In contrast, platelets treated with A23187 showed a significant increase of caspase- 3/7 and -8 activation compared to healthy plasma samples (caspase-3/7 p = 0.0026 (Fig 5A); caspase-8 p = 0.0019 (Fig 5B)), plasma from ITP patients (caspase-3/7 p = 0.0010 (Fig 5A); caspase-8 p = 0.0015 (Fig 5B)) or autologous plasma samples (caspase-3/7 p = 0.0026 (Fig 5A); caspase-8 p = 0.0014 (Fig 5B)). This evidence concerns the gene CASP8 and autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura.