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Updated: Aug 15, 2026
Endotoxin Activity Assay for the Detection of Whole Blood Endotoxemia in Critically Ill Patients
Published on: June 24, 2019
Beneficial effect of transfusion with low-affinity red blood cells in endotoxemia
Fei Huang1, Hidetoshi Nojiri, Takahiko Shimizu
1Department of Molecular Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan.
Background:
Sepsis caused by endotoxins such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) impairs the microcirculation, diminishing tissue blood supply and aggravates systemic hypoxia. A novel lower-affinity hemoglobin (Hb) variant, Hb Presbyterian, enhances oxygen release to peripheral tissues and may improve tissue oxygen supply during sepsis.
Study Design And Methods:
This study investigated the effectiveness of Presbyterian Hb in transfusion therapy with LPS-challenged sepsis mouse model. Septic wild-type mice were transfused with RBCs from Presbyterian Hb-carrying mutant mice and wild-type mice. Their survival rates were assessed, and apoptosis of hepatocytes was evaluated. Survival rates of septic Presbyterian mutant mice and the wild-type littermates were also studied.
Results:
The Presbyterian mutant RBC-transfused septic group survived longer than the wild-type RBC-transfused group. Apoptosis was reduced in the hepatocytes of the former group. Presbyterian mutant mice themselves, however, did not have stronger resistance to LPS-induced sepsis.
Conclusion:
Transfusion of low-affinity Hb-containing RBCs has beneficial effects in septic mice.
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