Protective Effects of a Novel Storage Solution on Membrane Integrity and Oxidative Stress in Erythrocytes From Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

This study aimed to evaluate the protective efficacy of a novel red blood cell (RBC) preservation solution on erythrocytes during storage, with specific focus on RBCs from Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Whole blood samples were obtained from T2DM patients and healthy donors. RBCs were isolated and stored in either the novel solution or the conventional solution. Key parameters including RBC concentration, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), red cell distribution width (RDW), and lactic acid (LA) levels were analyzed using automated hematology analyzers. Additionally, vesicles were isolated from RBCs and quantified. Cellular oxidative stress indicators, enzyme activities, and cytokines were measured using commercial kits. Furthermore, the structure and cell membrane fluctuations (CMF) of RBCs were observed and assessed using scanning electron microscope and digital holographic microscope. The study revealed that the new storage solution significantly alleviated the reduction in RBC concentration and the increase in MCV, RDW, and LA levels. Additionally, it effectively suppressed the free hemoglobin (FHb) content, hemolysis degree, and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) level in stored RBCs. The novel storage solution effectively reduced the accumulation of phosphatidylserine (PS)-exposing RBCs and the formation of vesicles within the RBCs. Furthermore, it markedly mitigated oxidative damage and decreased the proportion of abnormal RBCs in stored samples. The new storage solution played a protective role by maintaining membrane integrity and suppressing oxidative stress in stored RBCs from T2DM patients.