Red Blood Cell Transfusion is a Non-Canonical Immune Stimulus Characterized by the Suboptimal Induction of CD4+ T Cell Help
Jelena Medved, Abhinav Arneja, Neha Shah, Benjamin N. Hester, Emily D. Burnett, Alexis R. Boscia, Tamara C. Moscovich, Whitney Rose Swain, Aditi S. Kodali, Arwen Chandler, Gunnhildur A. Thorkelsdottir, Catherine J. W. Schwartzschild, Rachel J. Muppidi, Iman Cherkaoui, Jessica M. Strand, , Chance John Luckey
This study shows that RBC transfusion induces weak IgG class switching compared to vaccination, due to suboptimal T cell help, and activates T cells via a non-canonical pathway.
bioRxiv · Jun 26, 2025 · PreprintImmunology