent measurements were virtually the same in obese and nonobese groups, and no correlations were found between these three variables and the percentage of ideal body weight. These results differ from previous reports of either increased or decreased sodium pump function and suggest that Na+, K+-ATPase does not directly influence human obesity.

Variables affecting measurement of human red cell Na+,K+ATPase activity: technical factors, feeding, aging.

Because it has been suggested that decreased activity at the erythrocyte sodium pump might be the cause of age-related decreases in basal oxygen consumption, we have examined age-associated changes in Na+,K+-ATPase activity in red cell membranes. The initial portion of this study was directed toward elucidating possible methodological pitfalls in membrane preparation which might account for some of the variable results reported in prior erythrocyte Na+,K+-ATPase studies. We found that two of four red cell membrane fractions have substantial Mg2+-ATPase activity and contribute a significant portion of total membrane protein. As these two fractions contain little Na+,K+-ATPase activity their contamination of the other two fractions could cause significant variation in measured Na+,K+-ATPase activity. Additionally, we found that meal feeding raised Na+,K+-ATPase activity necessitating that measurements be made in the fasting state. With these methodological variables controlled, we found only a 10.8% coefficient of variation between fasting samples obtained on separate days in eight subjects. Using this methodology, we observed no correlation of Na+,K+-ATPase specific activity with age in males, and only a weak correlation in females who showed decreasing Na+,K+-ATPase specific activity occurring with advancing age. These observations suggest that changes in erythrocyte Na+,K+-ATPase activity do not cause the age-related fall in basal oxygen consumption.

Photoaffinity labeling of the sodium- and potassium-activated adenosinetriphosphatase with a cardiac glycoside containing the photoactive group on the C-17 side chain.

The synthesis and properties of a radiolabeled glycoside photoaffinity probe, [3H]-(3 beta,5 beta,14 beta, 20E)-24-azido-3-[(2,6-dideoxy-beta-D-ribo-hexopyranosyl) oxy]-14-hydroxy-21-norchol-20(22)-en-23-one, containing the photoactive group at the C-17 side chain of the steroid moiety are reported. The molecule binds to the sodium- and potassium-activated adenosinetriphosphatase from porcine kidney outer medulla under type II binding conditions [5 mM MgCl2, 3 mM phosphate, 2 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, 30 mM tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, pH 7.2, 37 degrees C] in the dark with an equilibrium dissociation constant of (1.4 +/- 0.3) X 10(-7) M. Ultraviolet irradiation of a solution of enzyme plus 3H-labeled probe, followed by analysis of covalently incorporated radiolabel, shows ouabain-displaceable labeling exclusively of the alpha subunit of the sodium- and potassium-activated adenosinetriphosphatase. These data indicate that the binding site of the C-17 side group of cardiac glycosides is located on or near the alpha subunit of this enzyme.