[Changes in the contents of membrane phospholipid and membrane phospholipid asymmetry in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient erythrocyte].

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of G6PD deficiency on membrane phospholipid structures.

METHODS

Treatment of intact erythrocyte with phospholipase A2 was used for the membrane phospholipid asymmetry. Membrane phospholipid was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

RESULTS

The contents of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylserine (PS) were 5.18 +/- 1.86, 1.51 +/- 0.58 and 5.70 +/- 1.91 mg/mg membrane protein, respectively, in G6PD deficient erythrocytes and were 5.59 +/- 1.16, 2.92 +/- 0.50 and 6.64 +/- 0.92 mg/mg membrane protein, respectively, in normal erythrocytes. In normal erythrocytes, 17.6% +/- 2.5% PE and 57.9% +/- 4.7% PC were present and no PS was found on the outer leaflet of the membrane. While in G6PD deficient ones, 30.2% +/- 5.7% PE, 53.8% +/- 7.4% PC and 27.2% +/- 5.8% PS were present on the outer leaflet.

CONCLUSION

Membrane phospholipid changes in G6PD deficient erythrocytes might be one of the factors causing hemolysis.