The effect of membrane cholesterol content ion transport processes in plasma membranes

The effect of membrane cholesterol content ion transport processes in plasma membranes

Abstract

Department of Cardiology, Leiden UniÕersity Hospital, Rijnsburgerweg 10, 2333 AA Leiden, Netherlands Downloaded from cardiovascres.oxfordjournals.org at Infovell on November 25, 2010 Keywords: Cholesterol; Sarcolemma; Ion transport; Ion channels The letter of Dr. Lijnen contains several interesting observations on blood cells of patients with primary hypertension and hypertensive patients with hypercholesterolemia. These observations support and extend the general view that the biochemical composition and biophysical properties of the cell membrane determine the function of intrinsic membrane proteins, such as ion pumps, ion transporters, and ion channels. Dr Lijnen’s point that the concept of cholesterol’s influence on cell function has attracted much more attention than we suggested Žin Ref. w1x., is well taken. Perhaps we could have indicated more clearly that ‘‘we have confined ourselves mainly, but not exclusively, to ion transporters located in the plasma membrane of myocytes’’ Žquote from Ref. w1x.. The universal nature of plasma membrane structure and function makes it worthwhile to renew the emphasis on general relations between plasma membrane structure and function, including plasma membranes from blood cells and cells of specific organs.