Reduction of prion infectivity in packed red blood cells.
The link between a new variant form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) and the consumption of prion contaminated cattle meat as well as recent findings showing that vCJD can be transmitted by blood transfusion have raised public health concerns. Currently, a reliable test to identify prions in blood samples is not available. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibility to remove scrapie prion protein (PrP(Sc)) and infectivity from red blood cell (RBC) suspensions by a simple washing procedure using a cell separation and washing device. The extent of prion removal was assessed by Western blot, PMCA and infectivity bioassays. Our results revealed a substantial removal of infectious prions (3 logs of infectivity) by all techniques used. These data suggest that a significant amount of infectivity present in RBC preparations can be removed by a simple washing procedure. This technology may lead to increased safety of blood products and reduce the risk of further propagation of prion diseases.
Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Rodrigo
R
Morales
CaridianBCT Biotechnologies, L.L.C., Lakewood, CO, USA.
Kimberley A
KA
Buytaert-Hoefen
Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
Dennisse
D
Gonzalez-Romero
Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
Joaquin
J
Castilla
CaridianBCT Biotechnologies, L.L.C., Lakewood, CO, USA.
Eric T
ET
Hansen
CaridianBCT Biotechnologies, L.L.C., Lakewood, CO, USA.
Dennis
D
Hlavinka
CaridianBCT Biotechnologies, L.L.C., Lakewood, CO, USA.
Raymond P
RP
Goodrich
Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. Electronic address: clsoto@utmb.edu.
Claudio
C
Soto
D000818:Animals; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D007562:Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D018620:PrPSc Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity
D018620:PrPSc Proteins