PRBC-derived plasma induces non-muscle myosin type IIA-mediated neutrophil migration and morphologic change.

CONTEXT: Neutrophils are the primary effector cells in the pathogenesis of transfusion-related acute lung injury or multiple organ failure after blood transfusion. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the effect of fresh (1 day preparation) and aged (42 day preparation) PRBC-derived plasma on neutrophil morphology, migration and phagocytosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the expression of non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIA (MYH9) in neutrophils treated with PRBC-derived plasma. We used western blots and antibody arrays to evaluate changes in signal transduction pathways in plasma-treated neutrophils. RESULTS: Aged PRBC-derived plasma elicited a stronger oxidative burst in neutrophils when compared with fresh PRBC-derived plasma (p < 0.05). Antibody arrays showed increased phosphorylation of NF-ĸB proteins (p105, p50 and Ikk) in aged PRBC-derived plasma-treated neutrophils. The expression of non-muscle myosin IIA (MYH9), a cytoskeleton protein involved in immune cell migration and morphological change, was also significantly upregulated in neutrophils treated with aged PRBC-derived plasma compared to fresh plasma (p < 0.05). Pretreatment of neutrophils with blebbistatin (a specific type II myosin inhibitor), ascorbic acid (an antioxidant), or staurosporine (a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor), effectively abrogated the morphological changes, neutrophil migration, and phagocytosis induced by aged PRBC-derived plasma. CONCLUSION: Upregulation of MYH9 in neutrophils treated with aged PRBC-derived plasma and abrogation of neutrophil migration in blebbistatin-treated neutrophils suggested a functional role of MYH9 in the directional migration of immune cells. Our data help elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of transfusion-related injury.

Prestorage leukoreduction prevents accumulation of matrix metalloproteinase 9 in stored blood.

OBJECTIVES: Transfusion of aged stored blood is associated with many neutrophil proinflammatory effects. The mechanism of these effects remains to be elucidated. The purpose of this study was to determine whether matrix metalloproteinases accumulate in packed red blood cells during storage and are responsible for some of the neutrophil proinflammatory events, and to determine whether prestorage leukoreduction prevents accumulation of matrix metalloproteinases and attenuates proinflammatory effects of stored packed red blood cells. DESIGN: Laboratory study. PARTICIPANTS: Healthy human volunteers. INTERVENTIONS: Units of blood were drawn from healthy volunteers. Half of each unit was filtered for leukoreduction, removing 99.9% of leukocytes. At biweekly intervals, aliquots were removed from packed red blood cell units, and the plasma fraction was isolated for assays. Plasma was assayed for specific molecules or incubated with isolated neutrophils, with or without a matrix metalloproteinase 9 inhibitor. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Concentrations of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1; matrix metalloproteinase 9 activity; and neutrophil apoptosis. RESULTS: Concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase 9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 but not matrix metalloproteinase 2 increased over time. This accumulation was abolished by leukoreduction. Matrix metalloproteinase 9 accumulated in an active form. Both leukoreduction and matrix metalloproteinase 9 inhibition reversed stored packed red blood cell-induced, delayed neutrophil apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Storage of packed red blood cells for 14 days or more is associated with increases in the concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase 9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1, with the enzyme in excess of its inhibitor. Prestorage leukoreduction prevents this accumulation. Delayed neutrophil apoptosis related to packed red blood cell plasma appears to be due, in part, to matrix metalloproteinase 9. Leukoreduction can help prevent the effects of matrix metalloproteinase 9 on neutrophil apoptosis.