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Erythrocyte membrane fluidity and changes in plasma lipid composition: a possible relationship in childhood obesity
G Ferretti1, G Curatola, E Bertoli
1Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ancona, Italy.
Insights
Childhood obesity alters erythrocyte membrane fluidity and cholesterol levels. Even with normal plasma lipids, obese children show reduced membrane fluidity, indicating early changes in cholesterol transfer.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern.
- Obesity is linked to altered lipid metabolism and cardiovascular risk.
- Erythrocyte membrane properties may reflect systemic metabolic changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate plasma lipid profiles and erythrocyte membrane fluidity in obese children.
- To determine the relationship between plasma cholesterol and erythrocyte membrane characteristics in pediatric obesity.
- To explore early indicators of lipid-related cellular changes in obese children.
Main Methods:
- Studied 60 obese children and 20 normal children.
- Measured plasma levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins.
- Assessed erythrocyte membrane fluidity using 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene fluorescence polarization.
- Analyzed the cholesterol/protein ratio in erythrocyte membranes.
Main Results:
- Obese children had significantly higher plasma total cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins compared to controls.
- Erythrocyte membranes in obese children showed decreased fluidity (increased fluorescence polarization) and higher cholesterol/protein ratio.
- Erythrocyte membrane changes were observed even in obese children with normal plasma lipid levels.
Conclusions:
- Erythrocyte membrane fluidity is significantly reduced in childhood obesity.
- Obese children exhibit altered erythrocyte membrane lipid composition.
- The erythrocyte membrane appears to be an early indicator of altered cholesterol transfer in childhood obesity.
Abstract:
We have studied plasma lipid patterns and erythrocyte membrane fluidity in 60 obese children and 20 normal children. Plasma levels of total cholesterol and associated low-density lipoproteins were significantly increased in 20 obese patients with respect to controls. A significant decrease in membrane fluidity, measured as an increase in the fluorescence polarization value of the probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene, associated with an increase in the cholesterol/protein ratio has been shown in obese patients. The study of the correlation between erythrocyte membrane fluidity and plasma cholesterol has indicated that significant changes in fluidity and membrane lipid composition also occur in erythrocytes of obese patients with normal plasma lipid levels. These findings confirm that the erythrocyte membrane responds very early to modifications of plasma lipoproteins and suggest that in childhood obesity a modified transfer of cholesterol from plasma to erythrocyte membrane may take place.