Non-polar lipids accumulate during storage of transfusion products and do not contribute to the onset of transfusion-related acute lung injury.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The accumulation of non-polar lipids arachidonic acid, 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE), 12-HETE and 15-HETE during storage of transfusion products may play a role in the onset of transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), a syndrome of respiratory distress after transfusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated non-polar lipid accumulation in red blood cells (RBCs) stored for 42 days, plasma stored for 7 days at either 4 or 20°C and platelet (PLT) transfusion products stored for 7 days. Furthermore, we investigated whether transfusion of RBCs with increased levels of non-polar lipids induces TRALI in a 'two-hit' human volunteer model. All products were produced following Dutch Blood Bank protocols and are according to European standards. Non-polar lipids were measured with high-performance liquid chromotography followed by mass spectrometry. RESULTS: All non-polar lipids increased in RBCs after 21 days of storage compared to baseline. The non-polar lipid concentration in plasma increased significantly, and the increase was even more pronounced in products stored at 20°C. In platelets, baseline levels of 5-HETE and 15-HETE were higher than in RBCs or plasma. However, the non-polar lipids did not change significantly during storage of PLT products. Infusion of RBCs with increased levels of non-polar lipids did not induce TRALI in LPS-primed human volunteers. CONCLUSION: We conclude that non-polar lipids accumulate in RBC and plasma transfusion products and that accumulation is temperature dependent. Accumulation of non-polar lipids does not appear to explain the onset of TRALI (Dutch Trial Register - NTR4455).

A new derivatization reagent for LC-MS/MS screening of potential genotoxic alkylation compounds.

A screening method for trace analysis of potentially genotoxic alkylating compounds has been developed using butyl 1-(pyridin-4-yl) piperidine 4-carboxylate (BPPC) as a new, selective pre-column derivatization reagent for their subsequent analysis by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) hyphenated with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The new derivatization reagent is a modification of 4-dimethylaminopyridine (4-DMAP) previously used for the determination of potentially genotoxic compounds. By using the new reagent the screening potential was enhanced without compromising reactivity. Derivatization at a high pH value was carried out and the reaction time at 60°C was 24h to anticipate for alkyl chlorides showing to be less reactive. The new reagent was designed to obtain reagent related fragmentation of the whole reagent as well as a side group of the reagent. Collision energies for detection of alkylating components derivatized using the new reagent are shown to be significantly more universal than with 4-DMAP. Neutral loss scanning on the fragmentation related to the build in side group remedies shortcomings in the screening for alkyl halides observed when using 4-DMAP. The new approach allows for screening of alkyl halides and alkyl sulfonates at trace levels down to 1 mg kg(-1) and target analysis at about a factor of 10 lower without a significant effect of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) matrix. The synthesis of the reagent, investigation of reactivity, the specificity of the fragmentation of derivatives and screening conditions in MS/MS analysis are described.