title: Resistance of a subset of red blood cells to clearance by antibodies in a mouse model of incompatible transfusion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alloimmunization to antigens on transfused red blood cells (RBCs) represents a major barrier to chronic transfusion. In extreme cases of multiple alloimmunization, clinicians may be faced with the decision of transfusing incompatible RBCs or risking death from lack of transfusion. The disastrous results of hemolytic transfusion reactions are well understood, and major pathways of clearance have been described. However, well described but poorly understood is the survival of a subset of incompatible donor RBCs during hemolysis, despite antibody binding.
  
  
  METHODS
  We utilize a tractable murine model of incompatible transfusion in which RBCs from transgenic donor mice expressing human glycophorin A (hGPA) are transfused into recipients passively immunized with anti-hGPA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As in humans, the majority of RBCs are cleared but a subset of incompatible donor RBCs persist in circulation, despite being bound by antibodies. Data contained herein reject the hypothesis that lack of clearance is due to insufficient antibody or overwhelming of phagocytic machinery; rather, we establish that surviving RBCs represent a distinct population resistant to clearance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These studies demonstrate that surviving RBCs during incompatible transfusion can represent a population that is resistant to clearance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Justine S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Liepkalns
authors.forename: Chantel M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cadwell
authors.forename: Sean R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Stowell
authors.forename: Eldad A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Hod
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Spitalnik
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Zimring
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D015478:Antigens, Heterophile / Q000276:immunology; D001787:Blood Group Incompatibility / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000276:immunology; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006021:Glycophorins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000276:immunology; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
chemical_list: D015478:Antigens, Heterophile; D006021:Glycophorins; D007518:Isoantibodies; D007519:Isoantigens; D003165:Complement System Proteins