Introducing a dexamethasone mouse model for monitoring in vivo viability of stored human platelets

Objectives: The aim of this study is to establish an available animal model which can evaluate in vivo viability of stored human platelets (HuPLTs).

Background: The viability in vivo of HuPLTs was usually evaluated by transfusing HuPLTs into animals before clinical trials. It is necessary to develop a method which may slow down rapid clearance of HuPLTs from circulation of the animal.

Methods: Carbon clearance tests were performed by treating mice with dexamethasone (DEX) to determine the phagocytic ability of the mice macrophages. HuPLTs in mice whole blood were detected by flow cytometric analysis with mouse anti-human CD41-fluorescein isothiocyanate monoclonal antibody. Recovery and survival of the HuPLTs stored at 22 °C for 1 day were evaluated after transfusing these HuPLTs into DEX-treated mice, and compared with those either stored at 22 °C for 5 days or at 4 °C for 1 day.

Results: Corrected phagocytic indexes of DEX-treated mice decreased significantly compared with those of control mice (P < 0.05). The recovery after 24 h and survival time of fresh HuPLTs in DEX-treated mice were much higher than those in control mice (P < 0.01). After transfused into the DEX-treated mice, HuPLTs stored either at 22 °C for 5 days or at 4 °C for 1 day showed decrease in recovery and survival compared with those stored at 22 °C for 1 day (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Dexamethasone slows down the rate of HuPLTs clearance efficiently in mouse circulation. And the DEX-treated mouse model was able to evaluate the in vivo viability of stored HuPLTs.