Analysis of Erythrocyte and Platelet Membrane Proteins in Various Forms of beta-Thalassemia

G. A. Alekperova, A. G. Orudzhev, and S. A. Javadov^*

Azerbaijan Medical University, ul. Bakikhanova 23, Baku 370022, Azerbaijan; E-mail: javadov_s@yahoo.com

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received June 10, 2003; Revision received December 26, 2003

---

Major membrane proteins have been quantitatively analyzed in erythrocytes and platelets from patients with homozygous (splenectomized and non-splenectomized) and heterozygous forms of beta-thalassemia depending on severity of clinical manifestation of this disease. Quantitative analysis of erythrocyte membrane proteins revealed increase in alpha- and beta-spectrin. (In non-splenectomized patients with homozygous beta-thalassemia the amount of this protein was lower than in corresponding controls.) Besides spectrin, the increase of 2.1-2.3 fractions of ankyrin, and the decrease of band 3 protein (anion-transport protein), 4.1, palladin, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase were also found. Analysis of major platelet membrane proteins revealed significant increase in gelsolin. This increase was found in all forms of beta-thalassemia irrespective of gender. Significant changes in platelet membrane protein fractions were found in patients (especially non-splenectomized) with homozygous beta-thalassemia. These included significant decrease in myosin, profilin, and gamma-actin and increase in actin-binding protein in both male and female patients. The content of other protein fractions (alpha-actinin, tubulin, tropomyosin) remained unchanged. Changes in protein fractions of erythrocytes and platelets correlated with severity of clinical manifestation of the disease.

---

KEY WORDS: erythrocytes, platelets, beta-thalassemia, membrane proteins

---