Complement in CPD-stored blood.
We studied complement functions, breakdown of C3 and aggregation of immunoglobulins in whole blood stored in citrate phosphate dextrose at 4 degrees C for up to 3 weeks from 10 normal blood donors. No significant changes in total haemolytic complement (CH50) and alternative pathway haemolytic complement activity were detected. However, the complement-mediated capacity of the sera to solubilise a pre-formed immune precipitate decreased significantly at 2 and 3 weeks (p less than 0.02 at 2 weeks, p less than 0.003 at 3 weeks). No C3 conversion could be detected by immunoelectrophoresis but alteration in C3 was attested by a significant increase in breakdown products of C3 by 1 week (p less than 0.002) and all were above the normal range after 3 weeks (p less than 0.0001). No aggregation of immunoglobulins could be detected using two immune complex assays.
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis; D001793:Blood Preservation; D002951:Citrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000378:metabolism; D003170:Complement Pathway, Alternative / Q000187:drug effects; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D002951:Citrates; D003176:Complement C3; C007077:citrate phosphate dextrose; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D005947:Glucose