Oxygen-sensitive cation transport in sickle cells

There are many examples of O-2-sensitive solute transport in vertebrate red cells. The response is selective, specific, and conserved across the entire vertebrate spectrum. A number of possible physiological roles have been proposed, but abnormal responses to O-2 may also be important pathologically. Significant alterations in O-2 dependence of red cell cation transport are observed in sickle cell disease land also following exposure to oxidants) and probably contribute to its pathophysiology. In this paper, we review some of the features of O-2-sensitive solute transporters in red cells and possible reasons for the abnormal response in sickle cells. Our aim is to identify specific, novel pharmacological inhibitors of these abnormal pathways and thereby ameliorate the disease. (C) 2001 Academic Press.