[3H]Ouabain binding to human erythrocytes in protein-énergy malnutrition

The effect of malnutrition on insulin binding to rat erythrocytes

Insulin binding to erythrocyte receptors was compared in malnourished and control rats. Percentage specific insulin binding to malnourished rat erythrocytes was significantly lower than to control erythrocytes (P less than 0.001). The low insulin binding in the malnourished rat erythrocytes was accompanied by low insulin receptor affinity (P = 0.035).

Fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membrane lipid obtained from children suffering from kwashiorkor and marasmus

The fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membrane (EM) lipids obtained from normal, kwashiorkor, and marasmic children was analyzed by gas chromatography. The proportion of palmitic acid (16:0) was lower and of oleic acid (18:1) higher in the kwashiorkor group than in the control group. The marasmic group showed lower proportions of eicosatrienoic acid (20:3) and arachidonic acid (20:4) and a higher proportion of oleic acid (18:1) than the control group. A significant difference was found between the marasmic and kwashiorkor groups with respect to arachidonic acid (20:4), which showed a lower proportion in the former group than the latter. The ratio of arachidonic acid to linoleic acid (20:4/18:2) was markedly lower in the marasmic group than the control group, suggesting a possible impairment in the conversion of linoleic acid to arachidonic acid in marasmic children. The ratio of unsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids was markedly elevated in the kwashiorkor group over that of control group, indicating increased fluidity of EM in kwashiorkor. It is suggested that the altered membrane fatty acid composition reflects deranged lipid metabolism and affects the physical and physiological properties of EM and could contribute to changes in the activities of several red blood cell membrane-bound enzymes reported earlier in kwashiorkor children.

Evidence for increased levels of a circulating ouabainlike factor in essential hypertension

The effect of plasma from normotensive and hypertensive subjects on the binding of [3H]ouabain on human erythrocytes was investigated. The binding of [3H]ouabain on human erythrocytes was saturable and highly specific; linear Scatchard plots indicated the presence of a single type of binding site. Human plasma decreased the binding of [3H]ouabain on its receptor to a greater extent than could be accounted for by the plasma potassium concentration. The level of this circulating ouabainlike factor (or factors) was quantitated using a radioreceptor assay. Plasma from 22 hypertensive subjects (systolic blood pressure greater than 160 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure greater than 90 mm Hg) displayed higher levels than that from 24 normotensive subjects; furthermore there was a positive and significant correlation (r = 0.42, n = 46, p less than 0.004) between the ouabainlike content and the individual subject's systolic blood pressure. The receptor assay described is relatively simple and should be useful for further work on the nature and clinical importance of the endogenous ouabainlike factor.

Inverse relationship between ouabain sites on human erythrocytes and body mass index in normal healthy subjects

Binding of [3H]ouabain by erythrocytes and levels of (Na+ + K+) ATPase, cell sodium and potassium, and plasma triiodothyronine (T3) were studied in 16 normal, apparently healthy men. The subjects were between 28 and 50 years of age. Based on their economic status, the subjects were divided into two groups of eight each. Group A consisted of subjects with a higher economic status; these subjects had a mean body mass index (weight/height2) of 24.1 +/- 1.2 (mean +/- SEM). Group B comprised subjects with a lower economic status; these subjects had a mean body mass index of 18.8 +/- 1.0. The number of ouabain binding sites per red cell in group B was higher (466 +/- 29) compared with that in group A (348 +/- 21; P less than 0.01). The dissociation constant (Kd) between the two groups was not different. The (Na+ + K+) ATPase activity per 10(10) cells in group B (0.50 +/- 0.07) was higher compared with that in group A (0.29 +/- 0.03). The increased number of pump sites and increased enzyme activity in group B were associated with a lower [Na]-to-[K] ratio in the cell (P less than 0.01). The plasma T3 level in group A (202 +/- 16.7 ng/dL) was not statistically different from that of group B (163 +/- 17.6 ng/dL). The number of sodium pump sites showed an inverse relationship with body mass index (r = -0.55; P less than 0.05) and with the cell [Na]-to-[K] ratio (r = -0.74; P less than 0.01). The number of pump sites in group A showed a positive correlation (r = 0.60) with plasma T3 levels. Such a relationship was, however, weak in group B (r = 0.36). The results lead to the conclusion that there was increased utilization of available cell energy by sodium pump activity in the subjects in group B. This may be a physiologic adaptation for efficient utilization of ingested nutrients via the sodium pump in response to marginal nutrient deficits in these subjects. Dissociation of increased pump sites from plasma T3 levels may mean that the adaptive phenomenon does not represent a wasteful loss of energy.