[Sickling of erythrocytes studied with polarized light & electron microscopes. II. Erythrocyte internal structure; comparison with intra-erythrocytic crystals].
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We have used an in vitro two-compartment model, to investigate the ability of dapsone, formed by erythrocyte-mediated detoxification of its hydroxylamine metabolite, to escape the cells and cross a semi-permeable membrane into both plasma and other erythrocytes. Both diethyl dithiocarbamate (DDC) treated and untreated erythrocytes were incubated with dapsone hydroxylamine and dialysed against either fresh cells or plasma. Methaemoglobin was predominantly detectable in compartment A although the presence of low levels of methaemoglobin in compartment B indicated that the hydroxylamine itself had crossed the membrane. In contrast to methaemoglobin disposition, recovery of dapsone was higher (P < 0.05) in compartment B compared with A for all three treatment groups at 30 and 60 min, but not at the remaining time points. Regression analysis of the cumulative recovery of dapsone over 150 min in all three treatment groups for both compartments A and B showed correlation coefficients close to unity. In compartment A, analysis of the mean slopes of the regression lines indicated that, overall, significantly more dapsone was recovered from group 1 (erythrocytes, hydroxylamine and DDC dialysed against untreated red cells) compared with group 3 (erythrocytes and hydroxylamine dialysed against plasma) (0.22 +/- 0.05 vs 0.09 +/- 0.005; P < 0.025). Also in compartment A, significantly more dapsone was recovered from group 2 (erythrocytes and hydroxylamine dialysed against untreated red cells) compared with group 3 (erythrocytes and hydroxylamine dialysed against plasma: 0.16 +/- 0.02 vs 0.09 +/- 0.005). In compartment B, dapsone recovery was significantly greater in group 1 (erythrocytes, hydroxylamine and DDC dialysed against untreated red cells; slope of regression line: 0.59 +/- 0.05) compared with group 2 (erythrocytes and hydroxylamine dialysed against untreated red cells; slope of line: 0.28 +/- 0.02, P < 0.005). In addition, dapsone recovery was significantly greater in group 1 (0.59 +/- 0.05) compared with group 3 (erythrocytes and hydroxylamine dialysed against plasma; 0.21 +/- 0.02, P < 0.005). Dialysis of erythrocytes with dapsone itself over 120 min caused no detectable methaemoglobin formation. The process of erythrocyte-mediated dapsone formation from its hydroxylamine may feasibly occur in vivo and contribute to the systemic persistence and therapeutic effect of dapsone.
HVJ-induced fusion between liposomes and erythrocytes was examined as a model of cell-cell fusion and the following results were obtained: Liposome-liposome fusion seldom occurred in the presence of HVJ. Liposomes free of receptors for viral HN protein could efficiently fuse with erythrocytes when the concentration of liposomes and erythrocytes was high. Direct interaction between HVJ and liposomes should be negligible in the present system. A distinct lag phase (10 min) was observed before the liposome-erythrocyte fusion occurred appreciably. Efficiency of the liposome-erythrocyte fusion decreased linearly up to 1 h after stopping the virus-erythrocyte fusion. The former fusion was almost negligible after 1 h but could be restored by further addition of HVJ. Efficiency of the liposome-erythrocyte fusion was suppressed significantly when erythrocytes were pretreated with N-ethylmaleimide (N-EM), a membrane-permeable sulfhydryl agent, whereas rho-chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid (PCMBS), a membrane-impermeable sulfhydryl agent, had no appreciable effect on the fusion efficiency. The study suggests possible involvement of some HVJ-induced 'activated state' of the erythrocyte membrane during the process inducing the liposome-erythrocyte fusion. The structure including the membrane skeleton system may be responsible for producing an 'activated state' in the erythrocyte membrane. Such an 'activated state' was induced 10 min after the viral infection to erythrocytes, and thereafter decayed gradually.
Malaria male gametocytes within a newly ingested infected blood meal in the mosquito midgut emerge from erythrocytes and extrude approximately eight flagellar microgametes in a process termed exflagellation. In culture, and in blood removed from infected patients, emerging microgametes avidly adhere to neighboring uninfected and infected erythrocytes, as well as to emerged female macrogametes, creating "exflagellation centers". The mechanism of erythrocyte adherence is not known nor has it been determined for what purpose microgametes may bind to erythrocytes. The proposition of a function underlying erythrocyte adherence is supported by the observation of species-specificity in adhesion: microgametes of the human malaria Plasmodium falciparum can bind human erythrocytes but not chicken erythrocytes, whereas avian host Plasmodium gallinaceum microgametes bind chicken but not human erythrocytes. In this study we developed a binding assay in which normal, enzyme-treated, variant or null erythrocytes are identified by a cell surface fluorescent label and assayed for adherence to exflagellating microgametes. Neuraminidase, trypsin or ficin treatment of human erythrocytes eliminated their ability to adhere to Plasmodium falciparum microgametes, suggesting a role of sialic acid and one or more glycophorins in the binding to a putative gamete receptor. Using nulls lacking glycophorin A [En(a-)], glycophorin B (S-s-U-) or a combination of glycophorin A and B (Mk/Mk) we showed that erythrocytes lacking glycophorin B retain the ability to bind but a lack of glycophorin A reduced adherence by exflagellating microgametes. We propose that either the sialic acid moiety of glycophorins, predominantly glycophorin A, or a more complex interaction involving the glycophorin peptide backbone, is the erythrocyte receptor for adhesion to microgametes.
BACKGROUND: Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA) is widely used for secondary prevention of ischemic vascular events, although its protection only occurs in 25% of patients. We previously demonstrated that platelet reactivity is enhanced by a prothrombotic effect of erythrocytes in a thromboxane-independent manner. This diminishes the antithrombotic therapeutic potential of ASA. Recent data from our laboratory indicate that the prothrombotic effect of erythrocytes also contains an ASA-sensitive component. In accordance with this observation, intermittent treatment with high-dose ASA reduced the prothrombotic effects of erythrocytes ex vivo in healthy volunteers. In the present study, the effects of platelet-erythrocyte interactions were evaluated ex vivo in 82 patients with vascular disease: 62 patients with ischemic heart disease treated with 200 mg ASA/d and 20 patients with ischemic stroke treated with 300 mg ASA/d. METHODS AND RESULTS: Platelet activation (release reaction) and platelet recruitment (fluid-phase proaggregatory activity of cell-free releasates from activated platelets) were assessed after collagen stimulation (1 microg/mL) of platelets, platelet-erythrocyte mixtures, or whole blood. Platelet thromboxane A2 synthesis was inhibited by >94% by ASA administration in all patients. Importantly, platelet recruitment followed one of three distinct patterns. In group A (n=32; 39%), platelet recruitment was blocked by ASA both in the presence and absence of erythrocytes. In group B (n=37; 45%), recruitment was abolished when platelets were evaluated alone but continued in the presence of erythrocytes, indicating a suboptimal effect of ASA on erythrocytes of this patient group. In group C (n= 13; 16%), detectable recruitment in stimulated platelets alone persisted and was markedly enhanced by the presence of erythrocytes. CONCLUSIONS: In two thirds of a group of patients with vascular disease, 200 to 300 mg ASA was insufficient to block platelet reactivity in the presence of erythrocytes despite abolishing thromboxane A2 synthesis. Platelet activation in the presence of erythrocytes can induce the release reaction and generate biologically active products that recruit additional platelets into a developing thrombus. Insufficient blockade of this proaggregatory property of erythrocytes can lead to development of additional ischemic complications.
We have previously shown that the In(Lu) gene down-regulates expression of an erythrocyte protein antigen identified by murine monoclonal antibody (MoAb) A3D8. In the present study we have examined In(Lu) Lu(a-b-) erythrocytes for expression of additional epitopes on the erythrocyte 80 kilodalton protein (p80) bearing the A3D8 antigen. Using a total of seven additional MoAbs that recognize three epitopes on erythrocyte p80, we have shown that In(Lu) Lu(a-b-) erythrocytes exhibit down-regulation of expression of all three epitopes. In(Lu) erythrocytes also showed a reduction in their reactivity to rabbit antibodies produced against purified p80 from either erythrocytes or lymphocytes. Furthermore the reactivity of the MoAbs was not altered by treatment of the cells with neuraminidase but was substantially reduced by treatment of cells with trypsin or chymotrypsin. The polyclonal anti-p80 sera were shown to react with a fragment of 50,000 daltons, still associated with erythrocyte ghosts, following treatment of the cells with trypsin or chymotrypsin. Treatment of erythrocytes with the thiol-reactive reagent AET decreased their reactivity with the MoAbs but had a variable effect on their reactivity with polyclonal antibodies. Erythrocyte p80 is a glycoprotein with N-linked oligosaccharides, as demonstrated by its binding to concanavalin A (Con A) and Len culinaris lectins. Following Endoglycosidase F treatment, erythrocyte p80 underwent a reduction in apparent mol wt of 11,000. The presence of a reduced amount of an intact p80 glycoprotein, seen by a decrease in reactivity with MoAbs directed at three distinct epitopes and with two different polyclonal antibodies, suggests that the In(Lu) gene interferes with expression by erythrocytes of the entire p80 glycoprotein.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether erythrocyte creatine can serve as a corrective index for HbA1c in patients with a shortened mean age of erythrocytes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: HbA1c and creatine in density-fractionated erythrocytes from 18 normal subjects were measured. HbA1c and erythrocyte creatine in the whole blood of 43 patients with liver cirrhosis (LC), 14 patients with hemolytic anemia (HA), 38 other patients with high reticulocyte counts (HRC) (>2.2%), and 59 normal subjects were also measured. The patients in this study all had normal blood glucose levels. A correction formula derived from the linear regression equation for the correlation between HbA1c and erythrocyte creatine was used to correct the patients' HbA1c values. RESULTS: Among density-fractionated erythrocytes, the young cells exhibited low HbA1c and high creatine values. With progressively increasing density, HbA1c gradually increased and creatine gradually decreased. In the whole blood samples, the HbA1c values were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in LC, HA, and HRC patients than in normal subjects. By contrast, the erythrocyte creatine values were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in LC, HA, and HRC patients than in normal subjects. A linear correlation between HbA1c (y) and erythrocyte creatine (x) was observed (y=-0.224x + 5.00; n=154; r=-0.70; P < 0.001). Based on the regression equation, a correction formula was obtained. Low HbA1c values (<4.3%) were found in 24 of the 43 LC patients, 12 of the 14 HA patients, and 20 of the 38 HRC patients. After correction of the HbA1c values, 15 of the 24 LC patients, 9 of the 12 HA patients, and 16 of the 20 HRC patients had HbA1c values within the normal range. CONCLUSIONS: HbA1c decreased in inverse proportion to the increase in erythrocyte creatine because of a shortened mean age of erythrocytes. The abnormally decreased HbA1c value could be assessed with erythrocyte creatine.
Erythrocyte deformability was studied by the filtration technique of Reid & Dormandy using whole blood and washed erythrocytes from insulin-dependent diabetics (IDD) under insulin delivery by an artificial pancreas (AP). The same technique was employed to study deformability in vitro using normal erythrocytes incubated in the presence of insulin. Results of this study show that in IDD the initially poor erythrocyte deformability is improved within hours of insulin administration. Improved deformability was accompanied by increased levels of intra-erythrocyte ATP but without changes in levels of HbG and 23 DPG. Incubation of erythrocytes in medium containing glucose showed that deformability was significantly improved in the presence of insulin. These results indicate that insulin favourably affects erythrocyte deformability in IDD. Before and after 24 hours treatment by AP, platelet aggregation was studied in IDD by the technique of Born using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and by a modified Breddin technique using PRP, whole blood or whole blood treated by chlorpromazine and mixtures of erythrocytes from IDD with normal PRP. Platelet hyperaggregation was only found in the presence of erythrocytes from untreated diabetics. Chlorpromazine, at a dose (10 mumole) which inhibits haemolysis without inducing platelet hyperaggregation, eliminated the above anomaly. In conclusion, it is conceivable that the insulin-induced correction of poor erythrocyte deformability eliminates excessive fragility of erythrocytes and their haemolysis wit release of ADP, thus avoiding platelet hyperaggregation.
The distributions of ankyrin, spectrin, band 3, and glycophorin A were examined in Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes by immunoelectron microscopy to determine whether movement of parasite proteins and membrane vesicles between the parasitophorous vacuole membrane and erythrocyte surface membrane involves internalization of host membrane skeleton proteins. Monospecific rabbit antisera to spectrin, band 3 and ankyrin and a mouse monoclonal antibody to glycophorin A reacted with these erythrocyte proteins in infected and uninfected human erythrocytes by immunoblotting. Cross-reacting malarial proteins were not detected. The rabbit sera also failed to immunoprecipitate [3H]isoleucine labeled malarial proteins from Triton X-100 and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) extracts of infected erythrocytes. These three antibodies as well as the monoclonal antibody to glycophorin A bound to the membrane skeleton of infected and uninfected erythrocytes. The parasitophorous vacuole membrane was devoid of bound antibody, a result indicating that this membrane contains little, if any, of these host membrane proteins. With ring-, trophozoite- and schizont-infected erythrocytes, spectrin, band 3 and glycophorin A were absent from intracellular membranes including Maurer's clefts and other vesicles in the erythrocyte cytoplasm. In contrast, Maurer's clefts were specifically labeled by anti-ankyrin antibody. There was a slight, corresponding decrease in labeling of the membrane skeleton of infected erythrocytes. A second, morphologically distinct population of circular, vesicle-like membranes in the erythrocyte cytoplasm was not labeled with anti-ankyrin antibody. We conclude that membrane movement between the host erythrocyte surface membrane and parasitophorous vacuole membrane involves preferential sorting of ankyrin into a subpopulation of cytoplasmic membranes.
Mouse erythrocytes treated with diamide, an SH-oxidizing agent, attach to mouse resident peritoneal macrophages in the absence of serum. The mechanism by which macrophages recognize the SH-oxidized erythrocytes was investigated. Although phosphatidylserine-liposomes inhibited the macrophage recognition, there was no detectable phosphatidylserine on the outer surface of diamide-treated erythrocytes. It is unlikely that phosphatidylserine, that has been proposed to be a determinant in the recognition of some pathologic erythrocytes by macrophages, is involved in the recognition of diamide-treated erythrocytes. Sialyl lactose and glycophorin A effectively inhibited the macrophage recognition, while lactose and neuraminidase-treated glycophorin A did not. Disialoganglioside GD1a, but not monosialoganglioside GM1, partially inhibited the recognition. Trypsinized erythrocytes, in which majority of glycophorin A glycopeptides were expected to be removed from the cell surface, poorly attached to macrophages after diamide treatment. Therefore, it is likely that an interaction between glycophorin A on diamide-treated erythrocytes and a macrophage receptor for sialosaccharides is involved in the recognition. Similar inhibition specificity was observed in the macrophage recognition of erythrocytes treated with periodate, an oxidant that induces disulfide-dependent erythrocyte changes causing macrophage recognition, and of erythrocytes treated with SH-blocking agents, N-ethylmaleimide and p-chloromercuribenzoic acid, that were also found to be susceptible to macrophage recognition in the absence of serum. These results suggest that the macrophages recognize sialosaccharide chains of glycophorin A molecules on SH-oxidized or SH-blocked erythrocytes through a receptor for sialosaccharides.
The osmotic resistance of pigeon, peafowl, lizard and toad erythrocytes at different temperatures and pH was studied. Erythrocytes from female pigeons showed greater osmotic resistance than those from males, but no sex difference appeared with erythrocytes from peafowls. Pigeon erythrocytes were more resistant and the red blood cell, packed cell volume and haemoglobin values were higher than those in peafowls. Although no significant differences appeared in their haematological values, erythrocytes from the lizard were more resistant than erythrocytes from the toad. At higher temperature, the osmotic resistance of pigeon, lizard and toad erythrocytes increased, while that of peafowl erythrocytes decreased. The resistance of toad erythrocytes decreased in acidic and alkaline solutions, but that of peafowl erythrocytes increased in both solutions. However, with pigeon and lizard erythrocytes, the resistance was unaltered in alkaline solution and decreased in acidic solution.
Cytochalasin B and nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR), which inhibit membrane transport of glucose and nucleosides, respectively, have served as photoaffinity ligands that become covalently linked at inhibitor binding sites on transporter-associated proteins. Thus, when membranes from erythrocytes of neonatal pigs with site-bound [3H]cytochalasin B or [3H]NBMPR were irradiated with uv light, two labeled membrane polypeptides (peak Mr values: 55,000 and 64,000, respectively) were identified. Treatment of the photolabeled membranes with endoglycosidase F increased the mobility of [3H]cytochalasin B- and [3H]NBMPR-labeled material (peak Mr values: 44,000 and 57,000, respectively) and limited digestion with trypsin yielded different polypeptide fragments (Mr values: 18,000-23,000 and 43,000, respectively). Identification of the photolabeled polypeptides as transporter components was established using monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) raised against partially purified preparations of band 4.5 from erythrocytes of adult pigs and humans. MAbs 65D4 and 64C7 (anti-human band 4.5), raised in this study, reacted with [3H]cytochalasin B-labeled material from membranes of human erythrocytes and bound to permeabilized erythrocytes but not to intact cells. MAb 65D4 also bound to erythrocytes of mice and neonatal pigs and to a variety of cultured cells (mouse, human, rat), including AE1 mouse lymphoma cells, which lack an NBMPR-sensitive nucleoside transporter. Also employed was MAb 11C4 (anti-pig band 4.5), which recognizes the NBMPR-binding protein of erythrocyte membranes from adult pigs. When membrane proteins from neonatal and adult pigs were subjected to electrophoretic analysis and blots were probed with different MAbs, MAb 65D4 (anti-human band 4.5) bound to material that comigrated with [3H]cytochalasin B-labeled polypeptides (band 4.5) from neonatal, but not adult, pig erythrocytes, whereas MAb 11C4 (anti-pig band 4.5) bound to material that comigrated with [3H]NBMPR-labeled band 4.5 polypeptides of erythrocytes from both neonatal and adult pigs. These results, which indicate structural differences in the cytochalasin B- and NBMPR-binding proteins of pig erythrocytes, establish the presence of both proteins in erythrocytes of neonatal pigs and suggest that only the NBMPR-binding protein is present in erythrocytes of adult pigs.
OBJECTIVE: The deformation of erythrocytes in microvessels less than 15 microns in inner diameter was analyzed using a microvascular bed isolated from rabbit mesentery. The deformation was compared with that found in glass capillaries. METHODS: Human erythrocytes were perfused through two media: first, a microvascular-bed section isolated from rabbit mesentery; and second, a set of glass capillaries. Images of deformed erythrocytes were recorded on videotape under strobe light and analyzed with an image processor. The flow velocity of the erythrocytes was determined from the difference of their positions between video frames or by a dual-spot cross-correlation technique. Erythrocyte deformability was modified with diamide, diazene dicarboxylic acid bis[N,N-dimethylamide], by crosslinking spectrins. RESULTS: Symmetrical (parachute-like or slipper-like) deformation of erythrocytes was observed only in microvessels smaller than 13 microns in inner diameter. Erythrocytes in microvessels were less deformed than those in glass capillaries with corresponding diameters, and the marginal cell-free layer was narrower. The deformation increased by increasing the flow velocity of erythrocytes, and the cell-free layer became wider. Diamide-treated cells in microvessels were less deformed than normal cells and showed slightly narrower cell-free layers. Stronger stress in narrower microvessels induced further deformation of cells. CONCLUSIONS: Erythrocyte deformation in microvessels was essentially different from that in glass capillaries, and the effect of erythrocyte deformability on the flow dynamics of erythrocytes in microvessels was properly evaluated using an isolated microvascular bed.
OBJECTIVE: Erythrocyte creatine is a sensitive marker of erythrocyte age, and can be used to detect slight and continuous hemolysis. Excessive blood cell destruction caused by increased spleen function is important evidence of hypersplenism. This study evaluates the usefulness of erythrocyte creatine as a sensitive marker of excessive erythrocyte destruction due to hypersplenism in patients with liver cirrhosis. DESIGN AND METHOD: Erythrocyte creatine was determined by an enzymatic method in 50 patients with postnecrotic liver cirrhosis and 50 healthy controls. The spleen size was measured by ultrasonography and expressed as a spleen index. RESULTS: The patients with splenomegaly showed significantly higher erythrocyte creatine than those without splenomegaly (p < 0.005) and healthy controls (p < 0.001), but there was no significant difference in erythrocyte creatine between healthy controls and those without splenomegaly. Fourteen (93%) of the 15 patients with abnormally high erythrocyte creatine (> 1.8 micromol/g hemoglobin) had splenomegaly. There were no significant differences in reticulocyte count between healthy controls and the patients with and without splenomegaly. Erythrocyte creatine showed good correlations with spleen index (r = 0.67; p < 0.001) and reticulocytes (r = 0.63; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Erythrocyte creatine can be used for predicting erythropoietic status and estimating hypersplenism in patients with liver cirrhosis.
Mice immunized with rat erythrocytes produce autoantibodies to their own red blood cells, distinct anti-rat agglutinins and autoantigen-specific suppressor cells. Suppressor cells were detected by adoptive transfer of rat erythrocyte-immunized spleen cells to naive recipients. Such recipients failed to make erythrocyte autoantibodies after immunization with rat erythrocytes although their anti-rat erythrocyte response was unimpaired. Depletion and enrichment studies were performed to identify the cell type(s) which transfer suppression. B cell depletion of rat erythrocyte-immunized spleen cells by passage over Ig/anti-Ig-coated bead columns abrogated the transfer of suppression. However, suppression was still transferred after rat erythrocyte immunized spleen cells were passed over beads coated with a complex of 4-azido-2-nitrophenyl (NAP)-mouse IgG-rabbit IgG anti-NAP suggesting that T cells bearing Fc gamma receptors are not responsible for suppression. Positively selected B cells from rat erythrocyte-immunized spleen cells caused some suppression of erythrocyte autoantibodies but only after high numbers of cells were transferred. Neither positively selected Lyt-1+2- nor Lyt-1-2+ T cell subpopulations transferred suppression. By contrast, rat erythrocyte-immunized spleen cells which contained a mixture of B memory and T cells were suppressive and retained their suppressor activity after removal of Lyt-1-2+ but not Lyt-1+2- cells. It is proposed that these Lyt-1+2-T cells belong to a distinct population of suppressor-inducer cells which together with memory B cells stimulate the generation of effector T suppressor cells in naive recipients.
Upon exposure to 2 mM periodate at 0 degrees C for 15 min, mouse erythrocytes underwent membrane lipid oxidation, oxidation of cell surface sialyl residues into aldehyde-bearing derivatives, and oxidation of SH groups of the membrane proteins into disulfides. The periodate-treated erythrocytes exhibited a remarkable increase in rosette attachment to resident mouse peritoneal macrophages in the absence of serum. The relationship between the oxidation of the membrane constituents and the macrophage recognition of these cells was investigated. Periodate treatment of erythrocytes in the presence of butylated hydroxytoluene, an inhibitor of lipid oxidation, did not affect the subsequent attachment of the erythrocytes to the macrophages. Reduction of the periodate-treated erythrocytes with borohydride or cyanoborohydride did not affect the erythrocyte attachment. Neuraminidase treatment of erythrocytes before periodate did not affect the attachment either. On reduction of the disulfides of the membrane proteins with dithiothreitol, the periodate-treated erythrocytes lost their ability to attach to the macrophages. Erythrocytes treated with an SH-oxidizing agent, diamide, were then examined for the macrophage recognition. The diamide-treated cells also showed rosette attachment to the macrophages in the absence of serum, but did not when reduced with dithiothreitol. These results indicate that oxidation of the SH groups of the membrane proteins to disulfides causes reversible membrane changes that macrophages recognize, and it is this mechanism that is responsible for the macrophage recognition of the periodate-treated erythrocytes.
To investigate the Ca-sensitivity of the erythrocyte membrane in hypertension, the changes of the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes by Ca-loading and the effects of Ca-channel blockers or calmodulin-antagonist were observed in patients with essential hypertension. Erythrocytes were obtained from untreated patients with essential hypertension and age-matched normotensive subjects. Treatment of erythrocytes with Ca-ionophore A23187 and Ca in bathing medium caused the reduction of the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes dose-dependently on Ca-concentration. The degree in alteration of the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes was greater in essential hypertension than that in normotensive controls. In addition, Ca-induced changes of erythrocyte osmotic fragility was inversely correlated with the plasma renin activity in essential hypertension. In the presence of Ca-antagonists (verapamil, diltiazem) or calmodulin-antagonist (trifluoperazine), the reduction of the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes by Ca-loading was inhibited, and the differences of the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes between the hypertensives and the normotensive controls were abolished by these drugs. These results suggest that the greater changes of the osmotic fragility of the erythrocytes by Ca-loading in essential hypertension might be due to the abnormality of Ca-handling of the cell membranes causing an increase in the intracellular Ca concentration, contributing at least partially to the pathogenesis of hypertension.