PHASE-CHANGES IN MEMBRANE-LIPIDS IN SICKLE RED-CELL SHED-VESICLES ANDSICKLE RED-CELLS

Lipid phase transformations may occur in the membranes of sickle red c ell shed-vesicles and sickle red cells. The presence of such phase cha nges could be important in sickle cell disease since membrane phase ch anges appear to contribute to the generation of antiphospholipid antib odies that are thrombophilic and occur in sickle cell disease. In the present study, we have evaluated sickle red cell shed-vesicles and sic kle red cells for the presence of non-bilayer lipid phases using P-31- NMR spectroscopy. Results show that the spectra of both the shed-vesic les and the sickle red cells are compatible with the occurrence of non -bilayer phases in the membrane bilayers, The findings support the con cept that these membranes could contribute to the generation of antiph ospholipid antibodies in sickle cell disease. Am. J, Hematol, 58:177-1 82 1998, (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.