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Evidence for vesicle-mediated trafficking of parasite proteins to the host cell cytosol and erythrocyte surface membrane in Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes.

Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites actively remodel the host cell cytosol and plasma membrane during the erythrocytic cycle. The focus of this investigation was to characterize intra-parasitic and -erythrocytic secretory pathways. Electron-dense vesicles, similar in appearance to mammalian secretory vesicles were detected in proximity to smooth tubo-vesicular elements at the periphery of the parasite cytoplasm in mature parasites by transmission electron microscopy. Vesicles (60-100 nm diameter), which appeared to be coated, were visualized on the erythrocytic side of the parasite vacuolar membrane and in the erythrocyte cytosol. The vesicles seemed to bind to and fuse with the erythrocyte membrane, giving rise to cup-shaped electron-dense structures, which might be intermediates in knob structure formation. Treatment of mature parasites with aluminum tetrafluoride, an activator of GTP-binding proteins, resulted in the accumulation of the vesicles with an electron-dense limiting membrane in the erythrocyte cytosol into multiple vesicle strings. These vesicle complexes were often associated with and closely abutted the erythrocyte membrane, but were apparently prevented from fusing by the aluminum fluoride treatment. The parasite proteins PfEMP1 and PfEMP3 were found by immunoelectron microscopy to be associated with these vesicles, suggesting they are responsible for transporting these proteins to the erythrocyte membrane.

Aluminum Compounds↗

Erythrocyte entry by malarial parasites. A moving junction between erythrocyte and parasite.

Invasion of erythrocytes by merozoites of the monkey malaria, Plasmodium knowlesi, was investigated by electron microscopy. The apical end of the merozoite makes initial contact with the erythrocyte, creating a small depression in the erythrocyte membrane. The area of the erythrocyte membrane to which the merozoite is attached becomes thickened and forms a junction with the plasma membrane of the merozoite. As the merozoite enters the invagination in the erythrocyte surface, the junction, which is in the form of a circumferential zone of attachment between the erythrocyte and merozoite, moves along the confronted membranes to maintain its position at the orifice of the invagination. When entry is completed, the orifice closes behind the parasite in the fashion of an iris diaphragm, and the junction becomes a part of the parasitophorous vacuole. The movement of the junction during invasion is an important component of the mechanism by which the merozoite enters the erythrocyte. The extracellular merozoite is covered with a prominent surface coat. During invasion, this coat appears to be absent from the portion of the merozoite within the erythrocyte invagination, but the density of the surface coat outside the invagination (beyond the junction) is unaltered.

Animals↗

Quantitative evaluation of flow dynamics of erythrocytes in microvessels: influence of erythrocyte aggregation.

Effects of erythrocyte aggregation on the flow dynamics of erythrocytes in microvessels were examined quantitatively by perfusing human erythrocytes suspended in isotonic medium containing various concentrations of dextran (70,400 avg mol wt, Dx-70) into a part of the microvascular bed isolated from rabbit mesentery. Thickness of the marginal cell-free layer was measured with an image analyzer, total flow resistance was determined on the basis of the perfusion pressure-volume flow relationship, and homogeneity of erythrocyte flow was evaluated by the power spectrum obtained by the fast Fourier transform of the light intensity change monitored on single microvessels. With increasing dextran concentration, suspension viscosity of erythrocytes at high shear rates increased linearly and thickness of the cell-free layer increased in a sigmoidal fashion. Flow resistance increased relatively little over the range of dextran concentrations in which the cell-free layer increased most rapidly. Furthermore, the flow pattern of erythrocytes in microvessels became inhomogeneous. In conclusion, the present study shows that Dx-70-induced erythrocyte aggregation results in increased flow resistance in the circulatory system, even through the widening of the cell-free layer tends to reduce the resistance and also results in inhomogeneous flow of erythrocytes in microvessels.

Animals↗

Hypokalemia, high erythrocyte Na+ and low erythrocyte Na,K-ATPase in relatives of patients dying from sudden unexplained death syndrome in north-east Thailand and in survivors from near-fatal attacks.

The sudden unexplained death syndrome (SUDS) is a sudden death of unknown cause in healthy South-East Asians. In Thailand, it is common in the North-East region. We previously reported high incidences of low erythrocyte sodium and potassium-activated adenosine triphosphatase (Na,K-ATPase) activity and of high erythrocyte sodium in North-East Thais and speculated that this metabolic defect might be associated with the high incidence of SUDS in that region. In this communication, we studied plasma sodium and potassium, erythrocyte sodium and potassium, activities of erythrocyte Na,K-ATPase, ouabain-insensitive ATPase and total ATPase in healthy Thai blood donors from Central Thailand (group 1), healthy North-East city dwellers (group 2), relatives of SUDS victims (group 3) and survivors from SUDS-like attacks (group 4). Compared with groups 1 and 2, group 3 and 4 subjects had significantly lower plasma potassium (p < 0.0001), higher erythrocyte sodium (p < 0.0001), lower activities of erythrocyte Na,K-ATPase (p < 0.0001) and of erythrocyte total ATPase (p < 0.0001). In addition, group 4 subjects had lower plasma potassium, higher erythrocyte sodium and lower activity of total ATPase than those of group 3. The findings suggest that the pathogenesis of SUDS could be related to hypokalemia and a membrane sodium/potassium pump defect.

Adult↗

Acetylcholinesterase and lymphocyte function-associated antigen 3 found on decay-accelerating factor-negative erythrocytes from some patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria are lost during erythrocyte aging.

Erythrocytes from patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria are deficient in decay-accelerating factor (DAF), a factor called C8-binding protein or homologous restriction factor, acetylcholinesterase (AchE), and lymphocyte function-associated antigen 3 (LFA-3). These proteins share a common feature that glycan-inositolphospholipid anchors the protein to the membrane, suggesting that an abnormality related to this glycolipid causes multiple protein deficiencies. The relationship between the DAF, AchE, and LFA-3 defects was studied by fluorescent flow cytometric analysis. In five patients, DAF-negative erythrocytes were also AchE-negative. In three patients, a fraction of DAF-negative erythrocytes expressed subnormal levels of AchE, indicating that AchE was synthesized in these DAF-negative cells. Erythrocytes from the patients having DAF-negative, AchE-positive cells were separated according to density and analyzed for expression of DAF and AchE. Both proteins decreased with increase of cell density, suggesting that DAF-negative, AchE-positive cells become AchE-negative during erythrocyte maturation by losing AchE. A low level of LFA-3 was found on DAF-negative erythrocytes from one patient and decreased with erythrocyte maturation. These results support an idea that complete deficiency of glycan-inositolphospholipid-anchored proteins on erythrocytes could result from abnormally early termination of surface recruitment of these proteins, and subsequent dilution through cell divisions and loss from the surface.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Plasmodium chabaudi-infection of mice: specific activities of erythrocyte membrane-associated enzymes and patterns of proteins and glycoproteins of erythrocyte membrane preparations.

Membrane preparations of erythrocytes from normal and P. chabaudi-infected mice and membrane preparations of P. chabaudi-infected and uninfected erythrocytes from infected mice and separated by zonal centrifugation were characterized by the pattern of proteins and extracted glycoproteins obtained by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by the specific activities of membrane associated enzymes. The protein pattern of the membrane preparation of infected erythrocytes showed similar differences from membrane preparations of normal erythrocytes as those described by Weidekamm et al. for P. berghei. The pattern of glycoproteins extracted by the chloroform-methanol method showed characteristic differences as compared to the controls. A new band (PASi) with a molecular weight of about 165,000 corresponds with the protein band IIa. In membrane preparations of normal erythrocytes and of nonparasitized erythrocytes separated from parasitized erythrocytes by zonal centrifugation was no difference in specific activities of ATPase, adenylate kinase and acetylcholinesterase. Adenylate kinase activity was markedly increased and acetyl-cholinesterase activity was slightly increased in membrane preparations of infected cells. Specific activities of ATPase of membrane preparations of normal and parasitized erythrocytes did not show significant differences. There was a decrease in enzyme activity of ATPase and an increase of acetylcholinesterase in Triton X 100 containing samples. Specific activities of an acid phosphatase were lower in membrane preparations of parasitized cells than in the controls.

4-Nitrophenylphosphatase↗

Changes of cholinesterase activity in the erythrocytes, plasma, diaphragm, liver and various parts of the brain in the rabbit following transfusion of erythrocytes with soman inhibited acetylcholinesterase.

1. The changes of cholinesterase activity in rabbit blood, peripheral tissues and the central nervous system following transfusion of erythrocytes with soman inhibited acetylcholinesterase we were demonstrated. 2. After incubation with soman for 0.5 or 24 h, erythrocytes without acetylcholinesterase activity were injected to intact rabbits and cholinesterase activity in the erythrocytes, plasma, diaphragm, liver and various parts of the brain were evaluated 24 h following blood-transfusion. 3. When erythrocytes were incubated with soman for 24 h, no changes of cholinesterase activity in the rabbit following blood-transfusion were observed with an exception of erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase. 4. When erythrocytes were incubated with soman for 0.5 h, a significant decrease in cholinesterase activity in the erythrocytes, plasma, diaphragm and liver following blood-transfusion was found. These data show that soman is able to release from erythrocytes and inhibit cholinesterase activities not only in vitro but also in vivo although the significant inhibition of cholinesterase activities by soman was only observed in the peripheral compartment.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Binding of Plasmodium falciparum 175-kilodalton erythrocyte binding antigen and invasion of murine erythrocytes requires N-acetylneuraminic acid but not its O-acetylated form.

Sialic acid on human erythrocytes is involved in invasion by the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Mouse erythrocytes were used as a reagent to explore the question of whether erythrocyte sialic acid functions as a nonspecific negative charge or whether the sialic acid is a necessary structural part of the receptor for merozoites. Human erythrocytes contain N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac), whereas mouse erythrocytes, which are also invaded by P. falciparum merozoites, contain 9-O-acetyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5,9Ac2) and N-glycoloylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc), in addition to Neu5Ac. We compared the effects of sialidase and influenza C virus esterase treatments of mouse erythrocytes on invasion and the binding of a 175-kDa P. falciparum protein (EBA-175), a sialic acid-dependent malaria ligand implicated in the invasion process. Sialidase-treated mouse erythrocytes were refractory to invasion by P. falciparum merozoites and failed to bind EBA-175. Influenza C virus esterase, which converts Neu5,9Ac2 to Neu5Ac, increased both invasion efficiency and EBA-175 binding to mouse erythrocytes. Thus, the parasite and EBA-175 discriminate between Neu5Ac and Neu5,9Ac2, that is, the C-9 acetyl group interferes with EBA-175 binding and invasion by P. falciparum merozoites. This indicates that sialic acid is part of a receptor for invasion.

Animals↗

Five monoclonal antibodies against glycophorin A of human erythrocyte recognize glycoprotein of bovine erythrocyte.

To study heterophile blood antigens on erythrocytes between human and experimental or domestic animals, we have produced 295 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to human erythrocyte membrane protein. According to the affinity, reactivity, and titre of the MAbs, we selected 40 clones to study the heterophile blood antigens between human and bovine, chicken, guinea pig, horse, rabbit, sheep, and swine. Five MAbs commonly reacted with human type A, type B, and type O erythrocytes and reacted with bovine erythrocytes as well but did not react with erythrocytes from other species. Other MAbs did not react with erythrocytes from all the tested animals. These five MAbs reacted with the same erythrocyte membrane protein, 90 KD glycophorin A (GPA) of human or 200 KD major glycoprotein and other two components of bovine by immunoblotting and GPA competitive inhibition assay. Furthermore, by enzyme treatment and monosaccharide competitive inhibition assay, it was confirmed that these five MAbs recognized antigen epitope of glycosylation free amino acid portion but not glycosylation portion of GPA of erythrocyte membrane.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

Alterations in erythrocyte chloride content accompanying the changes in erythrocyte hydration and potassium content in normal human pregnancy: a comparison with pregnancy induced hypertension.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the change in erythrocyte potassium content in normal human pregnancy is accompanied by a similar change in erythrocyte chloride content. To assess erythrocyte hydration and potassium and chloride content in pregnancies complicated by proteinuric pregnancy induced hypertension. DESIGN: A serial study during and after normal pregnancy. A comparative study during and after pregnancies complicated by proteinuric pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH). Erythrocyte hydration, total osmoles, potassium and chloride and plasma osmolality were determined. SETTING: University teaching hospital, UK. SUBJECTS: Twenty-eight women studied at 14, 28 and 36 weeks of normal pregnancy and ten women with PIH studied during the third trimester of pregnancy. All women were reinvestigated 20 weeks after delivery. RESULTS: The fall of erythrocyte potassium early in normal pregnancy (277.4 vs 265.2 mmol/kg; P < 0.02) and its rise between 28 and 36 weeks (272.3 vs 288.0 mmol/kg; P < 0.005) were accompanied by similar changes in erythrocyte chloride content (151.9 vs 131.1 mmol/kg; P < 0.001 and 129.4 vs 141.3 mmol/kg; P < 0.001, respectively). Plasma osmolality in PIH was raised above that normal in pregnancy (287.2 vs 283.0 mosm/kg; P < 0.005). In PIH, compared to normal pregnancy, erythrocyte hydration (2.00 vs 1.89 l/kg dry weight cells), total osmoles (573.0 vs 534.2 mosm/kg), potassium (303.0 vs 288.0 mmol/kg) and chloride (154.9 vs 141.3 mmol/kg) were greater. CONCLUSIONS: These findings further support the hypothesis that changes in plasma osmolality in pregnancy are secondary to alterations in cell osmoles and serve to limit changes in cell hydration. Erythrocyte composition and plasma osmolality are altered in PIH.

Chlorides↗

Isolation and characterization of a membrane protein from normal human erythrocytes that inhibits reactive lysis of the erythrocytes of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

The observation that type III erythrocytes of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) are susceptible to hemolysis initiated by activated cobra venom factor complexes (CoFBb), whereas normal erythrocytes are resistant, implies that the PNH III cells are deficient in a membrane constituent that regulates this process. To isolate the inhibitory factor from normal erythrocytes, membrane proteins were first extracted with butanol and then subjected to sequential anion exchange, hydroxylapatite, and hydrophobic chromatography. Analysis by SDS-PAGE and silver stain of the inhibitory fractions showed a single band corresponding to a protein with an apparent Mr of 18 kD. PNH erythrocytes were incubated with incremental concentrations of the radiolabeled protein and then washed. In a dose-dependent fashion, the protein incorporated into the cell membrane and inhibited CoFBb-initiated lysis. This protein inhibitor functioned by restricting the assembly of the membrane attack complex at the level of C7 and C8 incorporation. By using a monospecific antibody to block the function of the inhibitor, it was shown that normal erythrocytes are rendered susceptible to CoFBb-initiated hemolysis. Analysis by Western blot of membrane proteins revealed that PNH III erythrocytes are deficient in the 18-kD protein. By virtue of its molecular weight and inhibitory activity, the 18-kD protein appears to be discrete from other previously described erythrocyte membrane proteins that regulate complement. These studies also indicate that the susceptibility of PNH III erythrocytes to reactive lysis is causally related to a deficiency of the 18-kD membrane inhibitor.

Autoradiography↗

Alterations in calcium-handling of erythrocytes in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Calcium-induced changes in the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes in hypertension.

To investigate the sensitivity to calcium of erythrocytes in hypertension, changes in the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes following Ca-loading were observed. Washed erythrocytes were obtained from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR, Okamoto and Aoki) and age-matched normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). Treatment of erythrocytes with Ca-ionophore A23187 and Ca in the medium caused a reduction in the osmotic fragility which correlated with the Ca-concentration. The degree of alteration in the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes was greater in SHR than in WKY. Oral administration of hydralazine to SHR significantly reduced the blood pressure. However, the alterations in the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes secondary to Ca-loading were not different between hydralazine-treated and untreated SHR. In the presence of a Ca-antagonist (verapamil or diltiazem) in the medium, the reduction of the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes caused by Ca-loading was inhibited, and the differences between SHR and WKY were abolished by Ca-antagonists. These results suggest that the greater changes in osmotic fragility of erythrocytes caused by Ca-loading in SHR could be due to a genetic abnormality of Ca-handling by the cell membranes, and that this abnormality might cause an increase in intracellular Ca, which contributes, in part, to the pathogenesis of hypertension.

Animals↗

Diversity in membrane binding sites of ankyrins. Brain ankyrin, erythrocyte ankyrin, and processed erythrocyte ankyrin associate with distinct sites in kidney microsomes.

This report presents evidence for diversity in membrane binding sites between three forms of ankyrin: brain ankyrin, erythrocyte ankyrin, and a variant of erythrocyte ankyrin (protein 2.2) present in circulating human erythrocytes that is missing a regulatory domain. These ankyrins were compared with respect to binding to kidney microsomes and exhibited the following behavior. 1) Brain and erythrocyte ankyrin each bind to distinct sites. 2) Protein 2.2 is an activated ankyrin that binds to all of the sites accessible to both brain and erythrocyte ankyrin and, in addition, associates with its own specialized sites. 3) The specificity of these membrane sites for various ankyrins is not absolute but reflects 2.5-10-fold differences in relative affinities. Further evidence that binding sites of different ankyrins share some common features is that the cytoplasmic domain of the erythrocyte anion transporter associates with all three ankyrins and displaces binding of the ankyrin variants to kidney membranes. The differences between erythrocyte and brain ankyrins in association with kidney membranes are likely to have physiological relevance to kidney because immunologically related isoforms of ankyrin are expressed in this tissue: erythroid ankyrin which is restricted to the basolateral domains of two cell types and a brain-related ankyrin expressed in all cells and present on apical as well as basolateral membrane surfaces. An unanticipated observation was the discovery of a membrane-associated ankyrin protease in kidney that is specific for erythrocyte ankyrin and may selectively activate the erythroid isoform of ankyrin. The variety of binding sites within this group of ankyrin proteins supports the idea that ankyrins are capable of linking a number of different membrane proteins to the spectrin-actin skeleton.

Animals↗

Enzymatic conjugation of erythrocyte glutathione with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene: the fate of glutathione conjugate in erythrocytes and the effect of glutathione depletion on hemoglobin.

Erythrocyte glutathione (GSH) can be rapidly depleted by incubating the cells with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB), which forms 2,4-dinitrophenyl-S-glutathione with GSH through the reaction catalyzed by glutathione S-transferase. GSH-CDNB conjugate thus formed stays undegraded within the erythrocytes. This indicates that in the erythrocytes, mercapturic acid pathway is inoperative. Depletion of GSH in the intact erythrocytes by CDNB results in rapid oxidation of large amounts of hemoglobin to methemoglobin. When glutathione S-transferase-free hemolysate of erythrocytes is incubated with CDNB, the depletion of GSH as well as methemoglobin formation are minimal. Glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities of the erythrocytes are not affected by CDNB. These studies provide a specific enzymatic method for rapid removal of erythrocyte GSH and also indicate that GSH is vital in maintaining a reduced environment within the erythrocytes.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Effects of antigen-feeding on intestinal and systemic immune responses. IV. Similarity between the suppressor factor in mice after erythrocyte-lysate injection and erythrocyte feeding.

Profound antigen-specific suppression of humoral antibody responses to subsequent antigen challenge can occur in mice after oral antigen administration. We previously demonstrated that suppression of antibody responses in mice fed heterologous erythrocytes was mediated by a serum suppressor factor. This soluble factor markedly inhibited anti-erythrocyte antibody responses after erythrocyte challenge in vivo or in vitro. We now demonstrate a suppressor factor in the serum of mice injected parenterally with an erythrocyte lysate that is indistinguishable by several criteria from the suppressor factor in the serum of erythrocyte-fed mice. The suppressor factor in both erythrocyte lysate-injected and erythrocyte-fed mice has a mol wt of 150,000 daltons, is heat stable, contains Ig determinants, and lacks detectable erythrocyte determinants. Suppression mediated by both factors is antigen-specific, not H-2 restricted, and inhibits IgM responses to a greater extent than IgA or IgG responses. These findings indicate that the production of serum suppressor factors like those seen after antigen-feeding does not require enteric antigen exposure.

Administration, Oral↗

A monoclonal antibody capable of blocking the binding of Pf200 (MSA-1) to human erythrocytes and inhibiting the invasion of Plasmodium falciparum merozoites into human erythrocytes.

Glycophorin A is a major receptor on human erythrocytes for Plasmodium falciparum, the human malaria parasite. In this work, we have produced four glycophorin A-specific mAb: 2B10, 1E4, 3H12, and 3H2. 2B10 was mapped to the amino terminal region of glycophorin (amino acids 1-31), and its binding to erythrocytes was fully dependent on sialic acid residues. 3H2 bound to the region close to the cell membrane, and its binding to Wr (b-) erythrocytes was significantly decreased, compared with its binding to Wr (b+) erythrocytes. 1E4 and 3H12 recognized sites between those identified by 2B10 and 3H2. Pf200 (MSA-1) is a surface protein on the P. falciparum merozoite which has been shown to bind to erythrocytes. By reciprocal inhibition assays, 2B10 and MSA-1 could be shown to share the same determinant on erythrocytes. Using an in vitro assay, we have shown that 2B10 was the most efficient inhibitor of the invasion of human erythrocytes by P. falciparum merozoites. We conclude that the binding site for MSA-1 is primarily located on the amino terminal region, amino acids 1-31, of glycophorin A, and that 2B10 is valuable for additional study of the interactions between P. falciparum merozoites and human erythrocytes.

Animals↗

Binding of anti-band 3 autoantibody to oxidatively damaged erythrocytes. Formation of senescent antigen on erythrocyte surface by an oxidative mechanism.

Incubation of human erythrocytes oxidized by iron catalysts, ADP/Fe3+ or xanthine/xanthine oxidase/Fe3+, with autologous IgG resulted in IgG binding as detected by enzyme immunoassay using protein A-beta-galactosidase conjugate. The binding of autologous IgG to ADP/Fe3(+)-treated erythrocytes maximized when the cells were treated with 1.8:0.1 mM ADP/Fe3+, and declined when treated above this concentration, suggesting that autologous IgG binds to moderately but not to excessively oxidized erythrocytes. The antibody involved in the binding was anti-Band 3, the autoantibody known to bind to aged erythrocytes, because isolated anti-Band 3 bound to the oxidized cells, but anti-Band 3-depleted autologous IgG did not. In addition, purified Band 3 inhibited the autologous IgG binding. Anti-alpha-galactosyl IgG, another natural antibody which has been reported to bind to aged erythrocytes, did not bind to the oxidized cells. Oxidation of membrane lipids, SH-groups of membrane proteins, and Hb of these cells was slight, but the cells contained an increased amount of membrane-bound native Hb, indicating that the oxidized cell membrane has an altered property. alpha-Tocopherol prevented the lipid oxidation and the subsequent IgG binding. Reduction of the oxidized erythrocytes with dithiothreitol resulted in a loss of the IgG binding. These results suggest that anti-Band 3 binding sites (Band 3 senescent antigen) are formed on moderately oxidized erythrocytes as a result of oxidation of membrane protein SH-groups which can be mediated by the membrane lipid oxidation and that formation of the anti-Band 3 binding sites on the oxidized cells is an essentially reversible membrane event which is linked to oxidation and restoration of the protein SH-groups.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

The influence of erythrocyte age on estimations of erythrocyte insulin binding in healthy children and adults and in conditions with increased erythropoiesis.

Insulin binding to erythrocytes was shown to lack any relationship to age-related factors of the erythrocyte such as the pyruvate kinase activity and the reticulocyte count in individuals with a normal erythropoiesis. After density separation of the erythrocytes in both normal adults and children and in individuals with increased erythropoiesis, a correlation to age-factors was evident (pyruvate kinase activity/insulin binding r = 0.59, p less than 0.01, reticulocyte count/insulin binding r = 0.44, p less than 0.01). An estimate of the components of variation in the binding showed that the unexplained variance is 60%. In the density separated samples the insulin binding correlated closer to the pyruvate kinase activity than to the number of reticulocytes. During treatment of haematopoietic diseases in the 4 patients with increased erythropoiesis, the disappearance rate for the reticulocyte count was much faster (T 1/2 = 9 days) than that of the insulin binding to erythrocytes (T 1/2 = 37 days) and that of pyruvate kinase activity (T 1/2 = 36 days). In one patient studied after splenectomy, the decrease in insulin binding paralleled the disappearance curve for 51Cr-tagged erythrocytes. These results suggest that insulin binds to erythrocytes, not only during the reticulocyte stage, but throughout their life span, though the binding, which is very closely related to their pyruvate kinase activity, steadily declines as the erythrocytes age.

Adolescent↗