Erythrocyte polyamines of normal individuals and patients with Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA)

Abstract

Aging of human red cells (RBC) appears to occur as a function of the age of the subject and time which is spent by the erythrocyte in the circulation. In SCA, there is a decrease in the time RBCs circulate. The polyamines, putrescine, spermidine and spermine can alter the electrokinetic properties of red cells. As red cells age, there is a decrease in the surface charge and altered deformability. To assess the effect of time in the circulation on RBC polyamine content of control subjects, we analyzed levels of density fractionated cells of ten healthy donors (HbAA) and compared to levels of four SCA patients (HbSS), ages 26 to 38. Perchloric acid extracts of erythrocyte stroma were analyzed by amino acid analysis using O-phthaldehyde fluorescent detection. At age 50–60 in normal subjects there is an accelerated loss of both spermidine and spermine in the dense cells relative to reticulocytes. This may be related to loss of surface area of the erythrocyte. In the four SCA patients, the spermidine and spermine ratios were similar to that of young normals of the same age group. It is considered that a large fraction of the total polyamines is firmly bound to spectrin. Polyamines may exert a regulatory role in the RBC stroma.