Dielectric properties of plasma membrane: A signature for dyslipidemia in diabetes mellitus

• Published in: Archives of biochemistry and biophysics Vol. 635; pp. 27 - 36
• Main Authors: Ghoshal, Kakali, Chakraborty, Subhadip, Das, Chirantan, Chattopadhyay, Sanatan, Chowdhury, Subhankar, Bhattacharyya, Maitree
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.12.2017
• Subjects: adenosinetriphosphatase; atomic force microscopy; biomarkers; calcium; capacitance; Cell Membrane - pathology; Cell Membrane - ultrastructure; Cells, Cultured; diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus - pathology; Diabetes Mellitus - physiopathology; dielectric properties; Dyslipidemias - pathology; Dyslipidemias - physiopathology; Electric Capacitance; Electric Impedance; enzyme activity; flow cytometry; Humans; hyperlipidemia; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - pathology; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - ultrastructure; magnesium; Membrane Fluidity; mononuclear leukocytes; plasma membrane; potassium; scanning electron microscopy; sodium
• ISSN: 0003-9861; 1096-0384; 1096-0384
• DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2017.10.002

Dielectric properties of a living biological membrane play crucial role indicating the status of the cell in pathogenic or healthy condition. A distinct variation in membrane capacitance and impedance was observed for peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) suspensions for diabetic and diabetic-dyslipidemic subjects compared to healthy control. Low frequency region were explicitly considered in electrical analysis to address complex membrane dielectric factors that alter the system capacitance of a PBMC suspension. Such variation was marked in size, morphology and membrane function of PBMCs for control and diseased cases. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies reveal significant alteration in surface morphology of PBMCs in diseased condition. Side scatter of flow cytometry reveals complexity of PBMCs in diseased condition. Changes in size between groups were not found by SEM and forward scatter. Functional alteration in PBMCs was manifested by significant changes in cell membrane properties like Na+, K+ ATPase and Ca2+, Mg2+ ATPase activity, reduced plasma membrane fluidity and changes in intracellular Ca2+ content, which bear significant correlation in diabetic and diabetic dyslipidemic subjects. Therefore, dielectric parameters of PBMCs in diabetic-dyslipidemic challenges may led to interesting correlation opening the possibility of identifying crucial signature biomarkers. •Plasma membrane dielectric property is a crucial factor determining membrane morphology and functions.•Diabetes with dyslipidemia induces significantly altered membrane dielectric properties (capacitance and impedance).•Diabetes and dyslipidemia alters the surface morphology of plasma membrane.•Membrane functions like fluidity and activity of ATPase proton pumps are significantly altered in diabetic dyslipidemia.