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Twenty to fifty percent of the ouabain-insensitive Na+ and K+ fluxes in human red blood cells are mediated by Cl(-) -dependent coupled transport (cotransport). In this paper we report on the effect of the sulfhydryl group reagent N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) on Cl(-) -dependent ouabain-insensitive Na+ and K+ fluxes in human red blood cells. We found that NEM altered Na+ -K+ cotransport and activated a latent Cl(-) -dependent K+ transport mode normally apparently silent. This conclusion was based on the following observations. 1) At low concentrations (0.25 mM) NEM abolished the bumetanide-sensitive Na+ efflux and had no effect, even at a 10-fold higher concentration, on the bumetanide-sensitive K+ efflux. 2) At concentrations above 0.1 mM, NEM stimulated Cl(-) -dependent K+ efflux that was only partially inhibited by high concentrations of bumetanide or furosemide. In experiments using Rb+ as a K+ analogue, NEM activated Rb+ influx by stimulating the maximum velocity and lowering the apparent external cation affinity. The data suggest the presence of chemically reactive groups in human red blood cells for both Cl(-) -dependent K+ transport activated by NEM and Cl(-) -dependent coupled Na+-K+ movements.

Calcium dobesilate, a vascular protective agent, was tested in vitro for its scavenging action against oxygen free radicals. Calcium dobesilate was as potent as rutin to scavenge hydroxyl radicals (IC50 = 1.1 vs 0.7 microM, respectively). It was also able to scavenge superoxide radicals, but with 23 times less potency than rutin (IC50 = 682 vs 30 microM, respectively). Calcium dobesilate significantly reduced platelet activating factor (PAF)-induced chemiluminescence in human PMN cells and lipid peroxidation by oxygen free radicals in human erythrocyte membranes, although these actions required calcium dobesilate concentrations > or = 50 microM. Finally, in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells, magnesium dobesilate reduced the increase in cytosolic free calcium induced by hydrogen peroxide and inhibited phenazine methosulfate-induced cell potassium loss. In conclusion, calcium dobesilate was effective in scavenging hydroxyl radicals in vitro, at therapeutically relevant concentrations. Conversely, higher concentrations of the compound were required to scavenge superoxide radicals or to protect the cells against the deleterious effects of intracellular reactive oxygen species. Further studies in vivo are required to determine if these antioxidant properties of calcium dobesilate can play a role in its vascular protective mechanisms.

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