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Modifications induced by diabetes on the physicochemical and functional properties of erythrocyte plasma membrane
Author(s) -
MAZZANTI L.,
RABINI R. A.,
TESTA I.,
BERTOLI E.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2362.1989.tb00311.x
Subject(s) - membrane fluidity , medicine , endocrinology , diabetes mellitus , insulin , membrane , chemistry , atpase , fluorescence anisotropy , enzyme assay , enzyme , pathophysiology , erythrocyte membrane , biochemistry , biology
Abstract. Increasing evidence suggests that in experimental diabetes an impairment in Na + , K + –ATPase activity plays a central role in the pathophysiology of diabetic complications, while only a few data are available with regard to human subjects. We studied the erythrocyte membrane Na + , K + ‐ATPase activity and membrane fluidity in insulin‐dependent and non‐insulin‐dependent diabetic subjects. A significant decrease in the enzyme activity and in fluorescence polarization values was found in both groups compared with normal subjects. Neither Na + , K + ‐ATPase activity nor membrane fluidity was found to be related to metabolic control, assessed by means of fasting blood glucose levels and HbA1c. On the contrary, a significant correlation was observed between Na + , K + ‐ATPase activity and membrane fluidity in both insulin‐dependent and non‐insulin‐dependent diabetic subjects. The present work provides evidence that a reduction in the Na + , K + ‐ATPase activity is present in the plasma membranes of insulin‐dependent and non‐insulin‐dependent diabetics. Furthermore, it suggests that the change in enzyme activity might be related to modifications in membrane fluidity.