EVALUATION RELEASE OF CYTOKINES (IL-6, IL-8, TNF) LEVELS IN STORED WHOLE BLOOD

This study was done to determine the release of cytokines (IL-6, IL-8 and TNF) in stored whole blood. Fifty (50) samples were collected from 50 subjects for the study. These comprise of 25 males and 25 females. The subjects comprise of adults aged 18-40 years with 29 years as the mean age. The study was conducted at GEM Research Laboratories. The IL-6, IL-8 and TNF were assayed respectively for all subjects on 0 day, 14th day and 35th day. The mean levels of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF were 10.68 pg/ml, 3.40 pg/ml, and 1.43 pg/ml respectively for 0 day, 7.56 pg/ml, 16.52 pg/ml, and 7.88 pg/ml respectively for 14th day, and 5.12 pg/ml, 124.24 pg/ml, and 59.08 pg/ml respectively for 35th day. Significant statistical difference (p<0.05) was observed in IL-6 and IL-8 mean levels across all groups (0/14th day, 0/35th and 14th/35th day) compared except in 0/14th where TNF mean levels showed no significant statistical difference (p>0.05). We recommend pre storage white cell reduction for whole blood and all red cell components.