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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
Measurement of T Cell Alloreactivity Using Imaging Flow Cytometry
Published on: April 19, 2017
In vitro study of immunologic changes in long-term cytapheresis donors
C R Prior1, P J Coghlan, J M Hall
1Natal Blood Transfusion Service, Durban, South Africa.
Insights
Long-term cytapheresis donors showed altered immune cell counts, specifically reduced T-helper cells, impacting the T-cell balance. Further monitoring is needed to understand these immune function changes in apheresis donors.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Transfusion Medicine
Background:
- Cytapheresis is a common procedure for blood component collection.
- The long-term effects of cytapheresis on immune function require thorough investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To retrospectively compare in vitro immune function measurements between active long-term cytapheresis donors and whole blood donors.
- To identify specific immune cell count alterations in cytapheresis donors.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of immune function tests.
- Comparison of cytapheresis donors (n=50) with age- and sex-matched whole blood donors (n=50).
- Measurement of lymphocyte counts, T-cell subsets, and B-cell counts.
Main Results:
- Cytapheresis donors exhibited significantly lower mean absolute lymphocyte counts, total T-cells, and T-helper cells.
- An imbalanced helper-to-suppressor T-cell ratio was observed in cytapheresis donors.
- No significant differences were found in B-cell counts, T-suppressor numbers, lymphocyte responsiveness, or immunoglobulin levels.
Conclusions:
- Long-term cytapheresis donation is associated with specific alterations in T-cell subsets, particularly T-helper cells.
- The observed immune disturbances are currently unexplained and warrant continuous monitoring of cytapheresis donors.
- Further research is needed to determine if these immune defects are reversible and over what timeframe.
Abstract:
Several in vitro measurements of immune function were examined retrospectively in a population of active long-term cytapheresis donors (group I; n = 50) and the results were compared to age- and sex-matched controls (group II; n = 50) who had donated only whole blood. In group I, significantly different mean absolute lymphocyte counts (P = .0025), total T-cells (P = .0026) and T-helper cells (P less than .0001), and helper-to-suppressor ratios (P = .0279) were present. No differences were noted between the two groups for peripheral blood mean B-cell count, T-suppressor numbers, lymphocyte responsiveness to mitogens or alloantigen, and serum immunoglobulin level. The reduced mean absolute lymphocyte count in group I was due to the reduction in T-helper cell numbers and accounted for the imbalance in the helper-to-suppressor ratio. These disturbances are currently unexplained and, while no clinical consequences have so far become evident, there is a need to continuously monitor the immunologic status of cytapheresis donors. It is also important to determine whether reversal of the defects occurs and, if so, over what time interval.
