ELECTROKINETIC POTENTIAL IN B-THALASSEMIA ERYTHROCYTE MEMBRANES: EFFECT OF STATIC MAGNETIC FIELD (2T)

The effects of the static magnetic field (SMF) on zeta potential of erythrocytes from patients with heterozygous 'thalassemia' and healthy subjects were studied by means of cell micro-electrophoresis. Electrophoretic mobility (EPM) of 'thalassemic' erythrocytes from patients in pregnancy decreased significantly after SMF exposure (0.1 - 2T) compared to the same membranes without SMF pre-exposure. Significantly decreased extent of lipid peroxidation was observed in 'thalassemic' erythrocytes from patients in pregnancy increasing the dose of SMF pre-treatment. SMF exposure increased the aggregate's formation in erythrocyte suspension from healthy subjects as well as in 'thalassemic' erythrocytes at the expositions (0.5 - 2T). Lectin-membrane interaction was tested on the EPM of erythrocytes in norm and pathology. Thus lectin binding may provide information about changes in glycoprotein complexes of the membrane. We studied the effect of Phaseolus vulgaris agglutinin (Phytohemagglutinin, PHA-M) on the surface charge density and 90o light scattering (LS) of erythrocytes in physiological pH (PBS, pH 7.6). PHA-M induced an increase in EPM of normal erythrocytes at doses of 60 pg PHA/ml and 150 pg PHA/ml. There was an enhancement in zeta potential of thalassemic erythrocytes upon pre-treatment with the 200 pgPHA/ml. SMF (0.1 - 2T) altered electrokinetic properties of 'thalasemic' erythrocytes with increased agglutinability, which could be due to reduction of zeta potential as well as decrease in lipid peroxidation products of erythrocyte membranes.