Abnormalities of ion-exchange proteins of the red cell membrane in iron deficiency anemia.

The influences of iron deficiency on erythrocyte spanning membrane proteins, band 3 protein and Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, were studied in the growing rats with iron deficient anemia. The main findings were (1) reduction of band 3 and increment of band 4.1 protein. (2) diminished rate constant of pyruvate-chloride exchange (Kp:Cl.h-1) of the erythrocytes and (3) significant decrease of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity only at the early stage of iron exhaustion. In addition, there was a significant negative correlation between Kp:Cl.h-1 and Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity both in iron deficient rats and in the controls. It is suggested that the composition and function of the erythrocyte spanning-membrane proteins for ion exchange could be affected by iron deficiency.