Changes in the Lipid Composition of Biological Membranes under the Influence of Endogenous and Exogenous Factors

Quantitative and qualitative assessments of cell membrane components are essential for the accurate interpretation of processes occurring in biological membranes. Changes in the structure and function of cell membrane components have been linked to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress induced by chronic ethanol consumption or cancer transformation has been implicated in changing the levels of phospholipids and fatty acids in the cell membrane. In this study, we used high-performance liquid chromatography to quantitate the effects of alcohol and malignant transformation on membrane components, namely phospholipids and free fatty acids. Ethanol increased the phospholipid levels. Moreover, the process of malignant transformation was accompanied by increased levels of phospholipids and arachidonic acid as well as decreased levels of linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid. Thus, these oxidative stress-inducing conditions that cause variations in the cellular composition affect the actions of the cell membrane and cell function.

Influence of green tea on surface charge density and phospholipids composition of erythrocytes membrane in ethanol intoxicated rats

Ethanol is oxidized to acetaldehyde and then to acetic acid and these processes are accompanied by free radical generation. This paper reports the effect of green tea on electric charge and phospholipids composition of erythrocytes membrane from rats intoxicated with ethanol. Electrophoresis technique and HPLC have been applied to above-mentioned studies. Ethanol administration caused increase in erythrocyte membrane surface charge density and phospholipid composition. Ingestion of green tea with ethanol partially prevented changes in structure and function of membrane caused by chronic ethanol intoxication.

Mechanisms of transport across cell membranes of complexes contained in antitumour drugs

Various mechanism of antitumour drug transport across cell membranes has been described. Particular attention has been paid to a passive transport, active transport and multidrug resistance of complexes contained in antitumour drugs. A drug supply to the target site depends on the blood circulation within the tumour, on characteristic drug diffusion in the tissue, and also on binding protein. The physiologic transfer of hydrophilic compounds across the membrane is usually intermediated by means of a specific receptor or a carrier in that membrane, which facilitates the transport of compounds to and from the cell. Some drugs, e.g. doxorubicin and annamycin, can pass across the membrane by intermediacy of liposomes which exhibit a great activity in penetrating into tumour cells. The efficiency of antitumour drugs is limited by the appearance of resistance, i.e. by the lack of sensitivity of the cell to the administered drug. The presence in the membrane of specific proteins belonging to the ABC carriers group is postulated in a resistance theory; they would be responsible for 'pumping out' lipophilic drug molecules from the cell. Participation of high-energy ATP molecule is required by P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and by MRP protein described in this paper for their action. The mechanisms that are responsible for the cell resistance to drugs have been presented by analysing the resistance to antimetabolites, particularly to folate and fluoropyrimidine analogues, to alkylating agents, e.g. cisplatinum, and to heterocyclic compounds being responsible for so-called multidrug resistance.