Influence of band 3 protein absence and skeletal structures on amphiphile-and Ca2+-induced shape alterations in erythrocytes: a study with lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis), trout (Onchorhynchus mykiss) and human erythrocytes

Amphiphiles which induce either spiculated (echinocytic) or invaginated (st omatocytic) shapes in human erythrocytes, and ionophore A23187 plus Ca2+, w ere studied for their capacity to induce shape alterations, vesiculation an d hemolysis in the morphologically and structurally different lamprey and t rout erythrocytes. Both qualitative and quantitative differences were found . Amphiphiles induced no gross morphological changes in the non-axisymmetri c stomatocyte-like lamprey erythrocyte or in the flat ellipsoidal trout ery throcyte, besides a rounding up at higher amphiphile concentrations. No sha pes with large broad spicula were seen. Nevertheless: some of the 'echinocy togenic' amphiphiles induced plasma membrane protrusions in lamprey and tro ut erythrocytes, from where exovesicles were shed. In trout erythrocytes, o ccurrence of corrugations at the cell rim preceded protrusion formation. Ot her 'echinocytogenic' amphiphiles induced invaginations in lamprey erythroc ytes. The 'stomatocytogenic' amphiphiles induced invaginations in both lamp rey and trout erythrocytes. Surprisingly, in trout erythrocytes, some protr usions also occurred. Some of the amphiphiles hemolyzed lamprey, trout and human erythrocytes at a significantly different concentration/membrane area . Ionophore A23187 plus Ca2+ induced membrane protrusions and sphering in h uman and trout erythrocytes; however, the lamprey erythrocyte remained unpe rturbed. The shape alterations in lamprey erythrocytes, we suggest, are cha racterized by weak membrane skeleton-lipid bilayer interactions, due to ban d 3 protein and ankyrin deficiency. In trout erythrocyte, the marginal band of microtubules appears to strongly influence cell shape. Furthermore, the presence of intermediate filaments and nuclei, additionally affecting the cell membrane shear elasticity, apparently influences cell shape changes in lamprey and trout erythrocytes. The different types of shape alterations i nduced by certain amphiphiles in the cell types indicates that their plasma membrane phospholipid composition differs. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.