A spin label study of the membranolytic effects of crystalline monosodium urate monohydrate.

The nature of the membranolytic interaction between monosodium urate monohydrate (MSUM) crystals and phospholipid membranes was studied using electron spin resonance. Two spin probe molecules were incorporated into intact human erythrocytes and incubated with MSUM crystals. The apparent increased fluidity of 5-doxyl stearic acid incorporated erythrocytes after a 2 h incubation with MSUM was probably due to an electrostatically induced redistribution of probe from the outer more rigid layer to the fluid inner leaflet via a flip-flop mechanism. It was suggested that the MSUM induced redistribution of cationic amphiphilic probe population in the whole erythrocyte was also due to an electrostatic interaction between negatively charged MSUM crystals and positively charged probe. Possible mechanisms of MSUM induced membranolysis are discussed.