Transfusion of stored blood impairs host defenses against Gram-negative pathogens in mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Although human red blood cell (RBC) units may be refrigerator stored for up to 42 days, transfusion of older RBCs acutely delivers a large bolus of iron to mononuclear phagocytes. Similarly, iron dextran circulates in plasma for hours to days and is progressively cleared by mononuclear phagocytes, which return iron to plasma. Finally, malaria infection continuously delivers iron to macrophages by intra- and extravascular hemolysis. Studies suggest that iron administration increases infectious risk.

Study design and methods

To assess the effects of increased iron availability on susceptibility to infection, we infected mice with model Gram-negative intracellular or extracellular pathogens (Salmonella typhimurium or Escherichia coli, respectively), accompanied by RB

SUBMITTER: Prestia K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4229414 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature