Thermal sensitivity and haemolysis of erythrocytes with membranopathy

Measuring the impedance of heated suspensions of erythrocytes and erythrocyte ghost membranes, two thermally-induced alterations are registered in the plasma membrane at TA (denaturation of spectrin with inducing temperature at 49,5 °C) and TG (hyperthermic activation of basal ion permeability with inducing temperature at 60.7 °C). In this study erythrocytes from 9 healthy patients and 15 patients with hemolytic anemia were studied and divided into four groups depending on their TA and TG top temperatures. The TA and TG of erythrocytes with hemoglobinopathy were the same as those of control erythrocytes while those of erythrocytes with membranopathy were significantly reduced. In erythrocytes with severe membranopathy, the TG was decreased by about 5 °C. In latter cells the normal value of TG was restored and the resistance to thermal haemolysis was increased by 90% after the specific stabilization of band 3 protein by 4,4′-diisothiocyanato-stilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (DIDS). Obtained results indicate the involvement of band 3 in the membrane alteration at TG and in the heat target responsible for thermal haemolysis. •Erythrocytes with membranopathy were studied with thermal derivative conductometry.•The denaturation temperatures of spectrin, TA, and band 3, TG, were registered.•These temperatures were reduced (TA up to 3 and TG up to 5 °C) compared to control.•The anemic cells were treated by DIDS, specific inhibitor of band 3.•DIDS restore TG value and increase the resistance to thermal haemolysis up to 90%.