High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of human erythrocyte oxysterols as delta 4-3-ketone derivatives.

Following oxidation by cholesterol oxidase human erythrocyte oxysterols were analyzed as the corresponding hydroxy-delta 4-3-ketones by HPLC with effluent monitoring at 235 nm. Variable amounts of epimeric cholest-5-ene-3 beta,7-diols, 3 beta-hydroxycholest-5-en-7-one, cholest-5-ene-3 beta,19-diol, cholest-5-ene-3 beta,20-diol, cholest-5-ene-3 beta,25-diol and cholest-5-ene-3 beta,26-diol were detected in erythrocyte membranes of patients with sickle cell anemia or sickle cell trait. Only 3 beta-hydroxycholest-5-en-7-one was detected in erythrocyte membranes of healthy donors.