Modification of sickle hemoglobin by acetaldehyde and its effect on oxygenation, gelation and sickling

Erythrocytes from sickle cell anemia patients and chromatographically purified Hb S0 were incubated with 0.25 to 120 mM acetaldehyde for 15 min to 6 h at different temperatures and pH. Several hemoglobin adducts stable to dialysis were separated by Biorex 70 chromatography and the proportions of the adducts formed were dependent on the period of incubation, acetaldehyde concentration, pH and temperature. Acetaldehyde treatment showed an increase in solubility, minimum gelling concentration and oxygen affinity and a decrease in sickling which showed a dependence on Hb S modification. With 0.25 to 1 mM acetaldehyde, significant inhibition of sickling was observed without any effect on the physical characteristics of the hemoglobin molecule. Acetaldehyde may act as a gelation inhibitor as well as a cell sickling inhibitor.