Fig. 2

GPVI shedding and its correlation with adhesion capacities and ROS generation in stored platelets. a shows representative western blot image illustrating shedding patterns of GPVI in response to non-physiological stimuli PMA or CCCP versus 5 days storage. As demonstrated in graph (b) either PMA- (p < 0.05) or CCCP-induced (p < 0.01) platelets (from 0 day-stored PCs) and 5 days-stored PCs (p < 0.001) showed significantly higher levels of shedding than that of 0 day-stored PCs (analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn’s multiple comparison). There was no significant difference between shedding levels of CCCP- induced and 5 days-stored platelets (assessed by Mann–Whitney U test). Graph (c) shows direct correlations between GPVI shedding and either mitochondrial ROS (r = 0.81; p < 0.001) or cytosolic superoxide generation (r = 0.80; p < 0.001). A prominent reverse correlation were observed between GPVI shedding and platelet adhesion area (r = − 0.91; p < 0.001), which is more potent than that observed for simple adhesion number (r = − 0.58; p = 0.01) (Graph d). Note: Correlations were analyzed by Spearman’s rank correlation test. P values of less than 0.05 were considered to be significant. Graphs have been plotted using accumulating data obtained during storage from day 0 to day 5. ***p < 0.001, **p < 0.01, *p < 0.05, ns: not significant p > 0.05 (n = 6)