PLATELETS AND THROMBOPOIESIS e-Blood Genome-wide RNA-seq analysis of human and mouse platelet transcriptomes

Inbred mice are a useful tool for studying the in vivo functions of platelets. Nonethe-less, the mRNA signature of mouse plate-lets is not known. Here, we use paired-end next-generation RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to characterize the polyadenyl-ated transcriptomes of human and mouse platelets. We report that RNA-seq pro-vides unprecedented resolution of mRNAs that are expressed across the entire human and mouse genomes. Tran-script expression and abundance are of-ten conserved between the 2 species. Several mRNAs, however, are differen-tially expressed in human and mouse platelets. Moreover, previously described functional disparities between mouse and human platelets are reflected in differ-ences at the transcript level, including protease activated receptor-1, protease activated receptor-3, platelet activating factor receptor, and factor V. This sug-gests that RNA-seq is a useful tool for predicting differences in platelet function between mice and humans. Our next-generation sequencing analysis provides new insights into the human and murine platelet transcriptomes. The sequencing dataset will be useful in the design of mouse models of hemostasis and a cata-lyst for discovery of new functions of platelets. Access to the dataset is found in the “Introduction. ” (Blood. 2011; 118(14):e101-e111