Changes in the Physical Properties of Irradiated Red Blood Cells

Kim, Yu Kyung; Park, Jung Ran; Kim, Dong Hyun; Kwon, Eun Hee; Kim, Eun Jin; Won, Dong Il; Shin, Sehyun; Suh, Jang Soo

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Irradiation of cellular blood products is the current method used for the prevention of transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease. However, irradiation has been shown to cause biochemical changes in stored red blood cells (RBCs) and to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). Irradiation-induced biochemical changes and oxidation damage of the RBCs is closely related to the deformability of these cells. Furthermore, deformation of the RBCs may lead to alterations in the post-transfusion viability of stored RBCs. In this study, we evaluated the physical properties of irradiated RBCs.
METHODS
Citrate phosphate dextrose adenine-1 preserved RBC concentrates were irradiated with a minimum dose of 25 Gy and stored at 4oC for 28 days. The deformation of the RBCs was measured by a microfluidic ektacytometer (RheoScan-D). To examine the effect of oxidative stress, the RBC concentrates were exposed to oxidative stress using FeSO4 and ascorbic acid.
RESULTS
The deformability threshold of the irradiated RBCs was significantly lower than that of the control RBCs on day 21 of storage and later (P<0.05). The deformability threshold of the RBCs exposed to oxidative stress was lower than that of control RBCs, and the difference was significant on day 21 of storage and later (P<0.05). For up to 21 days of storage, the deformability of control and irradiated RBCs were maintained; however, they were significantly decreased at 28 days of storage compared with 1 day of storage (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Irradiation reduced the threshold of RBC deformability during storage. In accordance with the effect of irradiation, oxidative stress affected the RBC deformability. Therefore, a ROS scavenger may play a protective role against deformation of irradiated RBC concentrates. Further evaluation will be required for confirmation and clarification of these findings.