Work

Flow-based analysis of cell division identifies highly active populations within plasma products during mixed lymphocyte cultures.

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Leukoreduction to eliminate mononuclear cells within blood products is necessary to prevent graft-versus-host disease after transfusion. Published reports document low concentrations of mononuclear cells leftover in fresh-frozen plasma products, however the phenotype and the proliferative potential of these cells has not been tested. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated residual cellular components contained within fresh and fresh-frozen plasma products and characterised their proliferative potential in co-cultures with unrelated allogeneic cells. We designed a flow-based assay to phenotype cells and quantify cell division by measuring the dilution of fluorescently labeled protein as cells divide. Leukocytes from consenting donors were purified from fresh liquid or fresh-frozen plasma units and cultured for three to seven days with unrelated irradiated allogeneic targets. RESULTS: (n=10), residual naive CD3+ cells were viable and demonstrated division through Day 7 of co-culture. DISCUSSION: The evidence of viable proliferative lymphocytes in fresh and fresh-frozen plasma products derived from centrifugation suggests that additional leukoreduction measures should be investigated to fully eradicate reactive lymphocytes from centrifuged plasma products.

Source: Blood transfusion

DOI: 10.2450/2021.0096-21