Rheological action of gangliosides on human erythrocytes

Abstract

Gangliosides at the levels of 5–20 μg/ml were found to inhibit significantly the loss of filterability of human erythrocytes treated in vitro with Ca²⁺ ionophore A 23187 (0,19 μmol/l), at 25°C, in a concentration-dependent manner. No further rheological effect at 20 μg/ml ganglioside concentration indicates that binding of gangliosides to erythrocytes is saturable and hence specific. On the other hand, the absence of the protective effect of gangliosides against erythrocyte impairment at 4°C suggests the involvement of enzymes in this process. The hypothesis that ganglioside-induced activation of the Ca²⁺-extrusion pump regulated by calmodulin may be responsible for the protective effect of gangliosides against the loss of erythrocyte filterability induced by in vitro calcium cell loading remain to be elucidated.