We previously reported that ultraviolet light B (UVB)-treated human platelets (hPLTs) can cause acute lung injury (ALI) in a two-event SCID mouse model in which the predisposing event was Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection and the second event was infusion of UVB-treated hPLTs. To delineate contributions of host mouse platelets (mPLTs) and neutrophils in the pathogenesis of ALI in this mouse model, we depleted mPLTs or neutrophils and measured hPLT accumulation in the lung. We also assessed lung injury by protein content in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). LPS injection followed by infusion of UVB-treated hPLTs resulted in sequestration of both mPLTs and hPLTs in the lungs of SCID mice, although the numbers of neutrophils in the lung were not significantly different from the control group. Depletion of mouse neutrophils caused only a mild reduction in UVB-hPLTs accumulation in the lungs and a mild reduction in protein content in BALF. In comparison, depletion of mPLTs almost completely abolished hPLTs accumulation in the lung and significantly reduced protein content in BALF. UVB-treated hPLTs bound to host mPLTs, but did not bind to neutrophils in the lung. Aspirin treatment of hPLTs in vitro abolished hPLT accumulation in the lung and protected mice from lung injury. Our data indicate that host mPLTs accumulated in the lungs in response to an inflammatory challenge and subsequently mediated the attachment of transfused UVB-hPLTs. Neutrophils also recruited a small percentage of platelets to the lung. These findings may help develop therapeutic strategies for ALI which could potentially result from transfusion of UV illuminated platelets.

Reliance on volunteer blood donors can lead to transfusion product shortages, and current liquid storage of red blood cells (RBCs) is associated with biochemical changes over time, known as 'the storage lesion'. Thus, there is a need for alternative sources of transfusable RBCs to supplement conventional blood donations. Extracorporeal production of stem cell-derived RBCs (stemRBCs) is a potential and yet untapped source of fresh, transfusable RBCs. A number of groups have attempted RBC differentiation from CD34+ cells. However, it is still unclear whether these stemRBCs could eventually be effective substitutes for traditional RBCs due to potential differences in oxygen carrying capacity, viability, deformability, and other critical parameters. We have generated ex vivo stemRBCs from primary human cord blood CD34+ cells and compared them to donor-derived RBCs based on a number of in vitro parameters. In vivo, we assessed stemRBC circulation kinetics in an animal model of transfusion and oxygen delivery in a mouse model of exercise performance. Our novel, chronically anemic, SCID mouse model can evaluate the potential of stemRBCs to deliver oxygen to tissues (muscle) under resting and exercise-induced hypoxic conditions. Based on our data, stem cell-derived RBCs have a similar biochemical profile compared to donor-derived RBCs. While certain key differences remain between donor-derived RBCs and stemRBCs, the ability of stemRBCs to deliver oxygen in a living organism provides support for further development as a transfusion product.

We studied the effects of a C60 water suspension at 4 microg/mL (nC60) and the water soluble fullerenol C60(OH)24 at final concentrations of 1-100 microg/mL on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in culture. We found that a 24 hr treatment of HUVECs with C60(OH)24 at 100 microg/mL significantly increased cell surface expression of ICAM-1(CD54) (67 +/- 4% CD54+ cells vs. 19 +/- 2 % CD540 cells in control; p < 0.001). In addition, this treatment induced the expression of tissue factor (CD142) on HUVECs (54 +/- 20% CD142+ cells vs 4 +/- 2% CD142+ cells in control; p = 0.008) and increased exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS) (29 +/- 2% PS+ cells vs. 12 +/- 5% PS+ cells in control; p < 0.001). Analysis of cell cycle and DNA fragmentation (TUNEL) showed that both nC60 and C60(OH)24 caused G1 arrest of HUVECs and C60(OH)24 induced significant apoptosis (21 +/- 2% TUNEL+ cells at 100 microg/mL of C60(OH)24 vs. 4 +/- 2% TUNEL+ cells in control; p < 0.001). We also demonstrated that both nC60 and C60(OH)24 induced a rapid concentration dependent elevation of intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i. This could be inhibited by EGTA, suggesting that the source of [Ca2+]i in fullerene stimulated calcium flux is predominantly from the extracellular environment. In conclusion, fullerenol C60(OH)24 had both pro-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic effects on HUVECs, indicating possible adverse effects of fullerenes on the endothelium.

Platelets for transfusion are stored at room temperature (20-24°C) up to 7 days but decline in biochemical and morphological parameters during storage and can support bacterial proliferation. This decline is reduced with p38MAPK inhibitor, VX-702. Storage of platelets in the cold (4-6°C) can reduce bacterial proliferation but platelets get activated and have reduced circulation when transfused. Thermocycling (cold storage with brief periodic warm ups) reduces some of the effects of cold storage. We evaluated in vitro properties and in vivo circulation in SCID mouse model of human platelet transfusion of platelets stored in cold or thermocycled for 14 days with and without VX-702. Apheresis platelet units (N = 15) were each aliquoted into five storage bags and stored under different conditions: room temperature; cold temperature; thermocycled temperature; cold temperature with VX-702; thermocycled temperature with VX-702. Platelet in vitro parameters were evaluated at 1, 7 and 14 days. On day 14, platelets were infused into SCID mice to assess their retention in circulation by flow cytometry. VX-702 reduced negative platelet parameters associated with cold and thermocycled storage such as an increase in expression of activation markers CD62, CD63 and of phosphatidylserine (marker of apoptosis measured by Annexin binding) and lowered the rise in lactate (marker of increase in anaerobic metabolism). However, VX-702 did not inhibit agonist-induced platelet aggregation indicating that it does not interfere with platelet hemostatic function. In vivo, VX-702 improved initial recovery and area under the curve in circulation of human platelets infused into a mouse model that has been previously validated against a human platelet infusion clinical trial. In conclusion, inhibition of p38MAPK during 14-days platelet storage in cold or thermocycling conditions improved in vitro platelet parameters and platelet circulation in the mouse model indicating that VX-702 may improve cell physiology and clinical performance of human platelets stored in cold conditions.