Erythrocyte membranes in metabolic syndrome

Abstract

The authors discuss results of investigations into the structure and functional status of erythrocyte membranes in patients with metabolic syndrome. It is shown that the pathological process involves not only well known changes in serum lipid metabolism but also highly specialized cells, such as erythrocytes. Specifically, erythrocytes undergo marked disorganization of membranous lipid phase in conjunction with a relative increase of cholesterol fraction and a decrease in phospholipids levels. Analysis of fractional lipid composition in erythrocyte membranes reveals reduced content of phospholipids, sphingomyelin, and phosphatidylcholine coupled to increased content of cholesterol, lysophosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, and phosphatidylethanolamine. It is concluded that disturbances of carbohydrate metabolism in patients with metabolic syndrome aggravate manifestations of the underlying disease.