Calcium transport and adenosine triphosphatase activities of erythrocyte membranes in congenital spherocytosis

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Abstract
Calcium transport from red cells was measured in seventeen patients with congenital or hereditary spherocytosis (HS). The efflux remained at a lower level in resealed ghost cells of patients than in normal cells both in the presence and absence of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). We studied the activities of Ca2+, Mg2+-ATPase, ouabain-sensitive Na+, K+-ATPase, Mg2+-ATPase and Ca2+-(spectrin-)ATPase in cell membranes prepared by washing the cells with hypotonic medium. The mean ±SD Ca2+, Mg2+-ATPase/Mg2+-ATPase of HS patients was 3.34 ± 1.06, and 2.81 ± 0.42 in control subjects. Na+, K+-ATPase/Mg2+-ATPase was 2.38 ± 0.38 in HS cells compared to 2.01 ± 0.41 in normal cells. Ca2+-ATPase/Mg2+-ATPase of HS membranes was 0.57 ± 0.18 and the control value 0.43 ± 0.08. These data indicate calcium retention in the erythrocytes of HS patients in spite of increases in Ca2+, Mg2+-ATPase activity in the majority of patients.