The Role of Ergothioneine in Red Blood Cell Biology: A Review and Perspective.

Oxidative stress can damage tissues and cells, and their resilience or susceptibility depends on the robustness of their antioxidant mechanisms. The latter include small molecules, proteins, and enzymes, which are linked together in metabolic pathways. Red blood cells are particularly susceptible to oxidative stress due to their large number of hemoglobin molecules, which can undergo auto-oxidation.

Characterization of a novel mouse platelet transfusion model.

Background And Objectives: Platelet transfusions are increasing with medical advances. Based on FDA criteria, platelet units are assessed by in vitro measures; however, it is not known how platelet processing and storage duration affect function in vivo. Our study's aim was to develop a novel platelet transfusion model stored in mouse plasma that meets FDA criteria adapted to mice, and transfused fresh and stored platelets are detectable in clots in vivo.

Characterization of a Novel Mouse Platelet Transfusion Model.

Background: Platelet transfusions are increasing with advances in medical care. Based on FDA criteria, platelet units are assessed by measures; however, it is not known how platelet processing and storage duration affect function . To address this, we developed a novel platelet transfusion model that meets FDA criteria adapted to mice, and transfused fresh and stored platelets are detected in clots .

Reticulocytes in donor blood units enhance red blood cell alloimmunization.

Although red blood cell (RBC) transfusions save lives, some patients develop clinically-significant alloantibodies against donor blood group antigens, which then have adverse effects in multiple clinical settings. Few effective measures exist to prevent RBC alloimmunization and/or eliminate alloantibodies in sensitized patients. Donor-related factors may influence alloimmunization; thus, there is an unmet clinical need to identify which RBC units are immunogenic.

Reticulocytes in donor RBC units enhance RBC alloimmunization.

Although red blood cell (RBC) transfusions save lives, some patients develop clinically-significant alloantibodies against donor blood group antigens, which then have adverse effects in multiple clinical settings. Few effective measures exist to prevent RBC alloimmunization and/or eliminate alloantibodies in sensitized patients. Donor-related factors may influence alloimmunization; thus, there is an unmet clinical need to identify which RBC units are immunogenic.

Hypoxia modulates the purine salvage pathway and decreases red blood cell and supernatant levels of hypoxanthine during refrigerated storage.

Hypoxanthine catabolism is potentially dangerous as it fuels production of urate and, most importantly, hydrogen peroxide. However, it is unclear whether accumulation of intracellular and supernatant hypoxanthine in stored red blood cell units is clinically relevant for transfused recipients. Leukoreduced red blood cells from glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-normal or -deficient human volunteers were stored in AS-3 under normoxic, hyperoxic, or hypoxic conditions (with oxygen saturation ranging from <3% to >95%).

High performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry assay for polymyxin B1 and B2 in human plasma.

Background: Polymyxin B is an old antibiotic with increasing clinical relevance in the treatment of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections. However, current dosing regimens are largely empiric as clinical pharmacological characterization of the drug has been hindered by the lack of assays to measure polymyxin B in human plasma.

Methods: A high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry assay was developed to quantify polymyxin B1 and B2 in human plasma using pure calibrators.