Diacylglycerol Signaling Pathway Modulates Membrane Potentials in Red Blood Cells

Abstract

Objective: Membrane potential (MP) plays an active role in the excitability of neurons. Several clinical trials have shown that the membrane potentials in red blood cells (RBCs) drawn from three groups of populations including Bipolar Disorder (BD), Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and Negatives (who are neither BD nor ADHD) are significantly different from each other. In neurons, change in potassium conductance is suggested as a plausible reason for the differences in MP among the groups. The objective of this study is to determine if the MP of RBCs respond in a similar manner as neurons to drugs that influence small conductance potassium channels. Methods: Measurements of membrane potential in whole blood cells and statistical analysis were done as described in earlier publications. Results: Promoters and inhibitors of the diacylglycerol (DAG) signaling pathway in the RBCs modulate the small conductance potassium (SK) channels through the critical proteins such as DAG, protein kinase C (PKC), and calmodulin (CAM). Conclusions: The diacylglycerol (DAG) signaling pathway modulates the hSK channels by regulating the critical proteins along this pathway in RBCs. Since hSK family is widely distributed in neurons, the differences observed in RBCs among BDs, ADHDs and Negatives are explained by this finding. Some of the clinical observations can also be explained by this pathway.