Cold storage conditions modify microRNA expressions for platelet transfusion

Expression of microRNAs during apheresis platelet storage up to day 14 in a blood bank in China

BACKGROUND

Storage affects platelet microRNAs (miRNAs); discussing miRNA expression differences in apheresis platelets after varied storage periods is important for developing platelet quality measurement tools and identifying platelet storage lesion biomarkers. To our knowledge, the difference of MicroRNA expression profile in up to 14-day storage apheresis platelets has less relevant reports.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Apheresis platelet bags from three donors were collected, divided into six groups, and stored for 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 14 days. miRNA expression was determined using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Differentially expressed miRNAs were screened using RNA sequencing.

RESULTS

MiRNA expression profiles showed that the six treatment groups generally highly expressed hsa-let-7 family, hsa-miR-26a-5p, hsa-miR-92a-3p, hsa-miR-199, and hsa-miR-103a-3p. A total of 15 miRNAs in the top 10 known miRNAs of the six groups were highly expressed. Time series analyses for the trend classification of 944 differentially expressed miRNAs indicated 43 genes with 14 trend changes. Hsa-miR-223-3p, hsa-miR-181a-5p, hsa-miR-4433b-5p, hsa-miR-22-3p, and hsa-miR-30c-5p were selected, and the qRT-PCR results also showed that they were significantly reduced under standard blood bank condition.

DISCUSSION

Expression of microRNAs lays the foundation for further research on apheresis platelet storage lesions. Based on our results from information analysis and miRNA target gene prediction, we suggest hsa-miR-30c-5p as a biomarker of the quality and viability of apheresis platelets during storage in blood banks.

The Missing Pieces to the Cold-Stored Platelet Puzzle

Cold-stored platelets are making a comeback. They were abandoned in the late 1960s in favor of room-temperature stored platelets due to the need for longer post-transfusion platelet recoverability and survivability in patients with chronic thrombocytopenia. However, the current needs for platelet transfusions are rapidly changing. Today, more platelets are given to patients who are actively bleeding, such as ones receiving cardiac surgeries. It has been established that cold-stored platelets are more hemostatically effective, have reduced bacterial growth, and have longer potential shelf lives. These compelling characteristics led to the recent interest in bringing back cold-stored platelets to the blood systems. However, before reinstating cold-stored platelets in the clinics again, a thorough investigation of in vitro storage characteristics and in vivo transfusion effects is required. This review aims to provide an update on the recent research efforts into the storage characteristics and functions of cold-stored platelets using modern investigative tools. We will also discuss efforts made to improve cold-stored platelets to be a better and safer product. Finally, we will finish off with discussing the relevance of in vitro data to in vivo transfusion results and provide insights and directions for future investigations of cold-stored platelets.

Potentials of MicroRNA in Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer by Analytical Electrical Biosensors

The importance of nanotechnology in medical applications especially with biomedical sensing devices is undoubted. Several medical diagnostics have been developed by taking the advantage of nanomaterials, especially with electrical biosensors. Biosensors have been predominantly used for the quantification of different clinical biomarkers toward detection, screening, and follow-up the treatment. At present, ovarian cancer is one of the severe complications that cannot be identified until it becomes most dangerous as the advanced stage. Based on the American Cancer Society, 20% of cases involved in the detection of ovarian cancer are diagnosed at an early stage and 80% diagnosed at the later stages. The patient just has a common digestive problem and stomach ache as early symptoms and people used to ignore these symptoms. Micro ribonucleic acid (miRNA) is classified as small non-coding RNAs, their expressions change due to the association of cancer development and progression. This article reviews and discusses on the currently available strategies for the early detection of ovarian cancers using miRNA as a biomarker associated with electrical biosensors. A unique miRNA-based biomarker detections are specially highlighted with biosensor platforms to diagnose ovarian cancer.

Analysis of changes in the expression pattern of miR-326 and miR-145 during storage of platelet concentrate in blood bank condition and its relationship with some markers of platelet quality

Platelet concentrates (PC) are affected by biochemical, morphological and functional changes during storage that are named platelet storage lesion (PSL) can decrease the survival and quality of platelets. The potential role and importance of the microRNAs in diagnosis of this process could be remarkable. The aim of this study was to determine miR-145 and miR-326 associated with apoptosis during PC storage. Ten PC prepared by platelet-rich plasma method were selected by simple random sampling in Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization. The expression pattern of miR-326 and miR-145 during PC storage for 7 days was determined by quantitative Real-time RT-PCR, and then the relationship between expression levels of both microRNAs and some PC quality markers was investigated. Glucose concentration, cell viability, platelet count and aggregation during storage showed a significant decrease compared to day zero (P < 0.05). Reduction of these variables showed a direct correlation with a significant decreasing trend in expression level of miR-145 (r = 0.94, 0.98, 0.96 and r = 0.99, P = 0.01). Lactate dehydrogenase activity showed a significant increase during platelet storage compared to day zero (P < 0.05), which was directly correlated with increased expression of miR-326 (r = 0.97, P = 0.01). Changes in the expression pattern of miR-326 and miR-145 along with biochemical markers, all indicate a decrease in platelet quality during 7 days of storage. Due to the significant correlation between the expression changes of miR-326 and miR-145 with PC quality markers, it seems both of these microRNAs can be considered as remarkable markers for early diagnosis of the PC quality during storage.

Peripheral blood microRNAs and the COVID-19 patient: methodological considerations, technical challenges and practice points

The COVID-19 emergency pandemic resulting from infection with SARS-CoV-2 represents a major threat to public health worldwide. There is an urgent clinical demand for easily accessible tools to address weaknesses and gaps in the management of COVID-19 patients. In this context, transcriptomic profiling of liquid biopsies, especially microRNAs (miRNAs), has recently emerged as a robust source of potential clinical indicators for medical decision-making. Nevertheless, the analysis of the circulating miRNA signature and its translation to clinical practice requires strict control of a wide array of methodological details. In this review, we indicate the main methodological aspects that should be addressed when evaluating the circulating miRNA profiles in COVID-19 patients, from preanalytical and analytical variables to the experimental design, impact of confounding, analysis of the data and interpretation of the findings, among others. Additionally, we provide practice points to ensure the rigour and reproducibility of miRNA-based biomarker investigations of this condition.Abbreviations: ACE: angiotensin-converting enzyme; ARDS: acute respiratory distress syndrome; COVID-19: coronavirus disease 2019; ERDN: early Detection Research Network; LMWH: low molecular weight heparin; miRNA: microRNA; ncRNA: noncoding RNA; SARS-CoV-2: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2; SOP: standard operating procedure.

Intelligent Platelet Morphometry

Technological advances in image-based platelet analysis or platelet morphometry are critical for a better understanding of the structure and function of platelets in biological research as well as for the development of better clinical strategies in medical practice. Recently, the advent of high-throughput optical imaging and deep learning has boosted platelet morphometry to the next level by providing a new set of capabilities beyond what is achievable with traditional platelet morphometry, shedding light on the unexplored domain of platelet analysis. This Opinion article introduces emerging opportunities in 'intelligent' platelet morphometry, which are expected to pave the way for a new class of diagnostics, pharmacometrics, and therapeutics.

Computational Identification and Characterization of New microRNAs in Human Platelets Stored in a Blood Bank

Platelet concentrate (PC) transfusions are widely used to save the lives of patients who experience acute blood loss. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) comprise a class of molecules with a biological role which is relevant to the understanding of storage lesions in blood banks. We used a new approach to identify miRNAs in normal human platelet sRNA-Seq data from the GSE61856 repository. We identified a comprehensive miRNA expression profile, where we detected 20 of these transcripts potentially expressed in PCs stored for seven days, which had their expression levels analyzed with simulations of computational biology. Our results identified a new collection of miRNAs (miR-486-5p, miR-92a-3p, miR-103a-3p, miR-151a-3p, miR-181a-5p, and miR-221-3p) that showed a sensitivity expression pattern due to biological platelet changes during storage, confirmed by additional quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) validation on 100 PC units from 500 healthy donors. We also identified that these miRNAs could transfer regulatory information on platelets, such as members of the let-7 family, by regulating the YOD1 gene, which is a deubiquitinating enzyme highly expressed in platelet hyperactivity. Our results also showed that the target genes of these miRNAs play important roles in signaling pathways, cell cycle, stress response, platelet activation and cancer. In summary, the miRNAs described in this study, have a promising application in transfusion medicine as potential biomarkers to also measure the quality and viability of the PC during storage in blood banks.

Identification and characterization of miRNAs involved in cold acclimation of zebrafish ZF4 cells

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play vital roles in various biological processes under multiple stress conditions by leading to mRNA cleavage or translational repression. However, the detailed roles of miRNAs in cold acclimation in fish are still unclear. In the present study, high-throughput sequencing was performed to identify miRNAs from 6 small RNA libraries from the zebrafish embryonic fibroblast ZF4 cells under control (28°C, 30 days) and cold-acclimation (18°C, 30 days) conditions. A total of 414 miRNAs, 349 known and 65 novel, were identified. Among those miRNAs, 24 (19 known and 5 novel) were up-regulated, and 23 (9 known and 14 novel) were down-regulated in cold acclimated cells. The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses indicated that the target genes of known differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNA) are involved in cold acclimation by regulation of phosphorylation, cell junction, intracellular signal transduction, ECM-receptor interaction and so on. Moreover, both miR-100-3p inhibitor and miR-16b mimics could protect ZF4 cells under cold stress, indicating the involvement of miRNA in cold acclimation. Further study showed that miR-100-3p and miR-16b could regulate inversely the expression of their target gene (atad5a, cyp2ae1, lamp1, rilp, atxn7, tnika, btbd9), and that overexpression of miR-100-3p disturbed the early embryonic development of zebrafish. In summary, the present data show that miRNAs are closely involved in cold acclimation in zebrafish ZF4 cells and provide information for further understanding of the roles of miRNAs in cold acclimation in fish.

MicroRNAs as a Potential Quality Measurement Tool of Platelet Concentrate Stored in Blood Banks-A Review

BACKGROUND

Platelet concentrate (PC) is one of the main products used in a therapeutic transfusion. This blood component requires special storage at blood banks, however, even under good storage conditions, modifications or degradations may occur and are known as platelet storage lesions.

METHODS

This research was performed on scientific citation databases PubMed/Medline, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science, for publications containing platelet storage lesions. The results obtained mainly reveal the clinical applicability of miRNAs as biomarkers of storage injury and as useful tools for a problem affecting public and private health, the lack of PC bags in countries with few blood donors. The major studies listed in this review identified miRNAs associated with important platelet functions that are relevant in clinical practice as quality biomarkers of PC, such as miR-223, miR-126, miR-10a, miR-150, miR-16, miR-21, miR-326, miR-495, let-7b, let-7c, let-7e, miR-107, miR-10b, miR-145, miR-155, miR-17, miR-191, miR-197, miR-200b, miR-24, miR-331, miR-376. These miRNAs can be used in blood banks to identify platelet injury in PC bags.

CONCLUSION

The studies described in this review relate the functions of miRNAs with molecular mechanisms that result in functional platelet differences, such as apoptosis. Thus, miRNA profiles can be used to measure the quality of storage PC for more than 5 days, identify bags with platelet injury, and distinguish those with functional platelets.