[The role of cAMP in the energy metabolism of human erythrocytes]

Abstract

In human red blood cell there is complete adenyl cyclase--cAMP system. However, the role of this system and its connection with energy metabolism in red cell is not known. Hence, we studied the effects of cAMP and DB-cAMP on energy metabolism in human red cell. Blood was taken out from haematologically healthy volunteers. Red cells were isolated by differential centrifugation and washed three times in Tris-Ringer buffer (pH 7.4). The red cells suspensions (in the above buffer) were simultaneously incubated without additions (control) and with cAMP or DB-cAMP (5 mmol/L). Incubation temperature was 37 degrees C. The samples of suspensions for the extraction of metabolites and cofactors were taken at 0 and 180 minutes of incubation. The lactate, glucose, G6P, F6P, TP, ATP, ADP and AMP were determined in neutralized perchloric acid extracts by specific enzymatic methods. Results of our experiments show that cAMP and DB-cAMP significantly increase red cell glycolysis. Under the same conditions these nucleotides induce positive "cros-over" point at the phosphofructokinase (PFK) step of the glycolysis. The levels of adenine nucleotides (ATP, ADP, AMP) were unchanged through a whole period of incubation. We concluded that cAMP and DB-cAMP stimulates glycolytic process in red cells probably by allosteric activation of PFK.