Erythrocytes, Fatty acids

The most logical material for the analysis of PUFA and plasmalogens are the erythrocytes. Fatty acids can also be quantitated in plasma. The plasmalogens are also easily detectable in homogenates of cultured fibroblasts and may add to the definitive diagnosis of patients with a generalised or isolated peroxisomal dysfunction. 

Sun, Q., Ma, J., Campos, H., Hankinson, S. E., and Hu, F. B. (2007a). Comparison between plasma and erythrocyte fatty acid content as biomarkers of fatty acid intake in US women. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 86, 74-81. 

Biggemann, B., Laryea, M.D., Schuster, A., Griese, M., Reinhardt, D. and Bremer, HJ. (1988) Status of plasma and erythrocyte fatty acids and vitamin A and E in young children with cystic fibrosis. Scand. J. Gastroenterol. Suppl. 143 135-141. 

Data on fatty acid alterations in man have recently been reported (Horwitt and Harvey, 1962) to show that whereas the fatty acids of plasma lipids are rapidly altered to give an indication of short-term dietary effects (days), the erythrocyte fatty acids provide an estimation of what has been consumed during recent weeks or months. The depot fats from analysis of samples obtained by the syringe aspiration method of Hirsch et al. (1960) change quite slowly and give an estimate of what has accumulated during past years. 

Analysis of erythrocyte fatty acids is most convenient. Of the more than... 

The sensitivity of the premature infant is probably associated with its low vitamin E status. It has been shown that in vitamin E-deficient rats, hemolysis and hemoglobinuria can be produced by intramuscular injection of several vitamin K substitutes (Allison et al., 1956 Marusich et al., 1956), but not by vitamin Ki, and that a-tocopherol will prevent hemolysis and hemoglobinuria even when given 4 hours prior to the injection (Marusich et al., 1956). These vitamin K substitutes do not produce hemolysis of erythrocytes in vitro. Allison et al. (1956) suggested that the hemoglobinuria might be secondary to renal tubular damage induced by vitamin E deficiency, but it now appears more Ukely that alterations in the erythrocyte fatty acids are responsible. 

Essential fatty acid sufficiency plasma or erythrocyte fatty acids... 

Bjerve KS, Fischer S, Alme K (1987) Alpha-linolenic acid deficiency in man effect of ethyl linolenate on plasma and erythrocyte fatty acid composition and biosynthesis of prostanoids. Am J Clin Nutr 46 570-576... 

Gas Chromatographic Analysis of Plasma and Erythrocyte Fatty Acids in Chronic Pulmonary Tubercular Subjects... 

Gas Chromatographic Determination of Erythrocyte Fatty Acids in Children Boll. Soc. Ital. Biol. Sper. 38 720-728 (1962)) CA 58 4881a... 

Gas Chromatographic Analysis of Plasma and Erythrocyte Fatty Acids in Normal Subjects and in Subjects with Cooley s Disease Haematologica (Pavia) 53(4) 334-343 (1968) CA 70 9922e... 

Manfredi, G., and Paolucci, G. G. Gas Chromatography in the Determination of Plasma and Erythrocyte Fatty Acids in Pediatrics Clin. Pediat. (Bologna) 45 29-46 (1963)... 

In the chloride shift, Ck plays an important role in the transport of carbon dioxide (qv). In the plasma, CO2 is present as HCO, produced in the erythrocytes from CO2. The diffusion of HCO requires the counterdiffusion of another anion to maintain electrical neutraUty. This function is performed by Ck which readily diffuses into and out of the erythrocytes (see Fig. 5). The carbonic anhydrase-mediated Ck—HCO exchange is also important for cellular de novo fatty acid synthesis and myelination in the brain (62). 

The processes of electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation are membrane-associated. Bacteria are the simplest life form, and bacterial cells typically consist of a single cellular compartment surrounded by a plasma membrane and a more rigid cell wall. In such a system, the conversion of energy from NADH and [FADHg] to the energy of ATP via electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation is carried out at (and across) the plasma membrane. In eukaryotic cells, electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation are localized in mitochondria, which are also the sites of TCA cycle activity and (as we shall see in Chapter 24) fatty acid oxidation. Mammalian cells contain from 800 to 2500 mitochondria other types of cells may have as few as one or two or as many as half a million mitochondria. Human erythrocytes, whose purpose is simply to transport oxygen to tissues, contain no mitochondria at all. The typical mitochondrion is about 0.5 0.3 microns in diameter and from 0.5 micron to several microns long its overall shape is sensitive to metabolic conditions in the cell. 

Inherited aldolase A deficiency and pyruvate kinase deficiency in erythrocytes cause hemolytic anemia. The exercise capacity of patients with muscle phos-phofiaictokinase deficiency is low, particularly on high-carbohydrate diets. By providing an alternative lipid fuel, eg, during starvation, when blood free fatty acids and ketone bodies are increased, work capacity is improved. 

In starvation, glucose must be ptovided for the brain and erythrocytes initially, this is supphed from hver glycogen reserves. To spare glucose, muscle and other tissues reduce glucose uptake in response to lowered insuhn secretion they also oxidize fatty acids and ketone bodies preferentially to glucose. 

Kuriki, K., Tajima, K., and Tokudome, S., Accelerated solvent extraction for quantitative measurement of fatty acids in plasma and erythrocytes. Lipids, 41, 605, 2006. 

Stangl, G.I. and M. Kirchgessner. 1997. Effect of nickel deficiency on fatty acid composition of total lipids and individual phospholipids in brain and erythrocytes of rats. Nutr. Res. 17 137-147. 

Fatty acids are oxidized in several tissues, including liver, muscle, and adipose tissue, by the pathway of P-oxidation. Neither erythrocytes nor brain can use fatty acids, and so continue to rely on glucose during normal periods of fastii. Erythrocytes lack mitochondria, and fatty acids do not cross the blood-hrain barrier efficiently. 

Menzel, D. B., R. J. Slaughter. A, M. Bryant, and H. O. Jauregui. Heinz bodies formed in erythrocytes by fatty acid ozonides and ozone. Arch. Environ. Health 30 2%-301, 1975. 

The amount of omega-3 fatty acids in the membrane of erythrocytes is less in patients with depression compared with that in controls. 

The amonnts of both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are low in erythrocytes from patients snffering from schizophrenia. As with depression, snpplementation of the diet of snch patients with omega-3 fatty acids has been claimed to improve the condition. 

There is some evidence that, in these patients, the interconversion between the polyunsaturated fatty acids is disturbed, which restricts the formation of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids. Such children are less likely to have been breastfed (breast milk contains these omega-3 fatty acids) they are more likely to suffer from allergies associated with essential fatty acid deficiency and also dry skin and hair and the membranes of the erythrocytes contain less omega-3 fatty acids compared with normal children. So far, the results of supplementation of the diet of these children with this disorder have not been conclusive. 

In adipose tissue, glucagon triggers lipoly-sis, releasing fatty acids and glycerol. The fatty acids are used as energy suppliers by many types of tissue (with the exception of brain and erythrocytes). An important recipient of the fatty acids is the liver, which uses them for ketogenesis. 

Gruber HJ, Low PS Interaction of amphiphiles with integral membrane proteins. I. Structural destabilization of the anion transport protein of the erythrocyte membrane by fatty acids, fatty alcohols and fatty amines. Biochim Biophys Acta 1988 944 414-424. 

In addition, many different psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, depression and post-traumatic stress syndrome have been associated with changes in the essential fatty acid levels that can easily be measured in erythrocytes or plasma [2, 3]. 

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