Emerging functional microfluidic assays for the study of thromboinflammation in sickle cell disease
Purpose of review This review briefly summarizes the significant impact of thromboinflammation in sickle cell disease in relation to recent advances in biomarkers that are used in functional microfluidic assays. Recent findings Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited hemoglobinopathy that affects 100 000 Americans and millions worldwide. Patients with SCD exhibit chronic haemolysis, chronic inflammation and thrombosis, and vaso-occlusion, triggering various clinical complications, including organ damage and increased mortality and morbidity. Recent advances in functional microfluidic assays provide direct bi...
Source: Current Opinion in Hematology - October 16, 2022 Category: Hematology Tags: SPECIAL COMMENTARY Source Type: research

Umbilical cord blood: an undervalued and underutilized resource in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant and novel cell therapy applications
Purpose of review The purpose of this review is to primarily discuss the unwarranted decline in the use of umbilical cord blood (UCB) as a source of donor hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) for hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and the resulting important implications in addressing healthcare inequities, and secondly to highlight the incredible potential of UCB and related birthing tissues for the development of a broad range of therapies to treat human disease including but not limited to oncology, neurologic, cardiac, orthopedic and immunologic conditions. Recent findings When current best practices are fol...
Source: Current Opinion in Hematology - October 16, 2022 Category: Hematology Tags: TRANSFUSION MEDICINE AND IMMUNOHEMATOLOGY: Edited by Karina Yazdanbakhsh Source Type: research

Iron status of blood donors
Purpose of review This review examines recent research on the prevalence and importance of iron deficiency in blood donors, and on efforts to mitigate it. Recent findings Premenopausal females, teenagers, and high-frequency donors are at the highest risk for donation-induced iron deficiency, in both high-resource and low-resource settings. The physiology relating iron stores to hemoglobin levels and low hemoglobin deferral is well elucidated in blood donor populations, yet the clinical effects attributable to iron loss in the absence of anemia are challenging to identify. Expanded adoption of ferritin testing is...
Source: Current Opinion in Hematology - October 16, 2022 Category: Hematology Tags: TRANSFUSION MEDICINE AND IMMUNOHEMATOLOGY: Edited by Karina Yazdanbakhsh Source Type: research

Immunomodulatory roles of red blood cells
Purpose of the Review To discuss recent advances supporting the role of red blood cells (RBCs) in the host immune response Recent Findings Over the last century, research has demonstrated that red blood cells exhibit functions beyond oxygen transport, including immune function. Recent work indicates that the nucleic acid sensing receptor, toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9), is expressed on the RBC surface and implicated in innate immune activation and red cell clearance during inflammatory states. In addition to this DNA-sensing role of RBCs, there is growing evidence that RBCs may influence immune function by inducing...
Source: Current Opinion in Hematology - October 16, 2022 Category: Hematology Tags: TRANSFUSION MEDICINE AND IMMUNOHEMATOLOGY: Edited by Karina Yazdanbakhsh Source Type: research

Immunologic effects of red blood cell and platelet transfusions in neonates
Purpose of Review Premature neonates are frequently transfused red blood cells (RBCs) or platelets to raise hemoglobin or platelet counts. However, these transfusions may have unintended effects on the immune system. This review will summarize the newest discoveries on the immunologic effects of RBC and platelet transfusions in neonates, and their potential impact on neonatal outcomes. Recent Findings Neonatal RBC transfusions are associated with increases in plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines, but recent findings suggest sex-specific differential responses. At least one cytokine (monocyte chemoattractant protein...
Source: Current Opinion in Hematology - October 16, 2022 Category: Hematology Tags: TRANSFUSION MEDICINE AND IMMUNOHEMATOLOGY: Edited by Karina Yazdanbakhsh Source Type: research

Hyperviscosity syndromes; hemorheology for physicians and the use of microfluidic devices
Purpose of review Hyperviscosity syndromes can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Existing methods to measure microcirculatory rheology are not readily available and limited in relevance and accuracy at this level. In this review, we review selected hyperviscosity syndromes and the advancement of their knowledge using microfluidic platforms. Recent findings Viscosity changes drastically at the microvascular level as the physical properties of the cells themselves become the major determinants of resistance to blood flow. Current, outdated viscosity measurements only quantify whole blood or serum. Chang...
Source: Current Opinion in Hematology - October 16, 2022 Category: Hematology Tags: TRANSFUSION MEDICINE AND IMMUNOHEMATOLOGY: Edited by Karina Yazdanbakhsh Source Type: research

Novel blood derived hemostatic agents for bleeding therapy and prophylaxis
Purpose of review Hemorrhage is a major cause of preventable death in trauma and cancer. Trauma induced coagulopathy and cancer-associated endotheliopathy remain major therapeutic challenges. Early, aggressive administration of blood-derived products with hypothesized increased clotting potency has been proposed. A series of early- and late-phase clinical trials testing the safety and/or efficacy of lyophilized plasma and new forms of platelet products in humans have provided light on the future of alternative blood component therapies. This review intends to contextualize and provide a critical review of the informati...
Source: Current Opinion in Hematology - October 16, 2022 Category: Hematology Tags: TRANSFUSION MEDICINE AND IMMUNOHEMATOLOGY: Edited by Karina Yazdanbakhsh Source Type: research

Global perspectives on cellular therapy for children with sickle cell disease
Purpose of review Low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), primarily in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), predominantly experience the burden of sickle cell disease (SCD). High frequency of acute and chronic complications leads to increased utilization of healthcare, which burdens fragile health systems. Mortality for children with limited healthcare access remains alarmingly high. Cellular based therapies such as allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) are increasingly used in resource-rich settings as curative therapy for SCD. Broad access to curative therapies for SCD in SSA would dramatically alter the ...
Source: Current Opinion in Hematology - October 16, 2022 Category: Hematology Tags: HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION: Edited by Christine Duncan Source Type: research

Editorial introductions
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Hematology)
Source: Current Opinion in Hematology - October 16, 2022 Category: Hematology Tags: EDITORIAL INTRODUCTIONS Source Type: research

Measurement of tissue factor-positive extracellular vesicles in plasma: strengths and weaknesses of current methods
Purpose of review This review evaluates the different methods used to measure levels of tissue factor (TF) in plasma and on extracellular vesicles (EVs). Levels of TF-positive (TF+) EVs in blood are increased in a variety of diseases, such as cancer, sepsis, and viral infection, and are associated with thrombosis. Highly sensitive assays are required to measure the low levels of TF+ EVs in blood. Recent findings TF antigen levels in plasma have been measured using standard ELISAs, SimpleStep ELISA technology, and solid-phase proximity ligation assay. Some studies reported the detection of TF+ EVs in plasma by fl...
Source: Current Opinion in Hematology - August 11, 2022 Category: Hematology Tags: HEMOSTASIS AND THROMBOSIS: Edited by Evi X. Stavrou Source Type: research

Complement contributions to COVID-19
Purpose of review COVID-19 remains a major source of concern, particularly as new variants emerge and with recognition that patients may suffer long-term effects. Mechanisms underlying SARS-CoV-2 mediated organ damage and the associated vascular endotheliopathy remain poorly understood, hindering new drug development. Here, we highlight selected key concepts of how the complement system, a major component of innate immunity that is dysregulated in COVID-19, participates in the thromboinflammatory response and drives the vascular endotheliopathy. Recent findings Recent studies have revealed mechanisms by which co...
Source: Current Opinion in Hematology - August 11, 2022 Category: Hematology Tags: HEMOSTASIS AND THROMBOSIS: Edited by Evi X. Stavrou Source Type: research

The protein C pathways
Purpose of review To provide an overview of the state-of-the-art in protein C (PC) pathway research. Recent findings The PC pathway is crucial for maintaining hemostasis to prevent venous thromboembolism. This is evident from genetic mutations that result in impaired PC pathway activity and contribute to increased venous thromboembolism risk in affected individuals. In addition to its anticoagulant role, activated PC (APC) also mediates a complex, pleiotropic role in the maintenance of vascular cell health, which it achieves via anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic cell signaling on endothelial cells. Emerging da...
Source: Current Opinion in Hematology - August 11, 2022 Category: Hematology Tags: HEMOSTASIS AND THROMBOSIS: Edited by Evi X. Stavrou Source Type: research

Fibrin structure, viscoelasticity and lysis face the interplay of biorelevant polyions
Purpose of review In the past 5 decades, heparins have been widely used as anticoagulants in the prevention and treatment of thrombosis. Subsequent development of heparin variants of various size and charge facilitated the discovery of their multiple biological actions and nonanticoagulant benefits. Platelet-derived or microbial polyphosphates, as well as DNA released in the course of neutrophil extracellular trap-formation are additional polyanions, which can modulate the development and stability of thrombi associated with cancer or inflammation. In this review, we focus on the size-dependent and electric charge-depe...
Source: Current Opinion in Hematology - August 11, 2022 Category: Hematology Tags: HEMOSTASIS AND THROMBOSIS: Edited by Evi X. Stavrou Source Type: research

Recent advances in factor XII structure and function
Purpose of review Factor XII (FXII), the precursor of the protease FXIIa, contributes to pathologic processes including angioedema and thrombosis. Here, we review recent work on structure-function relationships for FXII based on studies using recombinant FXII variants. Recent findings FXII is a homolog of pro-hepatocyte growth factor activator (Pro-HGFA). We prepared FXII in which domains are replaced by corresponding parts of Pro-HGA, and tested them in FXII activation and activity assays. In solution, FXII and prekallikrein undergo reciprocal activation to FXIIa and kallikrein. The rate of this process is rest...
Source: Current Opinion in Hematology - August 11, 2022 Category: Hematology Tags: HEMOSTASIS AND THROMBOSIS: Edited by Evi X. Stavrou Source Type: research

Editorial introduction
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Hematology)
Source: Current Opinion in Hematology - August 11, 2022 Category: Hematology Tags: EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION Source Type: research