Biomaterial Database

Platelet and erythrocyte membrane changes in Alzheimer's disease. 1990

I Hajimohammadreza, and M J Brammer, and S Eagger, and A Burns, and R Levy

Department of Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London, U.K.

Previous reports have suggested that the physical properties of cell membranes and calcium homeostasis in both the central and peripheral nervous system are changed in Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study has examined the biophysical properties of erythrocyte and platelet membranes by measuring the fluorescence anisotropy of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) and possible related changes in lipid peroxidation. In addition, we have studied calcium homeostasis by measuring thrombin-stimulated changes in intraplatelet free calcium and Ca2(+)-ATPase activity in AD and healthy age and sex-matched controls. Our results show that there was no significant difference in the fluorescence anisotropy of DPH in erythrocyte membranes isolated from the three groups. There was also no significant difference in lipid peroxidation levels in erythrocytes and plasma of AD patients compared to controls. However, there was a significant reduction in the fluorescence anisotropy of DPH in platelet membranes from AD patients, compared with healthy controls. Recent evident suggests that the increase in platelet membrane fluidity results from alterations in internal membranes. We measured the specific activities of enzyme markers associated with intracellular and plasma membranes in platelets from AD patients and healthy controls. There was a significant reduction in the specific activity of antimycin A-insensitive NADH-cytochrome-c reductase (a specific marker for smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER)), in AD patients compared to controls, but no change in the specific activity of bis(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate phosphodiesterase (a specific marker for plasma membrane). We have also shown that SER mediated [Ca2+] homeostasis is possibly impaired in AD platelets, i.e., the percentage of thrombin-stimulated increase in intraplatelet [Ca2+] above basal levels was significantly higher in AD compared to matched controls and there were significant reductions in the specific activities of Ca2+/Mg2(+)-ATPase and Ca2(+)-ATPase (but not Mg2(+)-ATPase) in AD platelets. Finally electron microscopic analysis of platelets showed that there was a significant increase in the incidence of abnormal membranes in AD patients compared to controls. The ultrastructural abnormalities seem to consist of proliferation of a system of trabeculated cisternae bounded by SER. These results suggest that both SER structure and function might be defected in AD platelets, which could explain the fluidity changes observed here.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007425	Intracellular Membranes	Thin structures that encapsulate subcellular structures or ORGANELLES in EUKARYOTIC CELLS. They include a variety of membranes associated with the CELL NUCLEUS; the MITOCHONDRIA; the GOLGI APPARATUS; the ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM; LYSOSOMES; PLASTIDS; and VACUOLES.	Membranes, Intracellular,Intracellular Membrane,Membrane, Intracellular
D008054	Lipid Peroxides	Peroxides produced in the presence of a free radical by the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids in the cell in the presence of molecular oxygen. The formation of lipid peroxides results in the destruction of the original lipid leading to the loss of integrity of the membranes. They therefore cause a variety of toxic effects in vivo and their formation is considered a pathological process in biological systems. Their formation can be inhibited by antioxidants, such as vitamin E, structural separation or low oxygen tension.	Fatty Acid Hydroperoxide,Lipid Peroxide,Lipoperoxide,Fatty Acid Hydroperoxides,Lipid Hydroperoxide,Lipoperoxides,Acid Hydroperoxide, Fatty,Acid Hydroperoxides, Fatty,Hydroperoxide, Fatty Acid,Hydroperoxide, Lipid,Hydroperoxides, Fatty Acid,Peroxide, Lipid,Peroxides, Lipid
D008560	Membrane Fluidity	The motion of phospholipid molecules within the lipid bilayer, dependent on the classes of phospholipids present, their fatty acid composition and degree of unsaturation of the acyl chains, the cholesterol concentration, and temperature.	Bilayer Fluidity,Bilayer Fluidities,Fluidities, Bilayer,Fluidities, Membrane,Fluidity, Bilayer,Fluidity, Membrane,Membrane Fluidities
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D001792	Blood Platelets	Non-nucleated disk-shaped cells formed in the megakaryocyte and found in the blood of all mammals. They are mainly involved in blood coagulation.	Platelets,Thrombocytes,Blood Platelet,Platelet,Platelet, Blood,Platelets, Blood,Thrombocyte
D002118	Calcium	A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes.	Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D002462	Cell Membrane	The lipid- and protein-containing, selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.	Plasma Membrane,Cytoplasmic Membrane,Cell Membranes,Cytoplasmic Membranes,Membrane, Cell,Membrane, Cytoplasmic,Membrane, Plasma,Membranes, Cell,Membranes, Cytoplasmic,Membranes, Plasma,Plasma Membranes
D004721	Endoplasmic Reticulum	A system of cisternae in the CYTOPLASM of many cells. In places the endoplasmic reticulum is continuous with the plasma membrane (CELL MEMBRANE) or outer membrane of the nuclear envelope. If the outer surfaces of the endoplasmic reticulum membranes are coated with ribosomes, the endoplasmic reticulum is said to be rough-surfaced (ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM, ROUGH); otherwise it is said to be smooth-surfaced (ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM, SMOOTH). (King & Stansfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed)	Ergastoplasm,Reticulum, Endoplasmic
D004910	Erythrocyte Membrane	The semi-permeable outer structure of a red blood cell. It is known as a red cell 'ghost' after HEMOLYSIS.	Erythrocyte Ghost,Red Cell Cytoskeleton,Red Cell Ghost,Erythrocyte Cytoskeleton,Cytoskeleton, Erythrocyte,Cytoskeleton, Red Cell,Erythrocyte Cytoskeletons,Erythrocyte Ghosts,Erythrocyte Membranes,Ghost, Erythrocyte,Ghost, Red Cell,Membrane, Erythrocyte,Red Cell Cytoskeletons,Red Cell Ghosts
D005454	Fluorescence Polarization	Measurement of the polarization of fluorescent light from solutions or microscopic specimens. It is used to provide information concerning molecular size, shape, and conformation, molecular anisotropy, electronic energy transfer, molecular interaction, including dye and coenzyme binding, and the antigen-antibody reaction.	Anisotropy, Fluorescence,Fluorescence Anisotropy,Polarization, Fluorescence,Anisotropies, Fluorescence,Fluorescence Anisotropies,Fluorescence Polarizations,Polarizations, Fluorescence