The evaluation of apoptosis and reactive oxygen species in hematopoietic cells derived from heparinized cadaveric organ donors stored short-term at 4 degrees C.

Heparinized cadaveric organ donors are an important source of human organs and potentially of hematopoietic cells for transplantation purposes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the kinetics of programmed cell death in the hematopoietic cells harvested from these individuals and stored short-term at 4 degrees C. We also attempted to assess hematopoietic cell oxidation by measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by the mitochondria of stored cells. We found that these bone marrow cells harvested and stored at 4 degrees C for 7 days did not display a significant increase in programmed cell death. However, prolonged storage resulted in lower ROS production, indirectly giving evidence of activation of intracellular signaling proteins.