Ontogenesis of functional platelet subpopulations from preterm and term neonates to adulthood: The PLINIUS study

Advances in Platelet-Dysfunction Diagnostic Technologies

The crucial role of platelets in hemostasis and their broad implications under various physiological conditions underscore the importance of accurate platelet-function testing. Platelets are key to clotting blood and healing wounds. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and management of platelet disorders are vital for patient care. This review outlines the significant advancements in platelet-function testing technologies, focusing on their working principles and the shift from traditional diagnostic methods to more innovative approaches. These improvements have deepened our understanding of platelet-related disorders and ushered in personalized treatment options. Despite challenges such as interpretation of complex data and the costs of new technologies, the potential for artificial-intelligence integration and the creation of wearable monitoring devices offers exciting future possibilities. This review underscores how these technological advances have enhanced the landscape of precision medicine and provided better diagnostic and treatment options for platelet-function disorders.

Quantitative label-free mass spectrometry reveals content and signaling differences between neonatal and adult platelets

BACKGROUND

Recent clinical studies have shown that transfusions of adult platelets increase morbidity and mortality in preterm infants. Neonatal platelets are hyporesponsive to agonist stimulation, and emerging evidence suggests developmental differences in platelet immune functions.

OBJECTIVES

This study was designed to compare the proteome and phosphoproteome of resting adult and neonatal platelets.

METHODS

We isolated resting umbilical cord blood-derived platelets from healthy full-term neonates (n = 8) and resting blood platelets from healthy adults (n = 6) and compared protein and phosphoprotein contents using data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

We identified 4770 platelet proteins with high confidence across all samples. Adult and neonatal platelets were clustered separately by principal component analysis. Adult platelets were significantly enriched in immunomodulatory proteins, including β2 microglobulin and CXCL12, whereas neonatal platelets were enriched in ribosomal components and proteins involved in metabolic activities. Adult platelets were enriched in phosphorylated GTPase regulatory enzymes and proteins participating in trafficking, which may help prime them for activation and degranulation. Neonatal platelets were enriched in phosphorylated proteins involved in insulin growth factor signaling.

CONCLUSION

Using label-free data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry, our findings expanded the known neonatal platelet proteome and identified important differences in protein content and phosphorylation between neonatal and adult platelets. These developmental differences suggested enhanced immune functions for adult platelets and presence of molecular machinery related to platelet activation. These findings are important to understanding mechanisms underlying key platelet functions as well as the harmful effects of adult platelet transfusions given to preterm infants.

Phosphoproteomics reveals content and signaling differences between neonatal and adult platelets

Background and Objective

Recent clinical studies have shown that transfusions of adult platelets increase morbidity and mortality in preterm infants. Neonatal platelets are hyporesponsive to agonist stimulation, and emerging evidence suggests developmental differences in platelet immune functions. This study was designed to compare the proteome and phosphoproteome of resting adult and neonatal platelets.

Methods

We isolated resting umbilical cord blood-derived platelets from healthy full term neonates (n=9) and resting blood platelets from healthy adults (n=7), and compared protein and phosphoprotein contents using data independent acquisition mass spectrometry.

Results

We identified 4745 platelet proteins with high confidence across all samples. Adult and neonatal platelets clustered separately by principal component analysis. Adult platelets were significantly enriched for immunomodulatory proteins, including β2 microglobulin and CXCL12, whereas neonatal platelets were enriched for ribosomal components and proteins involved in metabolic activities. Adult platelets were enriched for phosphorylated GTPase regulatory enzymes and proteins participating in trafficking, which may help prime them for activation and degranulation. Neonatal platelets were enriched for phosphorylated proteins involved in insulin growth factor signaling.

Conclusions

Using state-of-the-art mass spectrometry, our findings expanded the known neonatal platelet proteome and identified important differences in protein content and phosphorylation compared with adult platelets. These developmental differences suggested enhanced immune functions for adult platelets and presence of a molecular machinery related to platelet activation. These findings are important to understanding mechanisms underlying key platelet functions as well as the harmful effects of adult platelet transfusions given to preterm infants.