Immunomodulatory activity of different blood products on the mitogen‐induced human lymphocyte transformation

Abstract

SUMMARY. Blood transfusions have an immunosuppressive effect on the recipient and induce changes in several immunological parameters. We studied the effect of homologous and autologous fresh plasma (FP), fresh frozen plasma (FFP), heparinized plasma, as well as the influence of red blood cells (RBC), CPDA‐1, CPD, heparin, PAGGS‐mannitol, SAG‐mannitol and ADSOL on mitogen‐induced lymphocyte transformation.Both homologous and autologous FP and FFP decreased the PHA and ConA response of human lympocytes (PPt1/2 of plasma‐induced suppression was approximately 38 h. Dose‐dependent suppression rates were observed with pure CPDA‐1 and CPD solutions. In contrast, heparinized plasma showed an elevated PHA‐ and ConA‐induced transformation rate (Pin vitro.We conclude that, in addition to unspecific mechanisms by CPDA‐1 or CPD, an unknown plasma factor, which is susceptible to changes in temperature or storage conditions, suppresses the PHA‐, PWM‐ or ConA‐induced T‐cell immune response. Further clinical studies are needed to correlate these observations with clinical phenomena.