The human and murine platelet transcriptomes are altered in sepsis. (A-C) Platelets were isolated from septic patients within 48 hours of ICU admission or age-, race-, and gender-matched healthy donors. Total RNA was isolated, and next-generation RNA-seq was performed on platelets from septic patients and healthy donors, as described in “Methods” (n = 5/group). (A) PCA of the global platelet transcriptome in septic patients (red) and healthy donors (blue). (B) Heatmap and (C) volcano plot of significantly (FDR <0.05) upregulated (log₂ fold-change >1.5, red) and downregulated (log₂ fold-change <−1.5, blue) transcripts in platelets from septic patients. Black circles represent transcripts that were not significantly changed in sepsis. (D-F) Sepsis was induced in C57bl/J6 mice by CLP (n = 3, pooled platelets). For comparison, untreated C57bl/J6 mice were used as controls (n = 4). Platelets were isolated from CLP-treated mice on day 3 following surgery. Total RNA was isolated, and RNA-seq was performed on platelets from CLP and control mice, as described in “Methods.” (D) PCA of the global platelet transcriptome in CLP (red) and control mice (blue). (E-F) Heatmap and volcano plot of significantly (FDR <0.05) upregulated (log₂ fold-change >1.5, red) and downregulated (log₂ fold-change <−1.5, blue) transcripts in platelets from septic mice. Black circles represent transcripts that were not significantly changed in sepsis. padj, adjusted P value; PC, principal component.