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The impact of blood Transfusion on T Helper Cells and Cytokines in Transfusion-Refractory Patients: a Prospective Study

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Indian Journal of Hematology and Blood Transfusion Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion can increase patients' hemoglobin levels and improve hypoxia. The factors affecting the transfusion efficacy include immune and nonimmune factors. The objective of this study was to explore the impact of blood transfusion on T helper (Th) cell ratios and levels of serum cytokines in RBC transfusion-refractory patients. In this prospective study, anemic patients receiving RBC transfusion were enrolled. Peripheral venous blood samples were extracted from patients before RBC transfusion and within 24 h after transfusion. Th cell ratios and levels of serum cytokines were detected by flow cytometry. Differences in Th cell ratios and levels of serum cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and IFN-γ) between pretransfusion and posttransfusion were compared. A total of 47 patients agreed to participate in this study. They were grouped according to incremental Hb levels, 20 (42.55%) patients were divided into the RBC transfusion refractory group, while 27 (57.45%) patients were in the validity group. The expected Hb increment was defined by a panel of Chinese experts. In RBC transfusion-refractory patients, Th1 and Th2 cell ratios increased while levels of serum IL-2 and IL-10 decreased after transfusion. In RBC transfusion validity patients, there were no significant changes in Th cell ratios or levels of serum cytokines between pretransfusion and posttransfusion. We found that Th1 and Th2 cell ratios increased while serum IL-2 and IL-10 levels decreased after transfusion in RBC-refractory patients.

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Abbreviations

RBC:

Red blood cell

Hb:

Hemoglobin

Treg:

Regulatory

T; Th:

T helper

IL:

Interleukin

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Startup Fund for scientific research, Fujian Medical University (Grant number:2018QH1218).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Blood Transfusion, Ningde Municipal Hospital Affiliated to Ningde Normal University, Ningde, 352100, China

    Xiaozhen Kang, Huangzhou Jiang, Xianxiang Peng, Baojia Tang & Shouzhong Wei

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  1. Xiaozhen Kang
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  2. Huangzhou Jiang
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  3. Xianxiang Peng
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  4. Baojia Tang
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  5. Shouzhong Wei
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Contributions

XK and SW designed the study. XK and XP screened the enrolled patients and collected the blood samples. BT and HJ analyzed the data. XK and SW wrote the manuscript. All authors approved the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shouzhong Wei.

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Conflict of interest

All authors declare no conflict of interest in this study. All patients signed an informed consent.

Ethical statement

The study was approved by Ethics Committee of Ningde Municipal Hospital (No.20181105).

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Kang, X., Jiang, H., Peng, X. et al. The impact of blood Transfusion on T Helper Cells and Cytokines in Transfusion-Refractory Patients: a Prospective Study. Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus 39, 132–140 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12288-022-01559-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12288-022-01559-5

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