Detection of apoptosis-associated microRNA in human apheresis platelets during storage by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis.

Platelet transfusion is an essential part of the treatment of a variety of conditions such as thrombocytopenia and qualitative platelet disorders. As indicated in previous reports, during in vitro storage, platelets undergo morphological and physiological changes collectively known as the platelet storage lesion. Apoptosis is a programmed process of cell death, which has been considered as an important cause of platelet storage lesion under the common storage conditions in standard blood banks. Platelets are anucleate blood cells, but contain significant amounts of microRNA (miRNA, miR), which may play an important role in the regulation of gene expression. Drawing on previously published reports on cell apoptosis, we selected 49 miRNA for analysis to explore whether miRNA are of importance during the storage of platelets.