Association of the Total Cholesterol Content of Erythrocyte Membranes with the Severity of Disease in Stable Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract

Increasing evidence suggests that erythrocytes may participate in atherogenesis. We sought to investigate whether the total cholesterol content of erythrocyte membranes (CEM) is significantly different in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) compared to patients with nonsignificant coronary stenosis and determine the correlation between CEM and the severity of coronary stenosis. Methods. The population included 144 patients, undergoing clinically indicated coronary angiography. The severity of coronary stenosis was scored after coronary angiography and patients were divided into two groups; the S-stenosis group (CAD patients, n = 82) had a significant stenosis indicated by coronary angiography and the second group, N-stenosis (n = 62), had nonsignificant coronary stenosis. Lipid parameters were determined by routine laboratory methods. CEM was measured using an enzymatic assay, and protein content was assessed by the modified Lowry method. Results. The mean of CEM levels was higher (P < 0.001) in stable CAD patients (137.2 µg/mg of membrane protein) compared with N-stenosis patients (110.0 µg/mg of membrane protein). The coronary artery scores were correlated positively with CEM levels (r = 0.296, P < 0.001). Conclusion. CEM levels are positively associated with the severity of CAD, meaning that CEM might contribute to the development of CAD.

Role of membrane cholesterol and lipid peroxidation in regulating the Na+/K+-ATPase activity in schizophrenia

“…It signified that despite some degree of free exchange of cholesterol with the plasma, total content of RBC membrane cholesterol is more prominently determined by an equilibrium between the cholesterol efflux and influx across the membrane and intracellular cholesterol transport, all of which occur via several enzymatic and biochemical pathways within the cells independent of the circulating plasma. [414243] Keeping on track with our study, some recent studies have also corroborated this view of membrane cholesterol content being independently regulated from the plasma cholesterol. [36]…”

The Effects of Altered Membrane Cholesterol Levels on Sodium Pump Activity in Subclinical Hypothyroidism

“…The inability of serum cholesterol levels to provide consistent predictive information regarding sodium pump activity is further underscored by the results of the multiple linear regression analysis, in which serum cholesterol levels did not show any significant predictive power for sodium pump activity in either the SCH group (β=−0.08, P =0.575) or the OH group (β=0.095, P =0.242). This indicates that despite some degree of free exchange of cholesterol with the plasma, the total cholesterol content of the RBC membrane is mostly determined by an equilibrium between cholesterol efflux and influx across the membrane and intracellular cholesterol transport, all of which occur via several enzymatic and biochemical pathways within the cells, independently of the circulating plasma cholesterol [343536]. Similarly, some recent studies have also corroborated this view of membrane cholesterol content and plasma cholesterol being independently regulated [37].…”

Association of the serum apelin, but not ghrelin, with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease

“…The severity of coronary stenosis was scored based on coronary angiography data and a numerical score from 0 to 21 was allocated to each patient as described previously. 12 The investigation was conducted based on the Declaration of Helsinki principals. The study protocol was approved by the ethics committee of Kashan University of Medical Sciences (IR.KAUMS.MEDNT.REC.1396.25) and written informed consent was obtained from each participant.…”