Leukocyte Depletion of Red Cell Components Prevents Exposure of Transfusion Recipients to Neutrophil Elastase

• Published in: Vox sanguinis 2000-02, Vol.78 (1), p.19-27
• Main Authors: Willy, C., Reithmeier, W., Kuhlmann, W.D., Gerngross, H., Flegel, W.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Assay; Blood; Blood Cell Count; Blood Platelets - enzymology; Blood Preservation - methods; Blood. Blood and plasma substitutes. Blood products. Blood cells. Blood typing. Plasmapheresis. Apheresis; Cell Separation - methods; Cytochalasin B - pharmacology; Erythrocytes - enzymology; Humans; Leukocyte Elastase - blood; Leukocyte Elastase - drug effects; Lymphocyte Depletion; Medical sciences; N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine - pharmacology; Neutrophil Activation - drug effects; Neutrophils - cytology; Neutrophils - drug effects; Neutrophils - enzymology; Plasma - enzymology; Transfusions. Complications. Transfusion reactions. Cell and gene therapy
• ISSN: 0042-9007; 1423-0410
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1423-0410.2000.7810019.x

Background: Polymorphonuclear leukocytes contain a large number of enzymes and bactericidal proteins stored in granules. Neutrophil activation induces degranulation and immediate release of these bioactive substances, including human neutrophil elastase (HNE) also know as elastase‐2 (ELA2), which may contaminate whole blood units and blood components. Materials and Methods: The HNE concentration was determined in the supernatants of blood components with a commercial enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The effect of leukocyte deletion and storage was evaluated by testing whole blood, buffy‐coat‐reduced, and leukocyte‐depleted red cell units. Buffy‐coat‐derived platelets and plasma were also tested. Results: HNE concentrations at day 1 were about 50 μg/l in all types of red cell components with the exception of leukocyte‐depleted red cells (