Changes of parathyroid hormone level and its impact on immune function in long-term apheresis platelet donors

Abstract

Objective To explore the changes of levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and its impact on the immune function in the long-term apheresis platelet donors. Methods From 7th October 2015 to 5th December 2015, a total of 30 blood donors who donated apheresis platelet in Yantai Central Blood Station of Shandong province were included in this study as research objects, and put into the study group (n=30). The study group inclusion criteria were ① donated blood were apheresis platelet; ② donate apheresis platelet for 5 years and over 10 times for each year; ③ before blood donation, the results of physical examination and blood tests of each donor were in line with Donor Health Inspection Requirements (GB18467-2011). Exclusion criteria were ①any results of physical examination and blood tests before blood donation were incompatible with Donor Health Inspection Requirements (GB18467-2011); ② donors who did not want to participate in this trial. According to gender and age, a total of 30 donors who donated whole blood for the first time in the same period were included in control group (n=30). The control group inclusion criteria were ① donated blood were whole blood; ② the first blood donation; ③ before blood donation, the results of physical examination and blood tests of each donor were in line with Donor Health Inspection Requirements (GB18467-2011). Exclusion criteria were ①any results of physical examination and blood tests before blood donation were incompatible with Donor Health Inspection Requirements (GB18467-2011); ② donors who did not want to participate in this trial. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detected the level of serum PTH and immunoglobulin (Ig) M, IgG and IgA of donors in study group before the blood supply, 1, 24 h and 7 d after blood supply, and those of control group before the blood supply. Using flow cytometry (FCM) detected CD3+ T cells absolute counts, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and CD4+ CD8+ T cells of donors in study group before blood supply, 1, 24 h and 7 d after blood supply, and those of control group before the blood supply. All these indicators mentioned above were analyzed and compared by statistical method. There were no significant differences of subjects' general features between two groups, such as age and gender ratio(P>0.05). Donors recognized the necessity of research on correlation between blood donation and health of donors, and informed consent was obtained from all participants. Results ① There were no significant differences in the levels of PTH, IgM, IgG and IgA between the study group donors and the controls before blood donation (P>0.05). Similarly compared with the control group, there were no significant differences in the absolute counts or the percentage of T cell subsets (CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and CD4+ CD8+ T cells) and the ratio of CD3+ CD4+ T cells/CD3+ CD8+ T cells at baseline. ②However, the PTH levels at 1 h after donation in the long-term apheresis platelet donors were significantly higher than both those before donation and the controls [(72.47±7.25) ng/L vs (54.70±6.59) ng/L, t=9.937, P 0.05). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the levels of IgM, IgG and IgA at 1, 24 h and 7 d after donation of the apheresis platelet donors compared with those of the control group (P>0.05). ③ There were no significant differences in the absolute counts or the percentage of T cell subsets (CD3+ T cells、CD4+ T cells、CD8+ T cells和CD4+ CD8+ T cells) as well as the ratio of CD3+ CD4+ T cells /CD3+ CD8+ T cells, compared with those of control group (P>0.05). Conclusions The levels of PTH in long-term apheresis platelet donors had short-term changes, but had no impact on the immune function, and our current apheresis platelet donation mode dose not affect the health of unpaid blood donors. Key words: Blood platelets; Blood donors; Parathyroid hormone; Immunoglobulins; T-lymphocyte subsets