Regulation of cell membrane function and secretion by extracellular fluid viscosity

Plasma viscosity is elevated in various pathological states, due to increased levels of protein and other macromolecules. The possibility that elevation of extracellular fluid viscosity (EFV) affects cellular and biochemical functions was examined in cultured liver cells and in red blood cells. The viscosity was modified by the addition of various macromolecules, which differ in their capacity to increase viscosity and in their chemical nature. It was found that secretion of lipoproteins and lysosomal enzymes by liver cells is inhibited as a function of the medium viscosity. Correspondingly, elevation of plasma viscosity of hyperlipidemic rats reduced lipoprotein levels. In search for the mechanism of this phenomenon we examined the effects of EFV on two cell membrane components which are involved in transmembrane processes: Gangliosides (GMs), and phospholipase A2 (PLA2). It was found that the rate of GMs degradation is decreased with increasing EFV. Of special interest was the finding that the activity of cell membrane PLA2, a key enzyme in secretory processes, is inhibited by increasing EFV. This phenomena was not confined to cell membrane PLA2, as we further found that erythrocyte hemolysis, induced by soluble snake venom PLA2, is inhibited as the EFV is increased. It is proposed that the extracellular fluid viscosity may play an important role in regulation of cellular and biochemical processes in general.