Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder with a complex pathogenesis that appears to be caused by either platelet destruction mediated by autoantibodies or by cytotoxic T-cells.
While platelet transfusions are commonly used for many patients with thrombocytopenia, transfusions are not currently recommended for patients with ITP because of the potential for triggering adverse immune responses. Using a novel murine model mimicking both autoantibody and T-cell mediated ITP, Guo et al reported in the journal Blood that anti-platelet specific T-cell mediated immune responses can induce ITP in a severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mouse model. Furthermore, allogeneic platelet transfusions can rescue anti-platelet T-cell mediated ITP in SCID mice. Allogeneic platelet transfusions also normalized megakaryocytes and inhibited in vitro T-cell mediated cytotoxicity. These results suggest that platelet transfusions may be beneficial to those ITP patients who are anti-platelet antibody-negative with T-cell mediated ITP.
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