Minipool Caprylic Acid Fractionation of Plasma Using Disposable Equipment: A Practical Method to Enhance Immunoglobulin Supply in Developing Countries

Plasma-derived immunoglobulin G (IgG) is on WHO’s Essential Medicines List, yet developing countries face severe shortages of this critical treatment. Infusion of IgG prepared from locally-collected plasma provides an advantageous mix of antibodies to viral and bacterial pathogens found in the living environment, and this can reduce recurrent infections in immune-deficient patients. We developed a simple manufacturing process using disposable equipment (blood bags, hemodialyzer, and filters) to isolate immunoglobulins from minipools of 20 plasma donations. This process yields a ca. 90% pure virally-inactivated immunoglobulin fraction at 50–60% recovery. Anti-hepatitis B and anti-rubella immunoglobulins were enriched fourfold to sixfold. The product was free of in-vitro thrombogenic and proteolytic activity, confirming its expected clinical safety profile. Virus validations showed caprylic acid treatment robustly inactivated or removed infectivity of lipid-enveloped viruses, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus model. This simple and cost-effective process is implemented in Egypt to prepare experimental batches for clinical evaluation. It can enhance immunoglobulin supplies to treat immunodeficient patients through passive transmission of antibodies directed against local pathogens. The method requires minimal training and reasonable infrastructure, and is a practical means to prepare convalescent hyperimmune IgG during infectious outbreaks such as the current Ebola episode.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto Clodomiro Picado (ICP)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Salud::Facultad de Microbiologí

Impact of Transfusion on Cancer Growth and Outcome

For many years, transfusion of allogeneic red blood cells, platelet concentrates, and plasma units has been part of the standard therapeutic arsenal used along the surgical and nonsurgical treatment of patients with malignancies. Although the benefits of these blood products are not a matter of debate in specific pathological conditions associated with life-threatening low blood cell counts or bleeding, increasing clinical evidence is nevertheless suggesting that deliberate transfusion of these blood components may actually lead to negative clinical outcomes by affecting patient's immune defense, stimulating tumor growth, tethering, and dissemination. Rigorous preclinical and clinical studies are needed to dimension the clinical relevance, benefits, and risks of transfusion of blood components in cancer patients and understand the amplitude of problems. There is also a need to consider validating preparation methods of blood components for so far ignored biological markers, such as microparticles and biological response modifiers. Meanwhile, blood component transfusions should be regarded as a personalized medicine, taking into careful consideration the status and specificities of the patient, rather than as a routine hospital procedure

MiR-29a promotes lipid droplet and triglyceride formation in HCV infection by inducing expression of SREBP-1c and CAV1

Aims: To examine the regulation of SREBP-1c and CAV1 by microRNA-29a (miR-29a) in cells infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in an attempt to control HCV-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Methods: In order to examine the manipulation of SREBP-1c and CAV1 by miR-29a, oleic acid (OA)-treated JFH-I-infected Huh-7 cells were used. OA was added 24 h post-transfection and gene expression was investigated by qRT-PCR at 48 h post treatment. The functional impact of the observed alteration in SREBP-1c and CAV1 expression was analyzed by examining lipid droplet (LD) and triglyceride (TG) content at 72 h post-OA treatment using light microscopy and spectrophotometry, respectively. Viral load was quantified by qRT-PCR at 72 h post-transfection. Results: OA treatment induced the expression of miR-29a and SREBP-1c, as compared to untreated cells. Forced miR-29a expression led to a significant up-regulation of SREBP-1c as well as CAV1 compared to mock untransfected cells. Ectopic expression of miR-29a resulted in a marked increase in LDs and their respective TGs, while miR-29a antagomirs decreased both the LD and TG content compared to mock untransfected cells. Moreover, forcing the expression of miR-29a in JFH-1 HCV-infected Huh-7 cells resulted in 53% reduction in viral titers compared to mock untransfected Huh-7 cells. Conclusion: Inducing miR-29a expression significantly induces SREBP-1c and CAV1 expression, thereby increasing LDs as well as their respective TGs. Nonetheless, forcing the expression of miR-29a resulted in reduction of HCV RNA levels in Huh-7 cells

Properties and specifications (or range) of the IgG-enriched plasma fraction.

<p>* N = 10;</p><p>** N = 5 (consecutive batches)</p><p>Properties and specifications (or range) of the IgG-enriched plasma fraction.</p

Percent increase in body weight of rats (3 groups of 7 rats) treated with saline, commercial IgG, or minipool IgG.

<p>Percent increase in body weight of rats (3 groups of 7 rats) treated with saline, commercial IgG, or minipool IgG.</p

Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

<p>Patterns of 10 consecutive batches of minipool IgG-enriched plasma fractions (Minipool IgG batches B1 to B10) and control IgG (C) under non-reducing (A) or reducing (B) conditions. Control: control IgG; IgG: immunoglobulin G; Alb: albumin. MW: molecular weight markers (kDa).</p

Log removal factors of HIV-1, BVDV, and PRV during caprylic acid treatment (duplicate experiments).

<p>*Viral titers are expressed as TCID₅₀/mL.</p><p>**Infectious titers at the non-interfering dilution after large volume titration.</p><p>Log removal factors of HIV-1, BVDV, and PRV during caprylic acid treatment (duplicate experiments).</p

Zone electrophoresis.

<p>A: Patterns of 5 consecutive batches of minipool IgG-enriched plasma fractions (Minipool IgG batches B1 to B5) and control IgG (C) showing the separation between albumin (Alb) and alpha-1 (α-1), alpha-2 (α-2), bêta- (β) and gamma- (γ) proteins. B: densitographic analysis showing the percentage (%) of albumin, alpha-1, alpha-2, bêta, and gamma proteins in 5 batches (B1–B5) of minipool IgG. Control: control IgG.</p