Effect of Gamma Irradiation on Lymphocyte Proliferation and IL-8 Production by Lymphocytes Isolated from Platelet Concentrates

Background: Gamma-irradiation of platelet concentrates may inactive contaminated lymphocytes and subsequently inhibit the synthesis of cytokine in platelet during storage. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of gamma-irradiation on the production of IL-8 and lymphocyte proliferation isolated from random donor platelet concentrates during 3-day storage.

Methods: In this study, we evaluated the effect of gamma-irradiation on both lymphocyte proliferative response and IL-8 production for 29 random donor platelet concentrates (RD-PCs). All PCs were prepared from single RD by platelet-rich plasma (PRP) method were divided in two groups: 1) non-irradiated RD-PCs (n = 13) and 2) irradiated RD-PCs (n = 16). The RD-PCs were treated by gamma-irradiation (30 Gy) on days 0 and 3.

Results: IL-8 increased in both groups after 3 days. It showed increase in concentration of IL-8 in irradiated and non-irradiated PCs during storage. Results of lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) indicated that the proliferation activity of lymphocyte was inhibited by gamma radiation.

Conclusions: These data indicate that gamma irradiation inhibits proliferation of lymphocyte but does not inhibit production and accumulation of IL-8 during the storage of PCs.