With or without you: a tale about oxygen removal from stored, packed erythrocytes

Attenuation of Oxidative Stress in Erythrocytes Stored with Vitamin C and l-Carnitine in Additive Solution-7

Background: Blood transfusion has advanced toward component therapy for specific requirements during trauma and surgery. Oxidative stress is induced in erythrocytes during storage. Hence, antioxidants as additives can be employed to counteract oxidative stress and enhance antioxidant defenses. Therefore, this study investigates the combinatorial effects of vitamin C and l-carnitine on erythrocytes during storage. Methodology: Erythrocyte samples were categorized into control and experimental groups-vitamin C (10 mM) and l-carnitine (10 mM) and stored under blood bank conditions (at 4°C) for 35 days. Hemoglobin (Hb), antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT] and glutathione peroxidase [GPX]), lipid peroxidation products (conjugate dienes and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARSs]), protein oxidation products, metabolic markers (glucose, lactate dehydrogenase), glutathione (GSH), superoxides, and hemolysis were assessed at weekly intervals. Results: SOD activity increased on day 7 in the controls, whereas it increased on days 7 and 14 in the experimental groups. CAT activity increased on day 35 in both the groups. GPX activity increased on day 7 in the controls. Hb levels decreased on days 14 and 35 in the controls and on day 35 in the experimental groups. Hemolysis increased from day 7 onward in both the groups. Protein oxidation products were maintained throughout the storage. GSH levels increased on day 21 in the controls and on days 14 and 21 in the experimental groups. Superoxides and conjugate dienes decreased from day 14 in both the groups. TBARSs decreased on day 7 in the experimental groups. Conclusion: Vitamin C and l-carnitine have synergistically enhanced the efficacy of stored erythrocytes in terms of Hb, antioxidant enzymes, and lipid peroxidation.

Vitamin C and Trolox decrease oxidative stress and hemolysis in cold-stored human red blood cells

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effects of sodium ascorbate (SA) (5-3125 μM) and a combination of SA and Trolox (25 and 125 μM) on oxidative changes generated in red blood cells (RBCs) followed by up to 20 days refrigerated storage.

METHODS

RBCs were isolated from CPD-preserved human blood. Percentage of hemolysis and extracellular activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured to assess the RBC membrane integrity. Lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione (GSH) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were quantified by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, Ellman's reagent and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) [Formula: see text]-based assay, respectively.

RESULTS

SA failed to reduce the storage-induced hemolysis and RBC membrane permeability. Addition of SA resulted in a concentration-independent LPO inhibition and increased TAC. A combination of SA/Trolox supplemented to the RBC medium significantly inhibited hemolysis, LDH leakage, LPO, GSH depletion and enhanced TAC.

DISCUSSION

The effects of vitamin C action are closely concentration-dependent and may be modulated by a variety of compounds (e.g. Hb degradation products) released from RBCs during the prolonged storage, changing its properties from anti- to pro-oxidative. The two different class antioxidants (SA/Trolox) could possibly cooperate to be good potential RBC storage additives ensuring both antiradical and membrane stabilizing protection.