The Role of Serum in Acanthocyte Autohemolysis and Membrane Lipid Composition*

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Abstract
Red cells (acanthocytes) from patients with inherited absence of low density plasma lipoproteins hemolyse excessively when incubated at 37[degree] for 48 hours. Normal serum in small amounts (8% of total serum) prevents this increased autohemolysis. In this study the factor(s) in normal serum responsible for this inhibition were sought. Normal low (D< 1.063) and high (D< 1.063 - 1.210) density lipoproteins isolated by preparative ultracentrifugation both inhibited the autohemolysis. Subtractions of normal high density lipoprotein (D< 1.063 -1.110 and 1.110 - 1.210) also were effective, but the ultracentrifugal residue (D> 1.210) actually increased the abnormal hemolysis. Lipid emulsions which contained both phospholipid and cholesterol were effective in some experiments, but emulsions of phospholipid alone were not. It is concluded that the principle in normal serum active in inhibiting acanthocyte autohemolysis is a lipoprotein complex containing both cholesterol and phospholipids or some trace component bound to both normal high and low density lipoprotein.[long dash]Authors.