ABSTRACT
Background: Blood product in therapeutic transfusion are now commonly acknowledged to present biologically active constituents during processes of preparation. In the midst of worldwide COVI-19 pandemic, preliminary evidence, suggest that convalescent plasma may lessen the severity of COVID-19, particularly concerning patients with profound B-cell lymphopenia and prolonged COVID-19 symptoms. Aim(s): This study examined the influence of photochemical pathogen reduction treatment (PRT) using amotosalen-HCl and UVA light vs untreated control convalescent plasma (n = 72 -paired samples) -cFFP. Method(s): This study investigated the soluble inflammatory factors: SCD40L, IFN-alpha, IFN-beta, IFN-gamma, IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18, TNF-alpha and ex-vivo inflammatory bioactivity on endothelial cells. Result(s): We observed that IL-8 concentrations were significantly decreased in cFFP w PRT, whereas IL-18 concentration was increased. We observed after activation with cFFP w PRT and w/o PRT no significant modulation of IL-6 released by endothelial cells. CD54 and CD31 expression in the presence of cFFP (w or w/o PRT) is close to negative controls, even if CD54 and CD31 were significant decreased in presence of cFFP w vs w/o PRT. Conclusion(s): It appears valuable to carry on investigations, of IL-18 and IL-8, on both the physiopathology of PRT convalescent plasma treated and post marketing clinical trials. Further research, including a careful clinical evaluation of CCP-treated patients, will be required to further define the clinical relevance of these findings.