Proteolytic activity during storage of platelets in plasma

Proteolytic activity was studied in platelet concentrates (PC) stored in plasma at 22 degrees C. In experiment 1, two PC with a higher (A) and a lower (B) white cell concentration were prepared from each of nine donors by centrifugation. Aliquots of the cell-free plasma, PPP, were stored as a control. Samples for the assay of fibrinopeptide A (FPA), elastase, spontaneous proteolytic activity (SPA), kallikrein-inhibiting activity, thrombin-antithrombin complexes (TAT) and D-dimers were collected initially and on days 1, 3, 5 and 7 of storage. Consumption of glucose, pH and concentrations of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and ATP were determined to investigate the metabolic status of the PC. The decrease in pH correlated to the leucocyte count, r = -0.74, P < 0.001 and to the increase in LDH, r = -0.74, P < 0.01. The levels of elastase and the SPA were consistently low in the PPP bags. In the PC elastase had increased by day 5 and the SPA by day 3; the levels in PC A were significantly higher than in PC B, P < 0.01. The leucocyte count correlated with the elastase activity, r = 0.71, P < 0.01, and with the SPA, r = 0.65, P < 0.01. A minor increase in FPA was demonstrated while no TAT and D-dimers could be detected. The cause of the formation of FPA was studied in experiment 2; three bags of PC and four of PPP were prepared from each of 16 donors. To the PC and three of the PPP bags either hirudin, aprotinin or no enzyme inhibitor (control) was added.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)