TY - JOUR T1 - Hydration of sickle cells using the sodium ionophore Monensin. A model for therapy. AU - Clark,M R, AU - Mohandas,N, AU - Shohet,S B, PY - 1982/11/1/pubmed PY - 1982/11/1/medline PY - 1982/11/1/entrez SP - 1074 EP - 80 JF - The Journal of clinical investigation JO - J Clin Invest VL - 70 IS - 5 N2 - Mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) is thought to have an important influence in sickle cell disease, both through the strong dependence of sickling rates on hemoglobin S concentration, and through the profoundly limiting effect of high MCHC on the rheologic competence of oxygenated, irreversibly sickled cells (ISC). Recent studies have tested the ability of antidiuretic hormone to reduce sickle cell MCHC by reducing plasma sodium (Na) and osmolality. An alternative means of reducing MCHC is to elevate intracellular cation content, rather than to depress extracellular cation concentration. In an effort to do this, we have treated sickle cells with Monensin, an antibiotic that selectively enhances membrane Na permeability. At submicromolar concentrations, Monensin substantially reduced the MCHC of whole sickle blood and isolated ISC, causing an improvement in cell deformability. Monensin's effectiveness in producing a controlled increase in erythrocyte water content suggests that agents that selectively increase membrane Na permeability could be therapeutically useful. SN - 0021-9738 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/7130394/Hydration_of_sickle_cells_using_the_sodium_ionophore_Monensin__A_model_for_therapy_ L2 - https://doi.org/10.1172/jci110695 DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -