Diversity in Storage Abnormalities on Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecules (VCAM-1), Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and P-selectin (SELP) in CPDA-1-Whole Blood Containing Specific ABO Antigens

Abstract

Background: Blood storage is associated with progressive biochemical and cellular changes that may alter the concentrations of soluble adhesion molecules. Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and P-selectin (SELP) are important mediators of inflammation and endothelial function, but data on their stability in CPDA-1-stored whole blood remain scarce in the local setting. Aim: This study assessed storage-related changes in vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and P-selectin across ABO blood groups. All donors were screened and confirmed negative for human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and syphilis before blood collection. Whole blood was collected into Citrate Phosphate Dextrose Adenine-1 (CPDA-1) blood bags and stored under standard blood bank conditions. Serum concentrations of VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and P-selectin were determined on Days 1, 8, 15 and 22 of storage using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Serum concentrations of VCAM-1, P-selectin, and ICAM-1 declined progressively during storage. Significant reductions were observed from Day 1 through Day 22 for all three adhesion molecules (p < 0.001). Across the ABO blood groups, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 concentrations were highest in blood group A and lowest in blood group O, whereas P-selectin concentrations were highest in blood group AB and lowest in blood group O. Correlation analysis demonstrated a weak, non-significant positive relationship between VCAM-1 and P-selectin (r = 0.294, p = 0.208), whereas VCAM-1 showed a strong and statistically significant positive correlation with ICAM-1 (r = 0.888, p = 0.001). Conclusion: These results suggest that prolonged storage of whole blood reduces key adhesion molecules, potentially affecting the functional and haemostatic properties of stored blood and possibly influencing its clinical efficacy and inflammatory response upon transfusion.