The ratio of ATP11C/PLSCR1 mRNA transcripts has clinical significance in sickle cell anemia

One of the physiologic mechanisms responsible to maintain asymmetric phospholipid distribution (in particular phosphatidylserine, PS) in human erythrocyte membranes is orchestrated by the balance between enzymes responsible for active transport of PS from the outer to the inner leaflet (ATP11C) and those whose counteracts these activities (PLSCR1). Using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and standard flow cytometry procedures, we hypothesized that the aberrant expression of either or both ATP11C and PLSCR1 transcripts may disrupt the PS internalization/externalization process and become clinically relevant for patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA). Overall, neither ATP11C / PLSCR1 ratio or ATP11C and PLSCR1 (if analyzed separately) had impact on risk to present acute or chronic organ damage in 178 patients with SCA. By collecting a new set of samples from SCA patients during a vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC, crisis state, 13 patients) and comparing with new samples of patients in steady state (15 patients), we noticed that patients in steady state exhibited mean values of ATP11C/PLSCR1 ratio significantly higher (mean value: 18.2, range, 0.3–53) than those who were in crisis (mean value: 3.7, range, 0.5–9) ( P = 0.013). Most importantly, there was a strong inverse correlation between PS exposure and ATP11C / PLSCR1 ratio in sickle erythrocytes (Pearson correlation coefficient, r: − 0.78). Based on these findings, it is conceivable that the ATP11C/PLSCR1 ratio may switch from high to low during a VOC, although the underlying reasons require further investigations.