Changes in erythrocyte ATPase activity under different pathological conditions.

Ali A Kherd1, Nawal Helmi1,2, Khadijah Saeed Balamash1, Taha A Kumosani1,2,3,
Shareefa A AL-Ghamdi1, Qari M4, Etimad A Huwait1, Soonham S Yaghmoor2,3,
Alaama Nabil5, Maryam A AL-Ghamdi1, Said S Moselhy1,2,6,7
1. Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
2. Experimental Biochemistry Unit, King Fahd Medical Research center KFMRC, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
3. Production of natural products for Industrial health Research group, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia.
4. Hematology department, Faculty of Medical Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia.
5. King Abdulaziz University hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
6. Bioactive Natural Products Research Group, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
7. Biochemistry Department, Faculty of science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

Abstract
Background: Studies have shown that Na+-K+ ATPase activity was altered in disrupted red blood cell membranes and this
enzyme is believed to be the site of active transport of Na+ and K+ in intact red blood cells. The enzyme is often referred to as
Na+– K+ pump because it pumps Na+ out and K+ into the cell against gradients with the concomitant hydrolysis of intracellular
ATP.

Objective: The aim of this study was to fnd out the possibility of using Na+-K+-ATPase activity as a biomarker for the diagnosis of individuals with different physiological conditions.

Materials and methods: The activity of Na+-K+ ATPase was determined in blood samples collected from different pathological and physiological conditions such as pregnancy, smoking, diabetes and renal dysfunction compared with healthy subjects
matched for age and sex.

Results: The Na+-K+ ATPase activity in pregnancy (0.094 ± 0.0051 µM Pi/min. mg protein), smoking (0.064 ± 0.0011 µM),
diabetes (0.047 µM 0.002 µM) and kidney disease (0.069 ± 0.0014 µM) was higher compared to the measurements in healthy
individuals (0.0081 ± 0.0031 µM).

Conclusion: Na+– K+ATPase specifc activity is a biomarker for the diagnosis of individuals with different physiological diseases.

Keywords: Na+-K+ATPase, red blood cell, pregnancy, smoking, diabetes, kidney diseases.