Pb(II) Induces Scramblase Activation and Ceramide-Domain Generation in Red Blood Cells
Abstract The mechanisms of Pb(II) toxicity have been studied in human red blood cells using confocal microscopy, immunolabeling, fluorescence-activated cell sorting and atomic force microscopy. The process follows a sequence of events, starting with calcium entry, followed by potassium release, morp...
Enregistré dans:
Auteurs principaux: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | article |
Langue: | EN |
Publié: |
Nature Portfolio
2018
|
Sujets: | |
Accès en ligne: | https://doaj.org/article/37d7248c8b5a44c8b4b2d7778320e8bc |
Tags: |
Ajouter un tag
Pas de tags, Soyez le premier à ajouter un tag!
|
Résumé: | Abstract The mechanisms of Pb(II) toxicity have been studied in human red blood cells using confocal microscopy, immunolabeling, fluorescence-activated cell sorting and atomic force microscopy. The process follows a sequence of events, starting with calcium entry, followed by potassium release, morphological change, generation of ceramide, lipid flip-flop and finally cell lysis. Clotrimazole blocks potassium channels and the whole process is inhibited. Immunolabeling reveals the generation of ceramide-enriched domains linked to a cell morphological change, while the use of a neutral sphingomyelinase inhibitor greatly delays the process after the morphological change, and lipid flip-flop is significantly reduced. These facts point to three major checkpoints in the process: first the upstream exchange of calcium and potassium, then ceramide domain formation, and finally the downstream scramblase activation necessary for cell lysis. In addition, partial non-cytotoxic cholesterol depletion of red blood cells accelerates the process as the morphological change occurs faster. Cholesterol could have a role in modulating the properties of the ceramide-enriched domains. This work is relevant in the context of cell death, heavy metal toxicity and sphingolipid signaling. |
---|