Supplementation of Stored Red Blood Cells for Transfusion Purposes: Studies of Cell Viability and Biochemical Parameters

• Grant number: 23/05314-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2023
• End date: July 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Susan Elisabeth Domingues Costa Jorge
• Grantee: Luana Nunes Guimarães de Carvalho
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/18886-1 - Pathophysiological mechanisms and treatment of red blood cell abnormalities, AP.TEM

Abstract

Red blood cell (RBC) concentrates are blood components widely used for transfusion purposes, especially when there is a significant reduction in their main erythrocyte component in the blood (hemoglobin; Hb < 7 g/dL). Many challenges, however, involve the quality of storage of this cell type, as it undergoes cumulative storage damage, resulting from oxidative damage, hemolysis, metabolic and enzymatic alterations. A study previously carried out at the Laboratory of Hemoglobinopathies - FCM/Unicamp, found that changes in the biochemical quality of RBC concentrates are concomitant with a reduction in the functional capacity of erythrocyte Hb, suggesting, as an alternative to be tested, supplementation with compounds that modulate the enzymatic activity of erythrocytes and guarantee functional protection to Hb. In order to minimize this problem, this project plans to test the supplementation of RBC concentrates with the following metabolites: 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate (2,3-BPG, of high concentration in erythrocytes), inositol hexaphosphate (IHP, analogue to 2,3-BPG) and hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF, which can modulate the glycolytic pathway). In addition to enzymatic modulators, such compounds also have the potential to interact with Hb, which is why they were chosen. Three standard type bags (containing CPDA-1) will be divided into four pediatric bags (three of them supplemented with the mentioned compounds, and a control bag - which will not receive supplementation). Biochemical quantifications, morphological analysis, cell viability, flow cytometry and hemolysis will be performed to determine the quality achieved. Such comparison will allow assessing whether the strategy may be viable to reduce storage lesions and, therefore, to maintain the cellular integrity of red blood cells used for transfusion purposes.