Differential expression analysis by RNA-Seq reveals perturbations in the platelet mRNA transcriptome triggered by pathogen reduction systems. RNA-Seq analysis of pathogen-reduced human platelets

Pathogen reduction (PR) systems are used for prevention of infectious agents in blood components such as platelets, but have also shown to increase bleeding in some clinical studies. PR cross-link and damage nucleic acids of pathogens. Here, we show that Intercept (amotosalen + ultraviolet-A [UVA] light) significantly alter the platelet transcriptome. We used the RNA-Seq approach and analyzed transcriptomes of five platelet groups. We found that platelets treated with Intercept significantly changed the expression of more than 1000 genes (p2 folds. We also found the SSP+ additive solution present in Intercept constitutes a partial, though small, effect on the platelet transcriptome. We conclude that Intercept significantly affects and interferes the platelet transcriptome, a finding that coincides with previously reported studies showing that Intercept induces platelet activation, impaired platelet aggregation, reduced platelet mean volume, increased release of platelet microparticles and down-regulation of microRNAs in platelets.