The effects of leukodepletion on the generation and removal of microvesicles and prion protein in blood components

BACKGROUND: Universal leukodepletion (LD) has been implemented in the United Kingdom to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. If LD causes microvesiculation of blood cells, however, potentially infectious membrane-associated prion could reach the final products. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We have measured microvesicles (MV) derived from red cells (RBC-MV), platelets (PLT-MV), and white blood cells (WBC-MV) and cellular prion protein (PrPc) in blood components produced by four whole-blood, five RBC, three PLT, and two plasma LD filters and three plateletpheresis techniques. RESULTS: RBC-MV and PLT-MV were either unaltered or reduced by all processes, with PLT-MV reduced 10-fold by RBC LD and greater than 300-fold by plasma LD. WBC-MV were reduced or unchanged by RBC and PLT LD and reduced by plasma LD. Whole-blood filtration appeared to increase MVs derived from granulocytes, but the load in the final components was comparable to that in processed RBCs in additive solution. PrPc was reduced by whole-blood, RBC, and plasma LD and unchanged by PLT techniques. There were differences between various filters and techniques, which were generally minor compared to the overall effects. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest no detrimental effects of LD processes in terms of generation of MVs or PrPc release.