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Toyoda Y, Levin LS. What is needed to ensure long-term sustainability for the field of vascularized composite allotransplantation? Curr Opin Organ Transplant 2023; 28:446-451. [PMID: 37767962 DOI: 10.1097/mot.0000000000001114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
The field of vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) has demonstrated remarkable advances since its inception with some excellent long-term results in a variety of graft types. However, unlike solid organ transplantation, it has yet to become mainstream. We therefore discuss strategies on ensuring long-term sustainability by addressing continued clinical developments of VCA to improve the risk-to-benefit balance, importance of public support, improved policy and financial support, and need for a bridge to the future of transplant surgery. There has been headway on all fronts and collaboration among the VCA centers for centralization of data and incorporation of patient voices will be essential for continued progress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - L Scott Levin
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Ton C, Salehi S, Abasi S, Aggas JR, Liu R, Brandacher G, Guiseppi-Elie A, Grayson WL. Methods of ex vivo analysis of tissue status in vascularized composite allografts. J Transl Med 2023; 21:609. [PMID: 37684651 PMCID: PMC10492401 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04379-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascularized composite allotransplantation can improve quality of life and restore functionality. However, the complex tissue composition of vascularized composite allografts (VCAs) presents unique clinical challenges that increase the likelihood of transplant rejection. Under prolonged static cold storage, highly damage-susceptible tissues such as muscle and nerve undergo irreversible degradation that may render allografts non-functional. Skin-containing VCA elicits an immunogenic response that increases the risk of recipient allograft rejection. The development of quantitative metrics to evaluate VCAs prior to and following transplantation are key to mitigating allograft rejection. Correspondingly, a broad range of bioanalytical methods have emerged to assess the progression of VCA rejection and characterize transplantation outcomes. To consolidate the current range of relevant technologies and expand on potential for development, methods to evaluate ex vivo VCA status are herein reviewed and comparatively assessed. The use of implantable physiological status monitoring biochips, non-invasive bioimpedance monitoring to assess edema, and deep learning algorithms to fuse disparate inputs to stratify VCAs are identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn Ton
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 400 North Broadway, Smith Building 5023, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University, 400 North Broadway, Smith Building 5023, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA
| | - Sara Salehi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 400 North Broadway, Smith Building 5023, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University, 400 North Broadway, Smith Building 5023, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA
| | - Sara Abasi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for Bioelectronics, Biosensors and Biochips (C3B®), Texas A&M University, Emerging Technologies Building 3120, 101 Bizzell St, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Center for Bioelectronics, Biosensors and Biochips (C3B®), Texas A&M University, Emerging Technologies Building 3120, 101 Bizzell St, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
- Media and Metabolism, Wildtype, Inc., 2325 3rd St., San Francisco, CA, 94107, USA
| | - John R Aggas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for Bioelectronics, Biosensors and Biochips (C3B®), Texas A&M University, Emerging Technologies Building 3120, 101 Bizzell St, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Center for Bioelectronics, Biosensors and Biochips (C3B®), Texas A&M University, Emerging Technologies Building 3120, 101 Bizzell St, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
- Test Development, Roche Diagnostics, 9115 Hague Road, Indianapolis, IN, 46256, USA
| | - Renee Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 400 North Broadway, Smith Building 5023, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University, 400 North Broadway, Smith Building 5023, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA
| | - Gerald Brandacher
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation (VCA) Laboratory, Reconstructive Transplantation Program, Center for Advanced Physiologic Modeling (CAPM), Johns Hopkins University, Ross Research Building/Suite 749D, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Anthony Guiseppi-Elie
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for Bioelectronics, Biosensors and Biochips (C3B®), Texas A&M University, Emerging Technologies Building 3120, 101 Bizzell St, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Center for Bioelectronics, Biosensors and Biochips (C3B®), Texas A&M University, Emerging Technologies Building 3120, 101 Bizzell St, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Houston Methodist Institute for Academic Medicine and Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave., Houston, TX, USA.
- ABTECH Scientific, Inc., Biotechnology Research Park, 800 East Leigh Street, Richmond, VA, USA.
| | - Warren L Grayson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 400 North Broadway, Smith Building 5023, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA.
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University, 400 North Broadway, Smith Building 5023, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA.
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Institute for Nanobiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Aggas JR, Abasi S, Ton C, Salehi S, Liu R, Brandacher G, Grayson WL, Guiseppi-Elie A. Real-Time Monitoring Using Multiplexed Multi-Electrode Bioelectrical Impedance Spectroscopy for the Stratification of Vascularized Composite Allografts: A Perspective on Predictive Analytics. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:bioengineering10040434. [PMID: 37106621 PMCID: PMC10135882 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10040434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascularized composite allotransplantation addresses injuries to complex anatomical structures such as the face, hand, and abdominal wall. Prolonged static cold storage of vascularized composite allografts (VCA) incurs damage and imposes transportation limits to their viability and availability. Tissue ischemia, the major clinical indication, is strongly correlated with negative transplantation outcomes. Machine perfusion and normothermia can extend preservation times. This perspective introduces multiplexed multi-electrode bioimpedance spectroscopy (MMBIS), an established bioanalytical method to quantify the interaction of the electrical current with tissue components, capable of measuring tissue edema, as a quantitative, noninvasive, real-time, continuous monitoring technique to provide crucially needed assessment of graft preservation efficacy and viability. MMBIS must be developed, and appropriate models explored to address the highly complex multi-tissue structures and time-temperature changes of VCA. Combined with artificial intelligence (AI), MMBIS can serve to stratify allografts for improvement in transplantation outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R Aggas
- Bioelectronics, Biosensors and Biochips (C3B®), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Test Development, Roche Diagnostics, 9115 Hague Road, Indianapolis, IN 46256, USA
| | - Sara Abasi
- Bioelectronics, Biosensors and Biochips (C3B®), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Media and Metabolism, Wildtype, Inc., 2325 3rd St., San Francisco, CA 94107, USA
| | - Carolyn Ton
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Sara Salehi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Renee Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Gerald Brandacher
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Warren L Grayson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Institute for Nanobiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Anthony Guiseppi-Elie
- Bioelectronics, Biosensors and Biochips (C3B®), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Houston Methodist Institute for Academic Medicine and Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave., Houston, TX 77030, USA
- ABTECH Scientific, Inc., Biotechnology Research Park, 800 East Leigh Street, Richmond, VA 23219, USA
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Clinical and preclinical tolerance protocols for vascularized composite allograft transplantation. Arch Plast Surg 2021; 48:703-713. [PMID: 34818720 PMCID: PMC8627932 DOI: 10.5999/aps.2021.00927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The field of vascularized composite allografts (VCAs) has undergone significant advancement in recent decades, and VCAs are increasingly common and accepted in the clinical setting, bringing hope of functional recovery to patients with debilitating injuries. A major obstacle facing the widespread application of VCAs is the side effect profile associated with the current immunosuppressive regimen, which can cause a wide array of complications such as infection, malignancy, and even death. Significant concerns remain regarding whether the treatment outweighs the risk. The potential solution to this dilemma would be achieving VCA tolerance, which would allow recipients to receive allografts without significant immunosuppression and its sequelae. Promising tolerance protocols are being studied in kidney transplantation; four major trials have attempted to withdraw immunosuppressive treatment with various successes. The common theme in all four trials is the use of radiation treatment and donor cell transplantation. The knowledge gained from these trials can provide valuable insight into the development of a VCA tolerance protocol. Despite similarities, VCAs present additional barriers compared to kidney allografts regarding tolerance induction. VCA donors are likely to be deceased, which limits the time for significant pre-conditioning. VCA donors are also more likely to be human leukocyte antigen–mismatched, which means that tolerance must be induced across major immunological barriers. This review also explores adjunct therapies studied in large animal models that could be the missing element in establishing a safe and stable tolerance induction method.
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Dorante MI, Kollar B, Bittner M, Wang A, Diehm Y, Foroutanjazi S, Parikh N, Haug V, den Uyl TM, Pomahac B. Software-based Detection of Acute Rejection Changes in Face Transplant. J Reconstr Microsurg 2021; 38:420-428. [PMID: 34470059 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1733995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND An objective, non-invasive method for redness detection during acute allograft rejection in face transplantation (FT) is lacking. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was performed with 688 images of 7 patients with face transplant (range, 1 to 108 months post-transplant). Healthy controls were matched to donor age, sex, and had no prior facial procedures. Rejection state was confirmed via tissue biopsy. An image-analysis software developed alongside VicarVision (Amsterdam, Netherlands) was used to produce R, a measure of differences between detectable color and absolute red. R is inversely proportional to redness, where lower R values correspond to increased redness. Linear mixed models were used to study fixed effect of rejection state on R values. Estimated marginal means of fitted models were calculated for pairwise comparisons. RESULTS Of 688 images, 175, 170, 202, and 141 images were attributable to Banff Grade 0,1,2, and 3, respectively. Estimated change in R value of facial allografts decreased with increasing Banff Grade (p = 0.0001). The mean R value of clinical rejection (Banff Grade ⅔) (16.67, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 14.79-18.58) was lower (p = 0.005) than non-rejection (Banff Grade 0/1) (19.38, 95%CI 17.43-21.33). Both clinical and non-rejection mean R values were lower (p = 0.0001) than healthy controls (24.12, 95%CI 20.96-27.28). CONCLUSION This proof-of-concept study demonstrates that software-based analysis can detect and monitor acute rejection changes in FT. Future studies should expand on this tool's potential application in telehealth and as a screening tool for allograft rejection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel I Dorante
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center; Burlington, Massachusetts
| | - Branislav Kollar
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, University of Freiburg Medical Center, Medical Faculty of the University of Freiburg; Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Alice Wang
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yannick Diehm
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Hand, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Microsurgery, Burn Trauma Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, University of Heidelberg; Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Sina Foroutanjazi
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Neil Parikh
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Valentin Haug
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Hand, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Microsurgery, Burn Trauma Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, University of Heidelberg; Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | | | - Bohdan Pomahac
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Yale New Haven Hospital, Yale School of Medicine; New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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