Different Expression Profiles of Exosomal circRNAs from Apheresis Platelets during Storage

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Molecular Biology
• Hematology

Background:

• Platelet storage leads to changes in bioactive substances.
• Exosomes, containing circular RNAs (circRNAs), increase during platelet storage.
• Understanding exosomal circRNA changes is crucial for platelet storage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the differential expression of exosomal circRNAs in apheresis platelets during storage.
• To explore the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network involving circRNAs, microRNAs, and mRNAs.

Main Methods:

• Apheresis platelets were stored for 1 or 5 days.
• Exosomes were isolated and characterized.
• Microarray analysis identified differentially expressed circRNAs, followed by qRT-PCR validation.
• ceRNA network analysis and Gene Ontology (GO)/Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG) pathway analysis were performed.

Main Results:

• 61 circRNAs were differentially expressed between day 1 and day 5 of storage (31 upregulated, 30 downregulated).
• A ceRNA network comprising 9 circRNAs, 48 microRNAs, and 117 mRNAs was constructed.
• Enrichment analysis revealed 117 mRNAs involved in 203 GO terms and 9 KEGG pathways.

Conclusions:

• 61 dysregulated exosomal circRNAs were identified in stored apheresis platelets.
• These findings offer insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying platelet storage lesion.