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Red cell metabolic alterations in postnatal life in term infants: glycolytic intermediates and adenosine triphosphate
Insights
Red blood cell metabolism in infants shows elevated glycolytic intermediates and adenosine triphosphate, reflecting a young cell population throughout the first year. These levels normalize compared to adults but remain high relative to similar-aged cells.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Biochemistry
- Neonatal Physiology
Background:
- Red blood cell (RBC) metabolism undergoes significant changes during development.
- Understanding these shifts is crucial for assessing infant health and development.
- Glycolytic intermediates and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) are key indicators of RBC energy status.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental changes in RBC glycolytic intermediates and ATP in term infants.
- To compare infant RBC metabolic profiles with those of normal adults and age-matched controls.
- To determine the persistence of a young RBC population throughout the first year of life.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of red blood cell glycolytic intermediates and adenosine triphosphate.
- Comparison of infant values (birth to 1 year) with normal adult and similar mean cell age subject values.
- Longitudinal evaluation of metabolic markers over the first year of life.
Main Results:
- Elevated glycolytic intermediates (except phosphoenolpyruvate) at birth, consistent with a young RBC population.
- Increased glucose-6-phosphate, fructose-6-phosphate, and total triose phosphate in the first week of life.
- Adenosine triphosphate and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate levels varied, increasing mid-life and declining by 3-4 weeks, then rising again at 5-6 months.
- By one year, all intermediates and ATP were elevated compared to adults but comparable to similar mean cell age subjects.
Conclusions:
- Infant RBCs exhibit distinct metabolic profiles characterized by elevated glycolytic intermediates and ATP.
- These findings support the persistence of a young RBC population throughout the first year of life.
- The observed metabolic patterns are indicative of ongoing physiological adaptations in neonatal erythropoiesis.
Abstract:
Red cell glycolytic intermediates and adenosinetriphosphate were evaluated in term infants from birth to on year of age and compared to values obtained from normal adults and subjects wit a population of a similar mean cell age. The concentration of glycolytic intermediates, with the exception of phosphoenolypyruvate were elevated at birth when compared to normal subjects, consistent with a young mean red cell population. The mean levels of red cell glucose-6-phosphate, fructose-6-phosphate, and "total triose phosphate" were elevated on days 1 and 4 of life when compared to both red cells from normal adults and subjects with a similar young mean red cell age. Glucose-6-phosphate steadily increased in concentration, peaked at 3 to 4 wk of age, and then progressively decreased in value. Total triose phosphate declined to a mildly elevated concentration by 3 to 4 wk of age. The mean concentrations of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and adenosine triphosphate were normal on day 1, increased on day 4, and then declined by 3 to 4 wk to normal values, until 5 to 6 months when both increased. The mean phosphoenolpyruvate concentration was decreased on day 1 of age when compared to red cells of a similar mean age, but this decrease was not significant (P greater than 0.05). The mean concentrations of 3-phosphoglycerate increased at 3 to 4 wk of age and remained elevated for cell age at 11 to 12 months but this increase was no statistically significant (P greater than 0.05). 3-Phosphoglycerate levels did not change significantly throughout the first year of life. At one year of age, all red glycolytic intermediates and adenosine triphosphate were elevated when compared to red cells from normal adults, but were comparable to those observed in subjects with a red cell population of a similar mean cell age, consistent with the persistence of a young red cell population throughout the first year of life.