Background

Sex hormone intake in blood donors may affect the quality of red blood cell (RBC) products via modulation of RBC function and predisposition to haemolysis during cold storage. The aims of this study were to evaluate the association between female sex hormone intake and RBC storage outcomes, and to examine possible mechanisms by which sex hormones interact with RBCs.

Materials and methods

Sex hormone intake by race/ethnicity and menopausal status, and association analyses between hormone intake and donor scores of storage, osmotic or oxidative haemolysis, were evaluated in 6,636 female donors who participated in the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s RBC-Omics study. A calcium fluorophore, Fluo-3AM, was used to define RBC calcium influx in response to exogenous sex hormones or transient receptor potential cation (TRPC) channel drugs.

Results

Sex hormone intake was more prevalent in premenopausal women from all racial groups (18–31%) than in postmenopausal women (4–8%). Hormone intake was significantly (p< 0.0001) associated with reduced storage haemolysis in all females, reduced osmotic haemolysis in postmenopausal donors (23.1±10.2% vs 26.8±12.0% in controls, p< 0.001), and enhanced susceptibility to oxidative haemolysis in premenopausal women. In vitro, supraphysiological levels of progesterone (10 μmol/L), but not 17β-oestradiol or testosterone, inhibited calcium influx into RBC and was associated with lower spontaneous haemolysis after 30 days of cold storage (0.95±0.18% vs 1.85±0.35% in controls, p< 0.0001) or in response to a TRPC6 activator.

Conclusions

Sex hormone intake in female donors is associated with changes in RBC predisposition to haemolysis. Menstrual status and the type of hormone preparation may contribute to differences in haemolytic responses of female RBCs to osmotic and oxidative stress. Progesterone modulates calcium influx into RBC via a mechanism that may involve interactions with membrane TRPC6 channels.