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. 2017;66(2):143-155.
doi: 10.3233/CH-160219.

Blood storage alters mechanical stress responses of erythrocytes

Elif Ugurel, Zeynep Kucuksumer, Buse Eglenen, Ozlem Yalcin

Blood storage alters mechanical stress responses of erythrocytes

Elif Ugurel et al. Clin Hemorheol Microcirc. 2017.

Abstract

Background: Erythrocytes undergo irreversible morphological and biochemical changes during storage. Reduced levels of deformability have been reported for stored erythrocytes. Erythrocyte deformability is essential for healthy microcirculation.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate shear stress (SS) induced improvements of erythrocyte deformability in stored blood.

Methods: Deformability changes were evaluated by applying physiological levels of SS (5 and 10 Pa) in metabolically depleted blood for 48 hours and stored blood for 35 days with citrate phosphate dextrose adenine-1 (CPDA-1). Laser diffractometry was used to measure erythrocyte deformability before and after application of SS.

Results: Erythrocyte deformability, as a response to continuous SS, was significantly improved in metabolically depleted blood, whereas it was significantly impaired in the blood stored for 35 days with CPDA-1 (p≤0.05). The SS-induced improvements of deformability were deteriorated due to storage and relatively impaired according to the storage time. However, deformability of stored blood after exposure to mechanical stress tends to increase at low levels of shear while decreasing at high SS levels.

Conclusion: Impairment of erythrocyte deformability after storage may contribute to impairments in the recipient's microcirculation after blood transfusion. The period of the storage should be considered to prevent microcirculatory problems and insufficient oxygen delivery to the tissues.

Keywords: CPDA-1; Erythrocyte deformability; blood storage; metabolic depletion; shear stress.

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Figures

Fig.1
Fig.1
The levels of EImax, SS1/2 and SS1/2/EImax values in all studied samples (n = 11 in each group) before and after continuous SS. (A) SS1/2 levels in each group before and after continuous shear stress (SS). (B) EImax levels in each group before and after continuous shear stress (SS). (C) SS1/2/EImax levels in each group before and after continuous shear stress (SS). Significance between before and after SS in each group: *p≤0.05, significance of control group with 7th and 35th day groups before SS: δp≤0.05, significance of control group with 7th and 35th day groups after 5 Pa SS: ɛp≤0.05, significance of control group with 7th and 35th day groups after 10 Pa SS: γp≤0.05, significance between 7th and 35th day groups before SS: φp≤0.05, significance between 7th and 35th day groups after 5 Pa SS: Σp≤0.05, significance between 7th and 35th day groups after 10 Pa SS: Ωp≤ 0.05.
Fig.2
Fig.2
The change in EI with time in all studied samples (n = 11 in each group) at 5 and 10 Pa SS.
Fig.3
Fig.3
The levels of SS1/2, EImax and SS1/2/EImax values before (control) and after continuous SS. Fresh blood samples (1st day, n = 10) are shown with white bars, metabolically depleted blood samples (after 48 hours, n = 10) are shown with black bars. (A) SS1/2 levels in each group before and after continuous SS. (B) EImax levels in each group before and after continuous SS. (C) SS1/2/EImax levels in each group before and after continuous SS. Significance between the 1st day and after 48 hours of incubation: *p≤0.05, significance of control with 5 and 10 Pa SS on the 1st day and after 48 hours of incubation:γ p≤0.05, significance between 5 and 10 Pa SS on the 1st day: δp≤0.05.
Fig.4
Fig.4
The change in EI with time on the 1st day and after 48 hours (n = 10 in each group) at 5 and 10 Pa SS.
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