A NOVEL PHOSPHOLIPID IN IRREVERSIBLY SICKLED CELLS - EVIDENCE FOR INVIVO PEROXIDATIVE MEMBRANE DAMAGE IN SICKLE-CELL DISEASE

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 63  (2) , 362-367
Abstract
In individuals with sickle cell disease, a variable number of irreversibly sickled cells (ISC) is present that may contribute to the pathophysiology of sickle cell anemia. The possible role of membrane lipid peroxidation in the genesis of ISC was determined. After 24 h of simple aerobic incubation, sickle cells accumulated 2-3 times more malonyldialdehyde (MDA), an end product of lipid peroxidation, than normal cells. To assess the possibility of peroxidative damage in ISC in vivo, ISC were separated from sickle blood using Stractan density gradients. Lipid extracts of the untreated ISC-enriched fraction of sickle blood showed significant fluorescence and contained a novel phospholipid:MDA adduct that was not seen in control cells. ISC apparently have previously undergone lipid peroxidative damage and the accumulation of MDA in vivo.