Effects of storage and leukocyte reduction on the concentration and procoagulant activity of extracellular vesicles in canine packed red cells

Red Blood Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: An Overview of Current Research Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities

Red blood cell-derived extracellular vesicles (RBC EVs) are small, spherical fragments released from red blood cells. These vesicles, similar to EVs derived from other cell types, are crucial for intercellular communication processes and have been implicated in various physiological and pathological processes. The diagnostic and therapeutic potential of RBC EVs has garnered increasing attention in recent years, revealing their valuable role in the field of medicine. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive analysis of the current research status of RBC EVs. We summarize existing studies and highlight the progress made in understanding the characteristics and functions of RBC EVs, with a particular focus on their biological roles in different diseases. We also discuss their potential utility as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in diseases and as vectors for drug delivery. Furthermore, we emphasize the need for further research to achieve selective purification of RBC EVs and unravel their heterogeneity, which will allow for a deeper understanding of their diverse functions and exploration of their potential applications in diagnostics and therapeutics.

Effect of Leukoreduction by Pre-Storage Filtration on Coagulation Activity of Canine Plasma Collected for Transfusion

Leukoreduction of blood products is a technique used to prevent leukocyte-induced transfusion reactions and is extensively used in human, but rarely in veterinary patients. The concentration of some coagulation proteins can be affected by the processing steps used for the preparation of leuko-reduced plasma units. In this study, we assessed the effect of leukoreduction on coagulation activity of canine plasma collected for transfusion. Ten plasma units, five obtained from non-leuko-reduced (non-LR) whole blood (WB) units and five from leuko-reduced (LR) WB units were evaluated. Prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), coagulation factor activities of factors (F) V, VIII, X, XI, and von Willebrand (vWF), fibrinogen and D-dimers content were assessed at collection (baseline value, D0) and after 7 days of frozen storage at −18 °C (D7). Compared to non-LR plasma units, LR units showed a statistically significant prolonged aPTT and reduced FXI activity. Filtration had no significant effect on the other factors and parameters evaluated. Filtration-dependent changes appear to have no impact on the therapeutic quality of plasma obtained from leuko-reduced whole blood, other than for FXI activity. Further studies on a larger sample size comparing the same unit before and after leukoreduction are needed to confirm these findings.