LncRNAs as potential biomarkers for platelet storage lesion

Platelet transfusion is indispensable in clinical care for hemostatic disorders. During storage, platelets undergo progressive physiological and biochemical deterioration known as platelet storage lesions (PSL), which compromise quality, shelf life, and transfusion effectiveness. This study aimed to profile long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) expression in stored platelets and evaluate their associations with storage duration, donor gender, blood type, and lifetime apheresis donation frequency, to identify candidate biomarkers for PSL. We examined expression of GAS5, LIPCAR, MALAT1, and SNHG9 and their correlations with platelet quality indicators. Expression levels of GAS5, LIPCAR, and SNHG9 were significantly and positively associated with storage time, whereas MALAT1 expression did not change significantly. LncRNA patterns were overall homogeneous but differed significantly across blood groups; expression levels were markedly higher in male donors and in samples from donors with ≤ 2 lifetime apheresis donations. Platelet quality indicators were associated with lncRNA expression, most notably for LIPCAR and SNHG9. These findings demonstrate that lncRNA expression in platelets is modulated by storage time, donor gender, blood type, and apheresis frequency. The differential expression of these lncRNAs represents a promising biomarker panel that may serve as a complementary indicator for assessing platelet storage lesions.