Metabolic energy reduction by glucose deprivation and low gas exchange preserves platelet function after 48 h storage at 4 degrees C.
BACKGROUND
We showed earlier that metabolically suppressed platelets (MSP) prepared by incubation in glucose-free, antimycin A medium at 37 degrees C better sustained storage at 4 degrees C than untreated controls at 22 degrees C. However, the use of the mitochondrial inhibitor antimycin A is incompatible with platelet transfusion.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate how energy-reduced (ER) platelets could be prepared in the absence of antimycin A.


METHODS
Platelets in gas-impermeable bags in glucose-free medium were kept at 22 degrees C for 4 h to reduce energy stores and thereafter stored at 4 degrees C (ER22-4). Controls were energy-reduced platelets without prior incubation at 22 degrees C (ER4), and MSPs in test tubes and untreated platelets in gas-permeable bags with glucose and stored at 22 degrees C (C22) and 4 degrees C (C4).


RESULTS
After 48 h storage, ER22-4 were superior to C22 with respect to pH preservation (6 x 4 +/- 0 x 4 vs. 5 x 0 +/- 0 x 4, n= 4), platelet count (800 +/- 225 vs. 650 +/- 150 x 10(9)), thrombin receptor-activating peptide-induced aggregation (50 +/- 15 vs. 10 +/- 5%) and glycoprotein (GP)Ib alpha expression (60 +/- 15% vs. 28 +/- 15). GPIb alpha expression was higher in ER22-4 than in ER4, indicating that energy suppression preserved GPIb alpha during cold storage.


CONCLUSIONS
Metabolic suppression without the use of antimycin A could be mimicked by storage of platelets in glucose-free medium in gas-impermeable bags. Energy suppression preserved GPIb alpha expression during storage at 4 degrees C.
Badlou
B A
BA
Sanquin Blood Bank North-West Region, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. bbadlou@casema.nl
van der Meer
P F
PF
Akkerman
J W N
JW
Smid
W M
WM
Pietersz
R N I
RN
D000968:Antimycin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D001793:Blood Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005740:Gases; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D010539:Permeability; D019038:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIb-IX Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D012996:Solutions
D005740:Gases; D019038:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIb-IX Complex; D012996:Solutions; D000968:Antimycin A; D005947:Glucose; D010100:Oxygen