Erythrocyte membrane abnormality in muscular dystrophy

Abstract

We found that erythrocyte membranes of dystrophic mice were considerably altered as measured by the technique of whole cell aqueous polymer partitioning. The difference was directly linked to the sex of the animal. Littermates of the diseased animals (genetic carriers or 'expressers') also had erythrocytes that were dramatically different from the sexand age-matched normals. The data show conclusively absolute differences in erythrocyte membranes from dystrophic animals. This observation has two implications: 1) expression of muscular dystrophy is not confined to muscle, and 2) the disease may be a general membrane defect instead of an abnormality of other cellular organelles. The prime defect in the group of diseases classified as muscular dystrophies is unknown except descriptively from the disease name--l.e., dystrophy of muscles (1,2). Furthermore, no curative therapy is known. Many investigators have been interested in whether the disease is manifest in organs other than muscle, and the idea of a systemic membrane defect has been advanced (3,4). Using aqueous polymer partitioning we are able to show definite alterations in erythrocyte membranes in dystrophic mice. Aqueous polymer partitioning is a sensitive technique for measuring properties of surface membranes (5,6). The technique is so sensitive that it is possible to identify subtle differences between membranes. However, the significance of these differences in partitioning ratios is uncertain-it can be shown only that a difference exists--but best speculations are that the technique