Membrane lipid diffusion and band 3 protein changes in human erythrocytes due to acute hypobaric hypoxia

• Published in: American Journal of Physiology: Cell Physiology 1998-12, Vol.275 (6), p.C1429-C1431
• Main Authors: Celedon, Gloria, Gonzalez, Gustavo, Sotomayor, Carlos P, Behn, Claus
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0363-6143; 1522-1563
• DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.1998.275.6.c1429

1  Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso; 2  Instituto de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Matemáticas, Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso; and 3  Departamento de Fisiología y Biofísica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 1, Chile Because it has been reported that hypoxia in rats may promote lipid peroxidation and other free radical reactions that could modify membrane lipids and proteins, the effect of acute hypobaric hypoxia on human erythrocyte membranes was investigated. 12-(1-Pyrene)dodecanoic acid fluorescent probe was used to assess short-range lateral diffusion status in the membrane bilayer. Membrane protein modification was detected by SDS-PAGE. Healthy young men were exposed for 20   min to the hypobaric hypoxia, simulating an altitude of 4,500   m. Under this condition, erythrocyte membrane lipids reached a state of higher lateral diffusivity with respect to normobaric conditions and membrane band 3 protein was modified, becoming more susceptible to membrane-bound proteinases. These observations suggest that acute hypobaric hypoxia may promote an oxidative stress condition in the erythrocyte membrane. hypobaric pressure; membrane proteinases; membrane lipid dynamics