I have read that the lifetime of neutrophils is normally quite short, 3-5 days in vivo. On the other hand, whole blood can be stored for a much longer time, around 30-35 days.
My question is: What happens to neutrophils in whole blood for transfusion that was stored for more than 5 days?
Hi Sarah, neutrophils, other PBMCs and platelets are usually isolated away from RBCs destined for transfusion.
RBC concentrates are sometimes called "whole blood", but if processed properly they are devoid of PBMCs and platelets.
Any residual neutrophils in the stored blood will start to disintegrate rapidly largely due to autolysis induced by various enzymes (proteases, phosphatases, catalases and others) that are present in their granules.
Pre-storage leukoreduction is ideal because leukocytes and toxic substance i.e. luekokines released by disintegrated leukocytes causes fibril non haemolytic transfusion reaction to the patients (a most common adverse event in blood transfusion).
Neutrophils, other PBMCs and platelets are usually separated out by component preparation and separation from RBCs destined for transfusion (by Leukoreduction & formation of PRP ).
If whole blood is stored and it used for transfusion, Neutrophils ( Leukocytes) are non functioning and immunogenic and disintegrated leukocytes also produces leuko-kines and leukotoxins which harmful for the patients .
Unfortunately leukoreduction is not practiced universally and still recipients are exposed to febrile, immunologic reaction and exposed to increased risk of disease transmission. It should be a mandatory practice all over the world. Lekocytes are lysed and some are filtered out but still can induce this type of reactions.