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We previously demonstrated a high susceptibility of neonatal red blood cells (RBC) to oxidative stress at birth. The aim of this study was to compare the RBC antioxidant capacity and redox cycle enzyme activities as well as glutathione (GSH) recycling in full-term and preterm infants at birth and in normal adults. GSH and GSH disulfide (GSSG) concentrations, GSH/GSSG ratio, and the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH), GSH peroxidase, GSH reductase (GR), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and hexokinase (HK) were measured in RBC of 25 healthy adults and 56 newborns (23 term, 33 preterm) at birth. The GSH recycling was measured in adult and newborn RBC exposed to oxidative stress (1 mM tert-butylhydroperoxide). The RBC of term and preterm babies showed higher GSH, GSSG, G-6-PDH, GR, and HK levels/activities and lower GSH/GSSG ratios and higher GSH-recycling rates than those of adults. In preterm babies significant correlations were found between G-6-PDH and CAT, GSH, GSH/GSSG ratio, and GSSG (r = -0.67, r = 0.71, r = -0.66, p < 0.01; r = 0.71, p < 0.05, respectively). In term newborns, statistically significant correlations were observed between G-6-PDH and CAT, SOD, and GSH (r = -0.65, r = -0.65, r = -0.69, p < 0.01, respectively). The results indicate the central role of the G-6-PDH activity in antioxidant defenses. We speculate that preterm babies have prompter involvement of antioxidant defenses than term babies., (Copyright 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel)

The human granulocyte is easy to obtain and shows a nearly complete enzymatic equipment. It therefore represents an interesting model for in-vitro studies of metabolic disorders under various clinical conditions. In the presented study, the activities of several enzymes of glycolysis and citric cycle are measured in granulocytes separated from surgical patients (n = 10). Blood samples of 20 to 40 ml were drawn 6.5 +/- 4.8 hours after termination of surgical procedure. All patients were artificially respirated and nourished intravenously according to the results of indirect calorimetry. Hexokinase (HK), pyruvate kinase (PK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) were measured photometrically in the cell homogenate. The values were compared to those determined in a group of healthy, not-anesthetized persons, nourished and studied identically (n = 12). In granulocytes separated from patients following major surgery we found increased activities of HK (29.8 vs. 24.1 mU/mg protein in controls), LDH (2,484 vs. 1,868 mU/mg protein, p less than 0.01) and IDH (41.5 vs. 35 mU/mg protein, p less than 0.05), and a reduced activity of PK (1,623 vs. 2,265 mU/mg protein, p less than 0.01). Assuming that the alterations in enzyme activities of isolated granulocytes reflect metabolic alterations of the whole organism to a certain extent, the results can be interpreted as a decreased induction of PK by insulin, an increase of lactate recycling via Cori cycle (LDH), and a stimulated substrate flux in citric cycle (IDH). The separated human granulocyte is recommended as a model of posttraumatic metabolic disorders. It should be taken into consideration for studies leading to further improvement of nutrition during posttraumatic glucose mal-utilization.

In order to assess whether enzyme activities of glucose metabolism measured in mononuclear blood cells reflect those in a typical insulin target tissue, we studied hexokinase, 6-phosphofructokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activities in lymphomonocytes and in hypogastric adipose tissue from 15 nondiabetic obese women. Statistically significant relationships were found in the activities of hexokinase (r = 0.53, p less than 0.05), 6-phosphofructokinase (r = 0.85, p less than 0.01), and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (r = 0.72, p less than 0.01) between the two tissues. These results suggest that mononuclear blood cells may be suitable as a model for studying cytosolic key enzymes involved in the glucose metabolism of humans.

This paper starts a series on red blood cell (RBC) metabolism in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). The glycolytic enzyme levels and in vitro half-lives of these patients' RBCs were determined. A number of enzymes (hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, fructose-6-phosphate kinase, aldolase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase) showed higher activities than in normal control RBCs. Other enzyme activities were normal. These results were discussed and several possible mechanisms considered. We favour the point of view of a shortened life span of the RBCs in CRF, making the most unstable enzymes of the glycolytic sequence appear increase as compared with normal controls.

The case of a haemolytic non-spherocytic anaemia with pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency is reported. The investigation concerns two families with a low level of PK. In the propositus and in the members of his family we have also examined the behaviour of some enzymes and the concentration of red cell metabolites. We confirm the heterogeneity of the manifestation and agree that anaemias due to PK deficiency are complex forms in which the enzyme defect is only one of the symptoms.

The activity of ten red blood cell enzymes, including hexokinase, has been measured in 6 Fanconi's anemia patients. In disagreement with previous reports, in no instance were reduced or increased hexokinase levels found. Furthermore, the hexokinase isozymic pattern, thermostability, pH dependence of activity and kinetic properties were also in the normal range.

The primary cause of red cell destruction in enzymopathies of anaerobic remains controversial and difficult to investigate especially because the erythrocyte population in enzymopenic patients is largely heterogeneous. We have shown that loading human erythrocytes with monospecific enzyme-inactivating antibodies could be useful in understanding the biochemical modifications occurring in enzymopenic erythrocytes and the mechanisms leading to red cell destruction. Hexokinase-inactivating antibodies were prepared and loaded in human erythrocytes using a procedure of encapsulation based on hypotonic hemolysis, isotonic resealing and reannealing. Red blood cells loaded with anti-hexokinase IgG showed 20 +/- 3% residual hexokinase activity while all other enzymes were normal. Lactate production by these cells was 30% of controls while the amount of glucose metabolized in the hexose monophosphate pathway (HMP) was unchanged under resting conditions. However, in the presence of methylene blue HMP rates were only 12% of controls. Determination of adenine nucleotide levels suggests that the antihexokinase-loaded red blood cells are not able to maintain, in vitro, their ATP level as well as their 2,3-diphosphoglycerate. Osmotic fragility, methemoglobin, and reduced glutathione content were near normal. These and other properties of the antihexokinase-loaded erythrocytes were similar to those found in cases of hexokinase deficiency. When the antibody-loaded erythrocytes were chromatrographed on immobilized Protein A columns 66-70% of cells were retained by the column against 0-10% of controls suggesting that hexokinase inactivation promotes autologous IgG binding. Since the phenomenon is known to be associated with red cell phagocytosis, it could be concluded that in hexokinase deficiency red cells are mainly removed by phagocytosis, and that hemolysis probably occurs in cases of oxidative stress when the production of a large amount of reducing equivalents (NADPH) is needed but not provided by the hexokinase-deficient erythrocytes.

Hexokinase-1 (HK1) activity was determined in red cells of 5 patients with partial duplications of chromosome 10, all of which involved the 10p region. In 4 patients the levels of HK1 activity were higher than the mean activity of controls, strongly indicating a triplex dosage effect. The most likely regional assignment for HK1 would appear to be 10p11.2.

Since organotin compounds represent an environmental health hazard, we determined the effect of triethyltin bromide (TTB) on red blood cell (RBC) enzyme activity. TTB produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of hexokinase and pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase for both adult and cord RBC. D-Glucose, but not ATP or MgCl2, prevented the hexokinase inhibition by TTB. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, adenylate kinase, and hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase were also inhibited by TTB. Cord RBC enzymes were more resistant to the effects of TTB than were adult RBC enzymes. Although TTB is a potent inhibitor of hexokinase, physiologic concentrations of glucose appear to protect the RBC during clinical tin intoxication.

A technique, which combines a Ficoll-Rompacon treatment, sedimentation in a Dextran medium and erythrolysis by NH4C1, permitting the simultaneous isolation of polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) and lymphocytes from a single sample of human blood is described. The contamination of the PMN suspensions by other blood cells, including other categories of white cells, is minimal. However, the lymphocyte preparations, free of other white cells, are still contaminated by a non-negligible amount of thrombocytes. It could be shown that the biochemical system studied, the functional behavior and the morphological state of these cells are similar to that of white cells purified with the procedures previously used. Further, a numeration technique, based on DNA estimation, is presented which can be used when the cell count becomes inaccurate by cell agglutination.

A congenital erythrocyte pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency was found in a 72-year old female patient with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). Erythrocyte PK deficiency was associated with an increase in the activity of hexokinase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and glutathione peroxidase in erythrocytes as well as a decrease in acetylcholinesterase, glutathione reductase and glucosephosphate isomerase activities. The enzymatic abnormalities were accompanied by alterations in hemoglobin and in i antigen content of erythrocyte membrane. In addition, bone marrow ultrastructural studies showed dyshemopoietic changes in all blood cell lines and especially in erythroblasts. The present findings confirm the close relationship between CMML and acquired dyserythropoietic syndromes and constitute a new observation of the infrequent association of hereditary erythrocyte enzymopathies and leukemia. A survey of the literature is presented.

The metabolic activity of the red cell glycolytic pathway hexose monophosphate shunt (HMP) with dependent glutathione system was studied in patients with hyperthyroidism (n = 10), hyperlipoproteinemia (n = 16), hypoglycemia (n = 25) and hyperglycemia (n = 23). In uncontrolled diabetics and patients with hyperthyroidism the mean value of glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD), glutathione reductase (GR) was increased, whereas these enzyme activities were reduced in patients with hypoglycemia. Apart from a few values of hexokinase (HK) which were lower than normal the results in hyperlipoproteinemia patients remained essentially unchanged, including the intermediates such as 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and reduced glutathione (GSH). While increased rates of 2,3-DPG and ATP in hypoglycemia patients were obtained, these substrates were markedly reduced in diabetics.

We have shown different enzymatic activities responsible for the phosphorylation of glucose in pig erythrocytes. These activities were observed after partial purification from hemolyzed red cells. One of the enzymes involved is the hexokinase which is present in all tissues; the other is similar to hepatic glucokinase. We have determined the kinetic properties of these activities in hemolysates and in partially purified preparations. Their electrophoretic-migration characteristics were studied too.

The activities of ATP-consuming and ATP-producing steps of the Embden-Meyerhof pathway, as well as other glycolytic enzymes (phosphoglucomutase and enolase) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase are lower in leucocytes from cord blood than in white cells from adults. These results are related to previous observations (reduced anaerobic glycolysis and nitroblue tetrazolium-test in leucocytes from newborn infants) and discussed in connection with the fact that newborn infants are more susceptible to infections than normal adults.

The erythrocytes of newborn and adult goats were studied with respect to GSH stability, GSH regeneration, levels of ATP and 2, 3-DPG, glucose consumption and activities of nine different enzymes of Embden-Meyerhof and pentose phosphate pathways of glucose metabolism. Red cells from newborn goats had significantly higher levels of ATP and 2, 3-DPG. The activities of all the enzymes measured were also significantly greater in the newborn. It is suggested that newborn goats possess red blood cells that are metabolically more active than those of adult goats.