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Morphological Effects Induced In Vitro by Propranolol on Human Erythrocytes

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Abstract

Despite the extended use and well-documented information, there are insufficient reports concerning the effects of propranolol on the structure and functions of cell membranes, particularly those of human erythrocytes. Aimed to better understand the molecular mechanisms of its interactions with cell membranes, human erythrocyte and molecular models of the red cell membrane were utilized. The latter consisted of bilayers of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DMPE), representative of phospholipid classes located in the outer and inner monolayers of the human erythrocyte membrane, respectively. The capacity of propranolol to perturb the multibilayer structures of DMPC and DMPE was evaluated by X-ray diffraction. Moreover, we took advantage of the capability of differential scanning calorimetry to detect the changes in the thermotropic phase behavior of lipid bilayers resulting from propranolol interaction with DMPC and DMPE multilamellar vesicles. In an attempt to further elucidate their effects on cell membranes, the present work also examined their influence on the morphology of intact human erythrocytes by means of defocusing and scanning electron microscopy. Results indicated that propranolol induced morphological changes to human erythrocytes and interacted in a concentration-dependent manner with phospholipid bilayer.

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Abbreviations

RBC:

Red blood cell suspension

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

DMPC:

Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine

DMPE:

Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine

DSC:

Differential scanning calorimetry

MLV:

Multilamellar vesicles

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

DM:

Defocusing microscopy

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Acknowledgments

To FONDECYT (Project 1130043). This work was partially supported from PIA-CONICYT PFB0824 and from FONDECYT 3140167. Calorimetric measurements were carried out using the instrument purchased thanks to financial support of European Regional Development Fund (contract No. POIG.02.01.00-12-167/08, Project Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Chemical Sciences, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile

    Mario Suwalsky & Pablo Zambrano

  2. Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile

    Fernando Villena

  3. Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia

    Marcela Manrique-Moreno

  4. Center for Optics and Photonics, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile

    María José Gallardo

  5. Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland

    Malgorzata Jemiola-Rzeminska & Kazimierz Strzalka

  6. Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland

    Malgorzata Jemiola-Rzeminska & Kazimierz Strzalka

  7. Faculty of Chemistry, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Ana María Edwards

  8. Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile

    Sigrid Mennickent

  9. Faculty of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Nathan Dukes

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  1. Mario Suwalsky
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  2. Pablo Zambrano
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  3. Fernando Villena
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  7. Kazimierz Strzalka
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Correspondence to Mario Suwalsky.

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Suwalsky, M., Zambrano, P., Villena, F. et al. Morphological Effects Induced In Vitro by Propranolol on Human Erythrocytes. J Membrane Biol 248, 683–693 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00232-015-9780-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00232-015-9780-2

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