Acrolein Induces Changes in Cell Membrane and Cytosol Proteins of Erythrocytes

• Published in: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2024-05, Vol.29 (11), p.2519
• Main Authors: Kopera, Michal, Gwozdzinski, Krzysztof, Pieniazek, Anna
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acrolein; Acrolein - metabolism; Acrolein - pharmacology; Acrolein - toxicity; Amino acids; amino group; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - metabolism; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Carbon; Cell Membrane - drug effects; Cell Membrane - metabolism; Cell membranes; Cytosol - drug effects; Cytosol - metabolism; Cytotoxicity; Development and progression; Disease; Enzymes; Erythrocyte Membrane - drug effects; Erythrocyte Membrane - metabolism; erythrocytes; Erythrocytes - drug effects; Erythrocytes - metabolism; Humans; lipid membrane fluidity; Lipids; Membrane Fluidity - drug effects; Membrane Proteins - metabolism; Membranes; Osmotic Fragility - drug effects; Oxidation; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Polyamines; Proteins; Smoking; thiol group; Thiols
• ISSN: 1420-3049; 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules29112519

High concentrations of acrolein (2-propenal) are found in polluted air and cigarette smoke, and may also be generated endogenously. Acrolein is also associated with the induction and progression of many diseases. The high reactivity of acrolein towards the thiol and amino groups of amino acids may cause damage to cell proteins. Acrolein may be responsible for the induction of oxidative stress in cells. We hypothesized that acrolein may contribute to the protein damage in erythrocytes, leading to the disruption of the structure of cell membranes. The lipid membrane fluidity, membrane cytoskeleton, and osmotic fragility were measured for erythrocytes incubated with acrolein for 24 h. The levels of thiol, amino, and carbonyl groups were determined in cell membrane and cytosol proteins. The level of non-enzymatic antioxidant potential (NEAC) and TBARS was also measured. The obtained research results showed that the exposure of erythrocytes to acrolein causes changes in the cell membrane and cytosol proteins. Acrolein stiffens the cell membrane of erythrocytes and increases their osmotic sensitivity. Moreover, it has been shown that erythrocytes treated with acrolein significantly reduce the non-enzymatic antioxidant potential of the cytosol compared to the control.