title: Generation of cytokines in red cell concentrates during storage is prevented by prestorage white cell reduction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effect of prestorage white cell (WBC) filtration on the cytokine content in red cells (RBCs) has not been clarified.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six units of buffy coat-poor RBC concentrates were prepared. Each unit was divided into three parts: one was used as a control, the second was made WBC-rich by the addition of WBCs from the buffy coat, and the third was made WBC-poor by filtration. All units were stored at 4 degrees C for 6 weeks. Immediately after preparation and every second week subsequently, samples for analyses of interleukin (IL) 1 beta (IL-1), IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) were obtained. After 13 weeks, the procedure was repeated on the same donors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IL-2 was not detected. The amounts of IL-1, IL-8, and TNF alpha increased during the storage period. With the exception of IL-8, only low concentrations were found. Filtered units had lower concentrations of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF alpha after 2 weeks of storage than did the control and WBC-rich units. The amounts of cytokines in filtered units did not increase during the study period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prestorage filtration seems to diminish the amount of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF alpha RBCs during storage. The possible clinical implications of this should be elucidated.
authors.affiliation: Stockholm Blood Transfusion Service, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shanwell
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kristiansson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Remberger
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ringdén
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001793:Blood Preservation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005374:Filtration; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D007937:Leukapheresis; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013696:Temperature; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha