Omic approaches to quality biomarkers for stored platelets: are we there yet?

At present, there is no single biomarker that serves as the "gold standard" predictive of the quality of stored platelets used for transfusion. Some of the measurable features of platelets such as morphology, biochemical status, physiologic response to osmotic stress and agonist-induced changes, and measurement of process-associated activation indicators of platelets are considered useful in assessing the in vitro quality of stored platelets. Such in vitro measurements combined with in vivo survival estimations using radiolabeled platelets in healthy volunteers provide reasonable estimates of in vivo platelet function after transfusion. Thus, the current practice of estimating the quality and functional aspects of ex vivo stored platelets involves utilization of a battery of tests that dates back to pre-omic era. On the other hand, during the last decade, seminal discoveries have been made in platelet molecular and cell biology by using "omic"-based approaches such as proteomics, genomics, and transcriptomics. Can we mobilize some of these discoveries toward developing reliable quality biomarkers for stored platelets? To address this topic, we briefly review current practices and provide insights into some of the omic approaches that could be helpful in identifying quality storage biomarkers of platelets in the near future. We also briefly discuss here some of the challenges in using proteomic approaches and advantages of using one of the transcriptomics approaches toward platelet biomarker development.