Different Immune Responses in Dangerous O Blood Donors

Dangerous O is very important to transfusion medicine and there has been reports by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding some death relating incidences. As high iso-antibody production is closely associated with different immune reactions, a survey on the different immune response of dangerous O donors can lead to understanding their immune response profile. Objectives were to assess different immune responses in dangerous O cases.

Two groups of donors were selected after performing titration as a high titer (>512) and non-high titer (<128). Then CBC, CD markers, total immunoglobulin, complement assay, anti-VZV, -CMV, -EBV, -HSV, -Rubella, -Toxoplasma gondii, -HBV, -ASO, total protein and albumin, protein electrophoresis, lymphocyte proliferation, and gene expression of INF-gamma, IL2/4/10 were evaluated on both study groups.

Total IgG, IgM, and IgA was higher in high titer group. Moreover, after using PHA and LPS, gamma globulins and lymphocyte proliferation were significantly higher in high titer cases. Real-time PCR also showed higher IL-2 production in high titer group. Identification of high responder’s characteristics can be efficient in many complications. Moreover, high titer donors are dangerous for transfusion medicine. This pilot study showed differences in immune responses between HR and LR O blood donors for the first time. So, other aspects of the immune system such as genetic differences can be surveyed.