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Intracellular free calcium (Cai2+) was measured in human red blood cells (RBCs) using the Ca(2+)-sensitive fluorescent probe, fluo-3. Fresh RBCs were loaded with the acetoxymethyl ester of fluo-3 (fluo-3-AM) in vitro. Following incubation at 37 degrees C for 60 min, cells were separated from nonincorporated fluo-3-AM and fluo-3. Fluorescence was quantified with excitation and emission wavelengths of 506 nm and 526 nm, respectively. The relatively long wavelength characteristics of fluo-3 avoid much of the interference from hemoglobin that makes agents such as quin-2 and fura-2 of limited value in RBCs. A protocol with corrections for quenching and for extracellular fluo-3 was employed for each sample. Cai2+ in red blood cells from 15 normotensive volunteers averaged 134 +/- 12 nmol/L. In RBCs from 30 hypertensive patients who were not treated pharmacologically, Cai2+ was 317 +/- 32 nmol/L (P < .05). In a group of 27 hypertensives who were treated with various drugs, RBC Cai2+ was 221 +/- 27 nmol/L. Measurements were also performed in RBCs from 16 patients before and at least 2 weeks following treatment with one or more antihypertensive agents. Reduction of RBC Cai2+ from 342 +/- 47 to 252 +/- 39 (P < .001) was observed in 16 patients whose blood pressure fell with treatment. Overall, there was a correlation between RBC Cai2+ and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.413, P < .01, d.f. = 71). Thus, the present results confirm an association between elevated RBC Ca2+ and essential hypertension.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The Ca2+-pump ATPase of human RBC membranes appears to be exquisitely sensitive to a variety of amphipathic molecules. The acidic protein calmodulin (CaM) activates the enzyme some three- to fivefold with an apparent Kd of approximately 1-5 nM. A variety of other amphipathic anions, such as acidic phospholipids, free fatty acids, and anionic detergents, are less potent and in some cases less efficacious than CaM, but also activate the enzyme. Similar results have been observed for other CaM-dependent enzymes, and it is suggested that these agents mimic CaM in a general, but rather nonspecific, fashion. Activation of the human RBC Ca2+-pump ATPase by CaM or other amphipathic anions can be selectively antagonized by a wide variety (structurally and pharmacologically) of amphipathic cations. There is no simple relationship between antagonism of CaM in vitro and the general systemic pharmacology of these drugs. The only common feature of such drugs is that they are amphipathic cations. Neutral molecules such as saponin exerted neither CaM-like activity nor CaM antagonism. Great caution is urged in the inferential use of presumed anti-CaM drugs to study biological systems.

Active transport of calcium into inside-out vesicles of red blood cell membranes was stimulated equally by (i) the purified protein activator of calcium-activated, magnesium-dependent adenosinetriphosphatase isolated from red cell hemolyzates and (ii) calmodulin, a protein activator of cylic nucleotide phosphodiesterase isolated from bovine brain. The results provide further evidence for the identity of red blood cell activator and calmodulin and show that this cytoplasmic protein may participate in the regulation of plasma membrane calcium transport.

Efflux of Ca2+ from reversibly hemolyzed human red blood cells ghosts was determined by a Ca2+ selective electrode, by atomic absorption spectroscopy, and by the use of 45Ca. Hydrolysis of ATP was determined by measurement of inorganic phosphate (Pi). At 25 degrees C, ghosts loaded with CaCl2, MgCl2, Na2ATP, and Tris buffer (pH 7.4) extruded Ca2+, with mean rates ranging from 58.8 +/- 3.5 (SD) to 74.7 +/- 8.2 (SD) mumoles.liter ghosts -1.min-1 depending on the method of Ca2+ determination. The ratio of Ca2+ transport to Pi released in the presence of ouabain without correction for background ATP splitting was 0.83, 0.83, and 0.80, respectively, for the three methods of Ca2+ determination. Correction for the ATPase activity not associated with Ca2+ transport resulted in a ratio of 0.91:1. In other experiments, the use of La3+ to inhibit the Ca2+-pump allowed an estimate of the ATPase activity associated with Ca2+ extrusion. In the presence of various concentrations of La3+, the ratio of Ca2+ pumped to Pi liberated was 0.86 or 1.02, depending on the method of Ca2+ determination. It is concluded that the stoichiometry of the Ca2+-pump of the RBC plasma membrane is one Ca2+ pumped per ATP hydrolyzed.

Membrane-bound ATPases of the red blood cells from five mammalian species were compared. Large differences were observed in the specific activities of (Mg2+)-ATPase, (Na++K+Mg2+)-ATPase and (Ca2+/Mg2+)-ATPase. by contrast, calmodulin activities of red blood cell lysates from the five species were similar. Results are considered in light of possible mechanisms for regulation of Na+ and Ca2+ in red blood cells.

Inside-out vesicles prepared from human red blood cells took up Ca2+ by an active transport process. Membranes from the same red blood cells displayed Ca2+-activated, Mg2+-dependent adenosine triphosphatase activity. Both the initial rate of Ca2+ transport and the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-adenosine triphosphatase activity were increased approximately twofold by the calcium binding protein, calmodulin. Activities in the absence of added calmodulin were termed basal activities. Calmodulin-activated Ca2+ transport and adenosine triphosphatase activities could be antagonized in a relatively selective fashion by the phenothiazine tranquilizer drug, trifluoperazine. High concentrations of trifluoperazine also inhibited basal Ca2+ transport and adenosine triphosphatase activity. By contrast, calmodulin binding protein from beef brain selectively antagonized the effect of calmodulin on Ca2+ transport with no inhibition of basal activity. Ruthenium red antagonized calmodulin-activated and basal activity with equal potency. The results demonstrate that although phenothiazines can act as relatively selective antagonists of calmodulin-induced effects, other effects are possible and cannot be ignored. Calmodulin-binding protein may be a useful tool in the analysis of calmodulin functions. Ruthenium red probably interacts with Ca2+ pump adenosine triphosphatase at a site not related to calmodulin.

1. Activity of the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase of erythrocyte membrane may be enhanced by a cytoplasmic protein activator. The presence of Ca2+ is necessary for the ionic strength-dependent interaction between the erythrocyte membrane and the activator. This is true no matter the purity of activator (unfractionated hemolysis supernatant or partially purified activator) or the major source of ionic strength (imidazole or NaCl). 2. When the endogenous activator enhances (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity of the erythrocyte membrane, there is a physical association between activator and membrane. This association is not disrupted by a decrease in ionic strength to 0.005 but is reversed by exposure to 5 mM ethyleneglycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid. 3. Activator binding necessary for enhancement of (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity may occur during preparation of membranes or during incubation for assay of ATPase.

The calcium selective ionophore, ETH 1001, and the divalent cation ionophore, A23187, promoted Ca2+ flux across RBC membranes under various experimental conditions. ETH 1001 did not promote the passive movement of Mg2+ whereas A23187 did. The results confirm the potential application of ETH 1001 as a Ca2+ selective ionophore for biological membranes.

The Ca2+ pump of the plasma membrane of human red blood cells is associated with the activity of a (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase. Both the ATPase and the pump are stimulated above basal activities by calmodulin, an ubiquitous Ca2+-binding protein. Calmodulin isolated from human red blood cells was shown to be equipotent and equieffective with that isolated from beef brain. Half-maximal activation of ATPase (isolated red blood cell membranes, 37 C) and transport (inside-out red blood cell membrane vesicles, 25 C) were obtained with 2.5 and 4.4 nM calmodulin, respectively. Ca2+ dependence of Ca2+ transport was measured in the absence and in the presence of 50 nM calmodulin. At all Ca2+ concentrations above 2 X 10(-7) M Ca2+, the rate of transport was greater in the presence of calmodulin. The results implicate calmodulin in the regulation of the plasma membrane Ca2+ pump, but the mechanism(s) remain to be elucidated.

Human red blood cells treated in vitro with Ca2+ plus A23187 in low K+ medium exhibited significantly decreased cell volume and deformability, the latter determined by ektacytometry. These effects of Ca2+ plus A23187 were prevented in the presence of high K+ medium. Increased K+ permeability mediated by increased intracellular Ca2+ (Gardos effect) was apparently responsible for decreased cell volume and deformability in low K+ medium. Although it is commonly accepted that Ca2+ accumulation and/or ATP depletion per se cause decreased red blood cell deformability, the present results demonstrate that acutely induced changes in red blood cell volume as promoted by Ca2+ are a more important determinant of red blood cell deformability.

A mild hereditary nonspherocytic anemia in Beagle dogs was studied. Compared to RBCs from normal dogs, RBCs from hemolytic Beagles were larger on average, contained more potassium, and exhibited an approximately 50% decrease in rate of loss of ATP induced by Ca and the ionophore, A23187. Under certain conditions, this rate of ATP loss can be taken as a measure of the Ca pump ATPase activity of intact RBCs. From RBC fractionation studies it appeared that the defective Ca pump ATPase was acquired during the relatively short life-span of the hemolytic RBC. Significant loss of Ca pump ATPase may be causally related to the hemolytic anemia. The mechanism(s) by which Ca pump ATPase activity is lost in this hemolytic anemia remain(s) to be determined.

Isolated rabbit atria were employed to examine the rate of onset of inotropism of two glycosides (strophanthin and ouabain) and aglycones (acetylstrophanthidin and ouabagenin) in the presence of various concentrations of calcium (0.55, 1.1, 2.2, 4.4 and 8.8 mM). The rate of onset of glycoside-induced inotropism was found to be greatly influenced by the calcium concentration. The rate of onset was increased in both low and high calcium, with the minimum rate of onset at 1.1 or 2.2 mM calcium. In contrast, the rate of onset of aglycone-induced inotropism was not dependent on calcium between 0.55 and 4.4 mM calcium. The rate of onset of aglycone-induced inotropism was increased at 8.8 mM calcium. The results are interpreted by postulating that the digitalis inotropic receptor is located in a membrane-limited compartment to which aglycones may gain access via passive diffusion but to which glycosides gain access mainly via a (calcium-dependent) carrier mechanism.

1. A study has been made of the cellular content and movement of Ca across the membrane of human red blood cells.2. The [Ca] in the cellular contents of fresh red cells is 4.09 x 10(-2) mM. The intracellular concentration of free ionic Ca ([Ca(2+)]) is considered to be less than this value and therefore less than extracellular [Ca(2+)] under normal conditions.3. Observation of unidirectional Ca fluxes with (45)Ca confirms previous reports of low permeability of the red cell membrane for Ca. After nearly 1 week of loading in the cold, intracellular (45)Ca content is 1.8% of extracellular (45)Ca content. Appearance in extracellular fluid of (45)Ca from coldloaded cells can be considered to arise from two compartments. Efflux of (45)Ca from the ;slower compartment' is accelerated by the addition of glucose.4. Starved red cells, incubated at 37 degrees C, after reversible haemolysis for loading with Ca and Mg-ATP, exhibit an outward net transport of Ca against an electrochemical gradient. The transport is associated with the appearance of inorganic phosphate (P(i)). Cells treated similarly, but without ATP show no transport and no appearance of P(i).5. During the initial phase of transport, 1.3 mole P(i) appear per mole Ca transported.6. The transport of Ca from ATP-loaded cells is highly temperature-dependent, with a Q(10) of 3.5.7. Cell membrane adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity of reversibly haemolysed cells is stimulated only by intracellular, and not by extracellular Ca.8. Neither Ca transport in reversibly haemolysed cells, nor the Ca-Mg activated ATPase of isolated cell membranes is sensitive to Na, K, ouabain or oligomycin.9. Mg is not transported under the conditions which reveal Ca transport, but Mg appears to be necessary for Ca transport.10. Sr is transported from reversibly haemolysed Mg-ATP-loaded cells. Sr also can substitute for Ca, but not for Mg, in the activation of membrane ATPase.11. It is concluded that, in addition to a low passive permeability, an active extrusion mechanism for Ca exists in the human red cell membrane. This extrusion mechanism, in addition to a low passive membrane permeability for Ca, may represent the means by which intracellular Ca content is maintained at a low level. It is suggested that the Ca-Mg activated membrane ATPase and the active transport of Ca are two manifestations of the same process.