Uridine transport in human erythrocytes: data from normal subjects and from patients with renal failure

Erythrocyte uridine transport has been studied in eight normal individuals and eight patients on haemodialysis for chronic renal failure. The initial rate of zero-trans uridine influx at 37 degrees C has been measured as a function of extracellular uridine concentration using [14C]-labelled uridine. The results are consistent with Michaelis-Menten kinetics. In normal humans the mean Vmax for uridine influx was 32.8 +/- 6.4 mumol (1 cells)-1 s-1 (mean +/- S.D.) and the mean Km was 190 +/- 12.3 microM. The measurements made in renal failure patients were not significantly different (mean Vmax 30.1 +/- 7.1 mumol (1 cells)-1 s-1, mean Km, 185 +/- 13.2 microM). These results are discussed with reference to the reported data on uridine transport in human erythrocytes at temperatures between 4 and 35 degrees C; it is suggested that zero-trans uridine influx shows a decrease in temperature dependence above 25 degrees C. The Vmax for zero-trans uridine influx at 37 degrees C in normal erythrocytes represents a turnover number for the nucleoside transporter of 180 uridine molecules per second.