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Increased Monoester Lipase Activity of Red Blood Cells in Alcoholism
Author(s) -
DelpéAro Claude,
Gastakji Marguerite,
Vérine Alain,
Campistron Marcel,
Boyer Jean
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1986.tb05152.x
Subject(s) - lipase , chemistry , ethanol , medicine , alcohol , macrocytosis , red blood cell , endocrinology , triacylglycerol lipase , enzyme , biochemistry , vitamin b12
Monoester lipase activity was assayed by a radiochemical assay in the red blood ceHs (RBC) from 50 chronic alcoholic patients within 48 hr after discontinuation of chronic alcohol intake and from 40 nonalcoholic control subjects. The mean value of lipase activity was increased to 1213 ± 229 miWunits/10 13 RBC in the alcoholics as compared with a value of 997 ± 120 milliunits/10 12 RBC in the controls (p < 0.001). The lipase increase was associated with increased values of the mean cellular volume of RBC. A subgroup (64%) of 32 alcoholic lubjocti with macrocytosis (mean cellular volume > 96 femtoHters) showed the highest mean lipase activity (1276 ± 224 mtthuntts/10 12 RBC) as compared with a value of 1101 ± 196 milli‐unrts/10 12 RBC in the normocyte alcoholic subgroup (p < 0.05). This latter subgroup had a mean value higher (p < 0.05) than that in the control group. The relationship between values of mean ceHular volume and lipase activity was not of predictive value in individual cases. The enzymatic increase was not related to a direct effect of alcohol on the Intact RBC. It is postulated that this alteration might result from changes in the chemical and/or physical state of the plasma membrane induced by ethanol during RBC formation. In any event, the increased lipolytic activity of RBC represents a new biological characteristic of alcoholic subjects. Its determination might represent a noninvasive way of evaluating the influence of alcohol on a tissue parameter.