title: Study of the vesicles released during conservation of red cells.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the protein composition of the vesicles released from senescent erythrocytes and its variation during their experimental conservation at +4 degrees C in citrate phosphate dextrose (CPD), over a period of 8 weeks. Techniques employed included electron microscopy, SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. Electron microscopic observation of senescent erythrocytes showed the simultaneous release of one or several vesicles of varying size and shape, while close examination of individual vesicles revealed a slack membrane structure and the presence of band 3 protein. SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting showed the vesicles to be composed mainly of band 3 and its breakdown products and to be lacking in spectrin. Use of specific antibodies demonstrated the presence of free haemoglobin, immunoglobulin G (IgG) and fragment C3b of complement. During conservation for 8 weeks, the concentration of band 3 protein decreased, while the concentrations of IgG and C3b increased and there was no apparent variation in haemoglobin levels.
authors.affiliation: Service de Chimie Hématologique, Centre Régional de Transfusion Sangunie de Nancy, Vandeuver-lés-Nancy, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ghailani
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guillemin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vigneron
mesh_terms: D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004905:Erythrocyte Aging; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013696:Temperature; D013995:Time; D014021:Tissue Preservation
chemical_list: D003176:Complement C3; D007074:Immunoglobulin G