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Abnormal Membrane Fluidity and Acetylcholinesterase Activity in Erythrocytes From Insulin-Dependent Diabetic Patients

Department of Internal Medicine and the Institute of Biochemistry (E.B., L.M.), University of Ancona School of Medicine, and INRCA Hospital (P.F.) Ancona, Italy

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Ivano Testa, Clinica Medica, Ospedale di Torrette, 60100 Ancona, Italy.

An alteration in the enzymatic properties of the erythrocyte membrane acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase has been described in experimental diabetes mellitus. We studied erythrocyte membrane fluidity and AchE and Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activities in 15 insulin-dependent diabetic patients and 11 normal subjects. Fluidity was assessed by fluorescence polarization, using l,6-diphenyl-l,3,5-hexatriene as a probe, and AchE and Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activities were measured enzymatically. We found a significant increase in the enzymatic activity of AchE and a change in its enzymatic properties in diabetic patients compared with those in normal subjects. AchE activity correlated inversely with membrane fluorescence polarization, which was decreased in the diabetic patients, indicating an increase in membrane fluidity. Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity was reduced in the diabetic patients and correlated positively with the fluorescence polarization values. We hypothesize that the abnormal dynamic properties of the erythrocyte membrane may play a major role in determining the described change in enzymatic activity.

Received December 28, 1987.

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