Metabolomics study of platelet concentrates photochemically treated with amotosalen and UVA light for pathogen inactivation.

BACKGROUND: The risk of bacterial contamination and the deterioration of platelet (PLT) quality limit the shelf-life of platelet concentrates (PCs). The INTERCEPT pathogen inactivation system reduces the risk of pathogen transmission by inhibiting nucleic acid replication using a combination of a photo-reactive compound and UVA illumination. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects the INTERCEPT system has on the PLT metabolome and metabolic activity. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Paired units of buffy coat-derived PCs were generated using a pool and split strategy (n = 8). The paired PCs were either treated with the INTERCEPT system or left untreated. Samples were collected on Days 1, 2, 4, and 7 of storage. Ultra-performance chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to analyze the extra- and intracellular metabolomes. Constraint-based metabolic modeling was then used to predict the metabolic activity of the stored PLTs. RESULTS: A relatively large number of metabolites in the extracellular environment were depleted during the processing steps of the INTERCEPT system, in particular, metabolites with hydrophobic functional groups, including acylcarnitines and lysophosphatidylcholines. In the intracellular environment, alterations in glucose and glycerophospholipid metabolism and decreased levels of 2-hydroxyglutarate were observed following the INTERCEPT treatment. Untargeted metabolomics analysis revealed residual amotosalen dimers present in the treated PCs. Systems-level analysis of PLT metabolism indicated that the INTERCEPT system does not have a significant impact on the PLT energy metabolism and nutrient utilization. CONCLUSIONS: The INTERCEPT system significantly alters the metabolome of the stored PCs without significantly influencing PLT energy metabolism.

To Wash or Not to Wash? Comparison of Patient Outcome after Infusion of Cryopreserved Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cells before and after the Replacement of Manual Washing by Bedside Thawing.

BACKGROUND: Prior to infusion, cryopreserved autologous peripheral blood stem cell (auto-PBSC) grafts can either be thawed at the bedside or thawed and washed at the laboratory. At our center, manual washing of grafts prior to infusion was discontinued in April 2012 and bedside thawing was implemented. METHODS: This study compares the outcomes of two patient groups who received auto-PBSC either after post-thaw washing (n = 84) or bedside thawing (n = 83). RESULTS: No life-threatening infusion-related side effects were reported in either group. There was no significant difference in the mean CD34+ cells/kg dose of infused auto-PBSC in the two groups (p = 0.41), nor in the number of days to neutrophils > 0.5 × 10(9)/L (p = 0.14), days to platelets > 20 × 10(9)/L (p = 0.64), or days to platelets > 50 × 10(9)/L (p = 0.62) after transplant. There was also no difference in the number of days on total parenteral nutrition (p = 0.69), days on G-CSF therapy (p = 0.48), or days with fever (p = 0.73). Finally, there was no significant difference in the number of red cell units transfused (p = 0.32), or platelet units transfused (p = 0.94) after the transplant. One-hundred-day mortality was identical in the two groups (2.4%). CONCLUSION: Both thawing procedures are safe and result in acceptable engraftment and patient outcomes.