Lipid alterations and cellular properties of sickle red cells

Taken together, our studies and those in other laboratories demonstrate a number of membrane lipid changes in sickle erythrocytes. These include (1) changes in membrane phospholipid dynamics, (2) perturbation of the translocase protein that translocates aminophospholipids from the exterior leaflet to the interior leaflet, (3) perturbation of the interaction between membrane phospholipids and skeletal proteins, and (4) abnormal phospholipid molecular species compositions. The mechanism underlying these alterations may involve several independent effects. Included in these will be the oxidative damage that occurs to these membranes and the dissociation of lipids and proteins that accompanies the sickling process.