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Acharya R, Clapp W, Upadhyay K. Safety and Efficacy of Very Early Conversion to Belatacept in Pediatric Kidney Transplantation with Transplant-Associated Thrombotic Microangiopathy: Case Study and Review of Literature. Clin Pract 2024; 14:882-891. [PMID: 38804401 PMCID: PMC11130864 DOI: 10.3390/clinpract14030069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The inhibition of co-stimulation during T-cell activation has been shown to provide effective immunosuppression in kidney transplantation (KT). Hence, the conversion from calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) to belatacept is emerging as a potential alternate maintenance immunosuppressive therapy in those with transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA) or in the prevention of TA-TMA. We present a 17-year-old male who presented with biopsy-proven CNI-associated TA-TMA immediately post-KT. The administration of eculizumab led to the reversal of TMA. Tacrolimus was converted to belatacept with excellent efficacy and safety during a short-term follow-up of one year. Further larger controlled studies are required to demonstrate the efficacy of this approach in children who present with early-onset TMA post-KT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ratna Acharya
- Department of Pediatrics, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
| | - William Clapp
- Division of Anatomic Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Kiran Upadhyay
- Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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Kitchens WH, Larsen CP, Badell IR. Costimulatory Blockade and Solid Organ Transplantation: The Past, Present, and Future. Kidney Int Rep 2023; 8:2529-2545. [PMID: 38106575 PMCID: PMC10719580 DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.2023.08.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Belatacept is the first costimulatory blockade agent clinically approved for transplant immunosuppression. Although more than 10 years of study have demonstrated that belatacept offers superior long-term renal allograft and patient survival compared to conventional calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based immunosuppression regimens, the clinical adoption of belatacept has continued to lag because of concerns of an early risk of acute cellular rejection (ACR) and various logistical barriers to its administration. In this review, the history of the clinical development of belatacept is examined, along with the findings of the seminal BENEFIT and BENEFIT-EXT trials culminating in the clinical approval of belatacept. Recent efforts to incorporate belatacept into novel CNI-free immunosuppression regimens are reviewed, as well as the experience of the Emory Transplant Center in using a tapered course of low-dose tacrolimus in belatacept-treated renal allograft patients to garner the long-term outcome benefits of belatacept without the short-term increased risks of ACR. Potential avenues to increase the clinical adoption of belatacept in the future are explored, including surmounting the logistical barriers of belatacept administration through subcutaneous administration or more infrequent belatacept dosing. In addition, belatacept conversion strategies and potential expanded clinical indications of belatacept are discussed for pediatric transplant recipients, extrarenal transplant recipients, treatment of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR), and in patients with failed renal allografts. Finally, we discuss the novel immunosuppressive drugs currently in the development pipeline that may aid in the expansion of costimulation blockade utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- William H. Kitchens
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Christian P. Larsen
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - I. Raul Badell
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Lee WS, Nam KH, Kim JH, Kim WJ, Kim JE, Shin EC, Kim GR, Choi JM. Alleviating psoriatic skin inflammation through augmentation of Treg cells via CTLA-4 signaling peptide. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1233514. [PMID: 37818377 PMCID: PMC10560854 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1233514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by hyperplasia of keratinocytes and immune cell infiltration. The IL-17-producing T cells play a key role in psoriasis pathogenesis, while regulatory T (Treg) cells are diminished during psoriatic inflammation. Current psoriasis treatments largely focus on IL-17 and IL-23, however, few studies have explored therapeutic drugs targeting an increase of Treg cells to control immune homeostasis. In this study, we investigated the effects of a cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) signaling peptide (dNP2-ctCTLA-4) in Th17, Tc17, γδ T cells, Treg cells in vitro and a mouse model of psoriasis. Treatment with dNP2-ctCTLA-4 peptide showed a significant reduction of psoriatic skin inflammation with increased Treg cell proportion and reduced IL-17 production by T cells, indicating a potential role in modulating psoriatic skin disease. We compared dNP2-ctCTLA-4 with CTLA-4-Ig and found that only dNP2-ctCTLA-4 ameliorated the psoriasis progression, with increased Treg cells and inhibited IL-17 production from γδ T cells. In vitro experiments using a T cell-antigen presenting cell co-culture system demonstrated the distinct mechanisms of dNP2-ctCTLA-4 compared to CTLA-4-Ig in the induction of Treg cells. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of dNP2-ctCTLA-4 peptide in psoriasis by augmenting Treg/Teff ratio, offering a new approach to modulating the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woo-Sung Lee
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Ho Nam
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Hoon Kim
- Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Research Institute, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Won-Ju Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Jeong Eun Kim
- Department of Dermatology, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eui-Cheol Shin
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- The Center for Viral Immunology, Korea Virus Research Institute, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Gil-Ran Kim
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute for Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Je-Min Choi
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute for Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Jadaun SS, Agarwal S, Gupta S, Saigal S. Strategies for ABO Incompatible Liver Transplantation. J Clin Exp Hepatol 2023; 13:698-706. [PMID: 37440942 PMCID: PMC10333949 DOI: 10.1016/j.jceh.2022.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver transplantation (LT) is a definitive treatment for the decompensated liver cirrhosis and fulminant liver failure. With limited availability of cadaveric liver allograft, ABO incompatible (ABOi) living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) plays an important part in further expansion of donor pool. Over the years, with the introduction of Rituximab and improving desensitisation protocol, outcomes of ABOi LDLT are on par with ABO compatible LT. However, ABOi LDLT protocol varies markedly from centre to centre. Intravenous Rituximab followed by plasmapheresis or immunoadsorption effectively reduce ABO isoagglutinins titre before transplant, thereby reducing the risk of antibody mediated rejection in the post-transplant period. Local infusion therapy and splenectomy are not used routinely at most of the centres in Rituximab era. Post-transplant immunosuppression usually consists of standard triple drug regime, and tacrolimus trough levels are targeted at higher level compared to ABO compatible LT. Introduction of newer therapies like Belatacept and Obinutuzumab hold promise to further improve outcomes and reduce the risk of antibody mediated rejection related complications. ABOi LT in emergency situations like acute liver failure and deceased donor LT is challenging due to limited time period for desensitisation protocol before transplant, and available evidence are still limited but encouraging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shekhar S. Jadaun
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Centre for Liver and Biliary Sciences, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, New Delhi, India
| | - Shaleen Agarwal
- Liver Transplant and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Centre for Liver and Biliary Sciences, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, New Delhi, India
| | - Subhash Gupta
- Liver Transplant and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Centre for Liver and Biliary Sciences, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, New Delhi, India
| | - Sanjiv Saigal
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Centre for Liver and Biliary Sciences, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, New Delhi, India
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Yakubu I, Moinuddin I, Gupta G. Use of belatacept in kidney transplantation: what's new? Curr Opin Organ Transplant 2023; 28:36-45. [PMID: 36326538 DOI: 10.1097/mot.0000000000001033] [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: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The advent of calcineurin inhibitors have led to a significant improvement in short term outcomes after kidney transplantation. However, long term outcomes are hindered by the cardiovascular, metabolic and chronic renal toxicity associated with these agents. Belatacept is a selective T cell costimulation blocker that is approved for prevention of rejection in kidney transplantation, and has been associated with favorable cardiovascular, metabolic and renal outcomes in kidney transplant recipients. This review provides an overview of recent updates in the use of belatacept in kidney transplant recipients. RECENT FINDINGS Belatacept may be a safe alternative to calcineurin inhibitors for select kidney transplant populations. Patients converted to belatacept from a calcineurin inhibitor-based immunosuppression generally experience improvement in renal function, and may be less likely to develop de novo donor specific antibodies or new onset diabetes after transplantation. Although, belatacept based immunosuppression may increase the risk of early acute cellular rejection, it may however be beneficial in stabilization of long-term renal function and improvement in inflammation in patients with chronic active antibody mediated rejection. These benefits need to be counterweighed with risks of lack of response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccination and other adverse infectious outcomes. SUMMARY Belatacept may be an alternative to calcineurin inhibitors and may contribute to improved long term metabolic and allograft outcomes in kidney transplant recipients. Careful selection of patients for belatacept-based immunosuppression is needed, to obviate the risk of acute rejection shown in clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Irfan Moinuddin
- Division of Nephrology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Gaurav Gupta
- Division of Nephrology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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Peddi VR, Marder B, Gaite L, Oberholzer J, Goldberg R, Pearson T, Yang H, Allamassey L, Polinsky M, Formica RN. Treatment of De Novo Renal Transplant Recipients With Calcineurin Inhibitor-free, Belatacept Plus Everolimus-based Immunosuppression. Transplant Direct 2023; 9:e1419. [PMID: 36700062 PMCID: PMC9820789 DOI: 10.1097/txd.0000000000001419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Compared with calcineurin inhibitor-based immunosuppression, belatacept (BELA)-based treatment has been associated with better renal function but higher acute rejection rates. This phase 2 study (NCT02137239) compared the antirejection efficacy of BELA plus everolimus (EVL) with tacrolimus (TAC) plus mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), each following lymphocyte-depleting induction and rapid corticosteroid withdrawal. Methods Patients who were de novo renal transplant recipients seropositive for Epstein-Barr virus were randomized to receive BELA+EVL or TAC+MMF maintenance therapy after rabbit antithymocyte globulin induction and up to 7 d of corticosteroids. The primary endpoint was the rate of biopsy-proven acute rejection at month 6. Results Because of an unanticipated BELA supply constraint, enrollment was prematurely terminated at 68 patients, of whom 58 were randomized and transplanted (intention-to-treat [ITT] population: n = 26, BELA+EVL; n = 32, TAC+MMF). However, 25 patients received BELA+EVL' and 33 received TAC+MMF (modified ITT population). In the ITT population, the 6-mo biopsy-proven acute rejection rates were 7.7% versus 9.4% in the BELA+EVL versus TAC+MMF group. The corresponding 24-mo biopsy-proven acute rejection rates were 19.2% versus 12.5% in the ITT population and 16.0% versus 15.2% in the mITT population; all events were Banff severity grade ≤IIA and similar between groups. One patient in each group experienced graft loss unrelated to acute rejection. The 24-mo mean unadjusted estimated glomerular filtration rates were 71.8 versus 68.7 mL/min/1.73 m2 in the BELA+EVL versus TAC+MMF groups. Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder was reported for 1 patient in each group. No deaths or unexpected adverse events were observed. Conclusions A steroid-free maintenance regimen of BELA+EVL may be associated with biopsy-proven acute rejection rates comparable to TAC+MMF.
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Affiliation(s)
- V. Ram Peddi
- Department of Transplantation, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, CA
| | - Bradley Marder
- Division of Transplant Research, Colorado Kidney Care, Denver, CO
| | - Luis Gaite
- Sección Hepatología, Clinica de Nefrología, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Jose Oberholzer
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Ryan Goldberg
- Renal and Pancreas Transplant Division, Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, NJ
| | - Thomas Pearson
- Emory Transplant Center, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | - Harold Yang
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Pinnacle, Harrisburg, PA
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Tacrolimus before CTLA4Ig and rapamycin promotes vascularized composite allograft survival in MGH miniature swine. Transpl Immunol 2022; 75:101696. [PMID: 35987329 DOI: 10.1016/j.trim.2022.101696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We evaluated the outcome of vertical rectus abdominus myocutaneous flap (VRAM) allotransplantation in a mini-pig model, using a combined co-stimulation blockade (Co-SB) and mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibition (mTORi)-based regimen, with or without preceding calcineurin inhibition (CNI). MATERIALS AND METHODS VRAM allotransplants were performed between SLA-mismatched MGH miniature swine. Group A (n = 2) was treated continuously with the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin from day -1 in combination with the Co-SB agent cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4-Ig (CTLA4-Ig) from post-operative day (POD) 0. In group B (n = 3), animals received tacrolimus daily from POD 0 to POD 13, followed by rapamycin daily from POD 7 and CTLA4-Ig weekly from POD 7-28. Graft rejection was determined by Banff criteria and host cellular and humoral immunity monitored. RESULTS In group A, allografts developed grade-I acute rejection by POD 2 and POD 7, and reached grade-IV by POD 17 and POD 20, respectively. By contrast, in group B, two allografts demonstrated grade-I rejection on POD 30 and grade-IV on POD 74, while the third exhibited grade-I rejection starting on POD 50, though this animal had to be euthanized on POD 58 due to Pneumocystis jirovecii infection. Time-to-event incidence of grade-I rejection was significantly lower in group A compared to group B. During the first 3 weeks post-transplant, no significant differences in anti-donor immunity were observed between the groups. CONCLUSION A short course of CNI, followed by combined Co-SB and mTORi significantly delays acute rejection of VRAM allografts in SLA-mismatched miniature swine.
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Anwar IJ, DeLaura IF, Gao Q, Ladowski J, Jackson AM, Kwun J, Knechtle SJ. Harnessing the B Cell Response in Kidney Transplantation - Current State and Future Directions. Front Immunol 2022; 13:903068. [PMID: 35757745 PMCID: PMC9223638 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.903068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite dramatic improvement in kidney transplantation outcomes over the last decades due to advent of modern immunosuppressive agents, long-term outcomes remain poor. Antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR), a B cell driven process, accounts for the majority of chronic graft failures. There are currently no FDA-approved regimens for ABMR; however, several clinical trials are currently on-going. In this review, we present current mechanisms of B cell response in kidney transplantation, the clinical impact of sensitization and ABMR, the B cell response under current immunosuppressive regimens, and ongoing clinical trials for ABMR and desensitization treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Stuart J. Knechtle
- Duke Transplant Center, Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
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Li S, Xu H, Kirk AD. Modulation of Xenogeneic T-cell Proliferation by B7 and mTOR Blockade of T Cells and Porcine Endothelial Cells. Transplantation 2022; 106:950-962. [PMID: 34387242 PMCID: PMC8850983 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000003920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Activation of porcine endothelial cells (PECs) is the mechanistic centerpiece of xenograft rejection. This study sought to characterize the immuno-phenotype of human T cells in response to PECs and to explore the immuno-modulation of B7 and mammalian target of rapamycin blockade of T cells and/or PECs during xeno-responses. METHODS Rapid memory T-cell (TM) responses to PECs were assessed by an intracellular cytokine staining. T-cell proliferation to PEC with or without belatacept or rapamycin was evaluated by a mixed lymphocyte-endothelial cell reaction (MLER). Additionally, rapamycin-pretreated PECs were used in MLER. Cell phenotypes were analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS Tumor necrosis factor-α/interferon-γ producers were detected in CD8+ cells stimulated by human endothelium but not PECs. MLER showed proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ cells with predominantly memory subsets. Purified memory and naive cells proliferated following PEC stimulation with an increased frequency of TM in PEC-stimulated naive cells. Proliferating cells upregulated programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and CD2 expression. Belatacept partially inhibited T-cell proliferation with reduced CD2 expression and frequency of the CD8+CD2highCD28- subset. Rapamycin dramatically inhibited PEC-induced T-cell proliferation, and rapamycin-preconditioned PECs failed to induce T-cell proliferation. PD-1 blockade did not restore T-cell proliferation to rapamycin-preconditioned PECs. CONCLUSIONS Humans lack rapid TM-mediated responses to PECs but induce T-cell proliferative responses characterized largely as TM with increasing CD2 and PD-1 expression. B7-CD28 and mammalian target of rapamycin blockade of T cells exhibit dramatic inhibitory effects in altering xeno-proliferating cells. Rapamycin alters PEC xeno-immunogenicity leading to inhibition of xeno-specific T-cell proliferation independent of PD-1-PD ligand interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Li
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - He Xu
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Allan D. Kirk
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
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10
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Belatacept Conversion in Kidney After Liver Transplantation. Transplant Direct 2021; 7:e780. [PMID: 34712780 PMCID: PMC8547931 DOI: 10.1097/txd.0000000000001229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background. Costimulatory blockade with belatacept has demonstrated long-term benefits in renal transplantation, but de novo use in liver transplant recipients has resulted in increased rejection, graft loss, and death. However, belatacept conversion as a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) avoidance strategy has not been studied and may be of benefit in liver transplantation where CNI-induced renal dysfunction and toxicity are barriers to improved outcomes. Methods. Using clinical data extracted from our institutional medical record, we report on 8 patients who underwent kidney after liver transplantation and were treated with belatacept-based immunosuppression and transient CNI therapy. Results. All patients tolerated belatacept therapy without any patient deaths or graft losses. No episodes of rejection, de novo donor-specific antibody formation, or major systemic infections were observed, and all patients demonstrated preserved liver and excellent renal allograft function. Patients received belatacept for a median duration of 13.2 mo, and at a median follow-up of 15.9 mo post–kidney transplant, 6 of 8 patients continued on belatacept with 3 completely off and 3 poised to transition off CNI. Conclusions. These findings are the first evidence that in liver transplant recipients requiring subsequent kidney transplantation, belatacept-based therapy can potentially facilitate CNI-free maintenance immunosuppression. This supports the possibility of belatacept conversion in stand-alone liver transplant recipients as a viable method of CNI avoidance.
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Shaw BI, Ord JR, Nobuhara C, Luo X. Cellular Therapies in Solid Organ Allotransplantation: Promise and Pitfalls. Front Immunol 2021; 12:714723. [PMID: 34526991 PMCID: PMC8435835 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.714723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Donor specific transfusions have been the basis of tolerance inducing protocols since Peter Medawar showed that it was experimentally feasible in the 1950s. Though trials of cellular therapies have become increasingly common in solid organ transplantation, they have not become standard practice. Additionally, whereas some protocols have focused on cellular therapies as a method for donor antigen delivery—thought to promote tolerance in and of itself in the correct immunologic context—other approaches have alternatively focused on the intrinsic immunosuppressive properties of the certain cell types with less emphasis on their origin, including mesenchymal stem cells, regulatory T cells, and regulatory dendritic cells. Regardless of intent, all cellular therapies must contend with the potential that introducing donor antigen in a new context will lead to sensitization. In this review, we focus on the variety of cellular therapies that have been applied in human trials and non-human primate models, describe their efficacy, highlight data regarding their potential for sensitization, and discuss opportunities for cellular therapies within our current understanding of the immune landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian I Shaw
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Jeffrey R Ord
- School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Chloe Nobuhara
- School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Xunrong Luo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
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Xu H, Lee HJ, Schmitz R, Shaw BI, Li S, Kirk AD. Age-related effects on thymic output and homeostatic T cell expansion following depletional induction in renal transplant recipients. Am J Transplant 2021; 21:3163-3174. [PMID: 33942491 PMCID: PMC8429231 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Thymic output and homeostatic mature cell proliferation both influence T cell repopulation following depletional induction, though the relative contribution of each and their association with recipient age have not been well studied. We investigated the repopulating T cell kinetics in kidney transplant recipients who underwent alemtuzumab induction followed by belatacept/rapamycin-based immunosuppression over 36-month posttransplantation. We focused specifically on the correlation between repopulating T cell subsets and the age of patients. Substantial homeostatic Ki67-expressing T cell proliferation was seen posttransplantation. A repertoire enriched for naïve T (TNaïve ) cells emerged posttransplantation. Analysis by generalized estimating equation linear models revealed a strong negative linear association between reconstituting TNaïve cells and advancing age. A relationship between age and persistence of effector memory cells was shown. We assessed thymic output and found an increase in the frequency of recent thymic emigrants (RTEs, CD4+ CD31+ ) at 12-month posttransplantation. Patients under 30 years of age showed significantly higher levels of CD4+ CD31+ cells than patients over 55 years of age pre- and posttransplantation. IL-7 and autologous mature dendritic cells (mDCs) induced CD57- cell proliferation. In contrast, mDCs, but not IL-7, induced CD57+ cell proliferation. This study establishes the relationship between age and thymic output during T cell homeostatic repopulation after alemtuzumab induction. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov - NCT00565773.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Xu
- Duke Transplant Center, Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA,To whom correspondence should be addressed: He Xu, MD, Allan D. Kirk, MD, PhD, Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Edwin Jones Building Room 368, Durham, NC 27710, Phone: (919)684-4371, ,
| | - Hui-Jie Lee
- Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Robin Schmitz
- Duke Transplant Center, Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Brian I Shaw
- Duke Transplant Center, Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Shu Li
- Duke Transplant Center, Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Allan D Kirk
- Duke Transplant Center, Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA,To whom correspondence should be addressed: He Xu, MD, Allan D. Kirk, MD, PhD, Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Edwin Jones Building Room 368, Durham, NC 27710, Phone: (919)684-4371, ,
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Kaufman D, Woodle ES, Shields A, Leone J, Matas A, Wiseman A, West-Thielke P, Sa T, King E, Alloway R. Belatacept for Simultaneous Calcineurin Inhibitor and Chronic Corticosteroid Immunosuppression Avoidance. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2021; 16:1387-1397. [PMID: 34233921 PMCID: PMC8729588 DOI: 10.2215/cjn.13100820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Immunosuppressive therapy in kidney transplantation is associated with numerous toxicities. CD28-mediated T cell costimulation blockade using belatacept may reduce long-term nephrotoxicity, compared with calcineurin inhibitor-based immunosuppression. The efficacy and safety of simultaneous calcineurin inhibitor avoidance and rapid steroid withdrawal were tested in a randomized, prospective, multi-center study. Methods All kidney transplants were performed using rapid steroid withdrawal immunosuppression. Recipients were randomized to 1:1:1 to receive belatacept with alemtuzumab induction, belatacept with rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) induction, or tacrolimus with rATG induction. The composite endpoint consisted of death, kidney allograft loss, or an MDRD calculated eGFR of <45 ml/min/1.73m2 at 2 years. Results The composite endpoint was observed for 11/107 (10%) participants assigned to belatacept/alemtuzumab, 13/104 (13%) assigned to belatacept /rATG, and 21/105 (21%) assigned to tacrolimus/rATG (belatacept/alemtuzumab vs tacrolimus/rATG p = 0.99: belatacept/rATG vs tacrolimus/rATG p = 0.66). Patient and graft survival rates were similar between all groups. eGFR <45 ml/min/1.73m2 was observed for 9/107 (8%) participants assigned to belatacept/alemtuzuab, 8/104 (8%) participants assigned to belatacept/rATG, and 20/105 (19%) participants assigned to tacrolimus/rATG (p<0.05 for each belatacept group vs tacrolimus/rATG). Biopsy-proven acute rejection was observed for 20/107 (19%) participants assigned to belatacept/alemtuzuab, 26/104 (25%) participants assigned to belatacept/rATG, and 7/105 (7%) participants assigned to tacrolimus/rATG (belatacept/alemtuzumab vs tacrolimus/rATG p = 0.006: belatacept/rATG vs tacrolimus/rATG p < 0.001). Gastrointestinal and neurologic adverse events were less frequent with belatacept versus calcineurin based immunosuppression. Conclusions Overall two-year outcomes were similar comparing maintenance immunosuppression based on belatacept versus tacrolimus, each protocol with rapid steroid withdrawal. The incidence of eGFR <45 ml/min/1.73m2 was significantly lower but the incidence of biopsy proven acute rejection significantly higher with belatacept compared with tacrolimus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dixon Kaufman
- D Kaufman, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States
| | - E Steve Woodle
- E Woodle, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, United States
| | - Adele Shields
- A Shields, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, United States
| | - John Leone
- J Leone, Tampa General Hospital, Tampa, United States
| | - Arthur Matas
- A Matas, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States
| | | | | | - Ting Sa
- T Sa, Biostastics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, United States
| | - Eileen King
- E King, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, United States
| | - Rita Alloway
- R Alloway, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, United States
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14
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Shaw BI, Schmitz R, Flores WJ, Magnani DM, Li J, Song M, Kirk AD. A comparative study of human-and rhesus-specific antithymocyte globulins in Rhesus macaques. Clin Transplant 2021; 35:e14369. [PMID: 34021521 DOI: 10.1111/ctr.14369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Rabbit antithymocyte globulin (RATG) preparations are widely used in transplantation. They are developed in vivo against thymocytes and contain polyclonal antibodies specific for myriad cellular targets. The rhesus monkey is commonly used as a preclinical transplant model, but the fidelity of commercially available human-specific RATGs to anticipate the effects of RATGs in rhesus has not been established. We therefore developed two rhesus-specific ATGs (rhATG) and compared them to human-specific RATG (huATG, Thymoglobulin® ) in rhesus monkeys, assessing the magnitude and phenotype of depletion peripherally and in lymph nodes. Four primates were assigned to each group and received 20 mg/kg of drug. Depletion, repopulation, and changes in lymphocyte subsets were evaluated in peripheral blood and lymph nodes by flow cytometry over four months. We observed similar qualitative changes in lymphocyte subsets, but a generally more profound depletion with huATG compared to either rhATG. Peripheral homeostatic proliferation rather than thymic output was the major mechanism for repopulation with all RATGs. Repopulation was slower but qualitatively similar when examining RATGs in additional animals receiving concomitant chronic immunosuppression. Depletional induction is similar to human- and rhesus-specific RATGs in rhesus macaques. Both rhesus- and human-specific agents appear appropriate for preclinical modeling of clinical RATG use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian I Shaw
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Robin Schmitz
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Walter J Flores
- MassBiologics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Diogo M Magnani
- MassBiologics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Mingqing Song
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Allan D Kirk
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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15
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El Hennawy HM, Faifi ASA, El Nazer W, Mahedy A, Kamal A, Al Faifi IS, Abdulmalik H, Safar O, Zaitoun MF, Fahmy AE. Calcineurin Inhibitors Nephrotoxicity Prevention Strategies With Stress on Belatacept-Based Rescue Immunotherapy: A Review of the Current Evidence. Transplant Proc 2021; 53:1532-1540. [PMID: 34020797 DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2021.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A traditional narrative review was performed to evaluate clinical studies that have examined the clinical implications, risk factors, and prevention of calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) nephrotoxicity with stress on a belatacept-based rescue regimen. METHODS The Cochrane Library, PubMed/MEDLINE, EBSCO (Academic Search Ultimate), ProQuest (Central), and Excerpta Medical databases and Google scholar were searched using the keywords (CNI AND Nephrotoxicity prevention) OR ("Calcineurin inhibitor" AND Nephrotoxicity) OR (Tacrolimus AND Nephrotoxicity) OR (Ciclosporin AND Nephrotoxicity) OR (cyclosporine AND Nephrotoxicity) OR (Belatacept) OR (CNI Conversion) for the period from 1990 to 2020. Fifty-five related articles and reviews were found. CONCLUSION A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity could help in the individualization of therapy for and prevention of CNI nephrotoxicity. Identification of high-risk patients for CNI nephrotoxicity before renal transplantation enables better use and selection of immunosuppression with reduced adverse effects and, eventually, successful treatment of the kidney recipients. Belatacept conversion is a good and safe option in patients with deteriorating renal function attributed to CNI nephrotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hany M El Hennawy
- Transplant Surgery Section, Surgery Department, Armed Forces Hospital-Southern Regions, Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Abdullah S Al Faifi
- Transplant Surgery Section, Surgery Department, Armed Forces Hospital-Southern Regions, Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia
| | - Weam El Nazer
- Nephrology Department, Armed Forces Hospital-Southern Regions, Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Mahedy
- Nephrology Department, Armed Forces Hospital-Southern Regions, Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Kamal
- Nephrology Department, Armed Forces Hospital-Southern Regions, Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibrahim S Al Faifi
- Department of Family Medicine, Armed Forces Hospital-Southern Regions, Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hana Abdulmalik
- Department of Surgery, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Omar Safar
- Department of Urology, Armed Forces Hospital-Southern Regions, Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad F Zaitoun
- Department of Pharmacy, Armed Forces Hospital-Southern Regions, Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed E Fahmy
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, North Shore University Hospital, Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York
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16
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Kirk AD, Adams AB, Durrbach A, Ford ML, Hildeman DA, Larsen CP, Vincenti F, Wojciechowski D, Woodle ES. Optimization of de novo belatacept-based immunosuppression administered to renal transplant recipients. Am J Transplant 2021; 21:1691-1698. [PMID: 33128812 PMCID: PMC8246831 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Kidney transplant recipients administered belatacept-based maintenance immunosuppression present with a more favorable metabolic profile, reduced incidence of de novo donor-specific antibodies (DSAs), and improved renal function and long-term patient/graft survival relative to individuals receiving calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based immunosuppression. However, the rates and severity of acute rejection (AR) are greater with the approved belatacept-based regimen than with CNI-based immunosuppression. Although these early co-stimulation blockade-resistant rejections are typically steroid sensitive, the higher rate of cellular AR has led many transplant centers to adopt immunosuppressive regimens that differ from the approved label. This article summarizes the available data on these alternative de novo belatacept-based maintenance regimens. Steroid-sparing, belatacept-based immunosuppression (following T cell-depleting induction therapy) has been shown to yield AR rates comparable to those seen with CNI-based regimens. Concomitant treatment with belatacept plus a mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor (mTORi; sirolimus or everolimus) has yielded AR rates ranging from 0 to 4%. Because the optimal induction agent and number of induction doses; blood levels of mTORi; and dose, duration, and use of corticosteroids have yet to be determined, larger prospective clinical trials are needed to establish the optimal alternative belatacept-based regimen for minimizing early cellular AR occurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan D. Kirk
- Department of SurgeryDuke UniversityDurhamNorth Carolina
| | | | - Antoine Durrbach
- Assistance Publique‐Hôpitaux de ParisNephrology and Renal Transplantation DepartmentHôpital Henri‐MondorUniversité Paris‐SaclayCreteilFrance
| | - Mandy L. Ford
- Emory Transplant CenterEmory UniversityAtlantaGeorgia
| | - David A. Hildeman
- Division of ImmunobiologyCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Department of PediatricsUniversity of Cincinnati College of MedicineCincinnatiOhio
| | | | - Flavio Vincenti
- Division of Transplant SurgeryUniversity of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCalifornia
| | | | - E. Steve Woodle
- Division of TransplantationDepartment of SurgeryUniversity of Cincinnati College of MedicineCincinnatiOhio
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17
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Goenka R, Xu Z, Samayoa J, Banach D, Beam C, Bose S, Dooner G, Forsyth CM, Lu X, Medina L, Sadhukhan R, Sielaff B, Sousa S, Tao Q, Touw D, Wu F, Kingsbury GA, Akamatsu Y. CTLA4-Ig-Based Bifunctional Costimulation Inhibitor Blocks CD28 and ICOS Signaling to Prevent T Cell Priming and Effector Function. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 206:1102-1113. [PMID: 33495237 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2001100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CTLA4-Ig/abatacept dampens activation of naive T cells by blocking costimulation via CD28. It is an approved drug for rheumatoid arthritis but failed to deliver efficacy in a number of other autoimmune diseases. One explanation is that activated T cells rely less on CD28 signaling and use alternate coreceptors for effector function. ICOS is critical for activation of T-dependent humoral immune responses, which drives pathophysiology of IgG-mediated autoimmune diseases. In this study, we asked whether CD28 and ICOS play nonredundant roles for maintenance of T-dependent responses in mouse models. Using a hapten-protein immunization model, we show that during an ongoing germinal center response, combination treatment with CTLA4-Ig and ICOS ligand (ICOSL) blocking Ab completely dissolves ongoing germinal center responses, whereas single agents show only partial activity. Next, we took two approaches to engineer a therapeutic molecule that blocks both pathways. First, we engineered CTLA4-Ig to enhance binding to ICOSL while retaining affinity to CD80/CD86. Using a library approach, binding affinity of CTLA4-Ig to human ICOSL was increased significantly from undetectable to 15-42 nM; however, the affinity was still insufficient to completely block binding of ICOSL to ICOS. Second, we designed a bispecific costimulation inhibitor with high-affinity CTLA4 extracellular domains fused to anti-ICOSL Ab termed bifunctional costimulation inhibitor. With this bispecific approach, we achieved complete inhibition of CD80 and CD86 binding to CD28 as well as ICOS binding to ICOSL. Such bispecific molecules may provide greater therapeutic benefit in IgG-mediated inflammatory diseases compared with CTLA4-Ig alone.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zhenghai Xu
- AbbVie Redwood City, Redwood City, CA 94306; and
| | | | | | | | - Sahana Bose
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center, Worcester, MA 01605
| | | | | | - Xiaoqing Lu
- AbbVie Cambridge Research Center, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | | | | | | | | | - Qingfeng Tao
- AbbVie Cambridge Research Center, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Debra Touw
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center, Worcester, MA 01605
| | - Fei Wu
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center, Worcester, MA 01605
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18
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Shaw BI, Espinosa JR, Stempora L, Miller A, Adams B, Kirk AD. Functional Characteristics and Phenotypic Plasticity of CD57 +PD1 - CD4 T Cells and Their Relationship with Transplant Immunosuppression. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 206:1668-1676. [PMID: 33597150 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Costimulation blockade (CoB)-based immunosuppression offers the promise of improved transplantation outcomes with reduced drug toxicity. However, it is hampered by early acute rejections, mediated at least in part by differentiated, CoB-resistant T cells, such as CD57+PD1- CD4 T cells. In this study, we characterize these cells pretransplant, determine their fate posttransplant, and examine their proliferative capacity in vitro in humans. Our studies show that CD57+PD1- CD4 T cells are correlated with increasing age and CMV infection pretransplant, and persist for up to 1 y posttransplant. These cells are replication incompetent alone but proliferated in the presence of unsorted PBMCs in a contact-independent manner. When stimulated, cells sorted by CD57/PD1 status upregulate markers of activation with proliferation. Up to 85% of CD57+PD1- cells change expression of CD57/PD1 with stimulation, typically, upregulating PD1 and downregulating CD57. PD1 upregulation is accentuated in the presence of rapamycin but prevented by tacrolimus. These data support a general theory of CoB-resistant cells as Ag-experienced, costimulation-independent cells and suggest a mechanism for the synergy of belatacept and rapamycin, with increased expression of the activation marker PD1 potentiating exhaustion of CoB-resistant cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian I Shaw
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710
| | | | - Linda Stempora
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710
| | - Allison Miller
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710
| | - Bartley Adams
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710
| | - Allan D Kirk
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710
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19
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Oberbauer R, Edinger M, Berlakovich G, Kalhs P, Worel N, Heinze G, Wolzt M, Lion T, Wekerle T. A Prospective Controlled Trial to Evaluate Safety and Efficacy of in vitro Expanded Recipient Regulatory T Cell Therapy and Tocilizumab Together With Donor Bone Marrow Infusion in HLA-Mismatched Living Donor Kidney Transplant Recipients (Trex001). Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 7:634260. [PMID: 33585521 PMCID: PMC7873436 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2020.634260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The induction of donor-specific immunological tolerance could improve outcome after kidney transplantation. However, no tolerance protocol is available for routine clinical use. Chimerism-based regimens hold promise, but their widespread application is impeded in part by unresolved safety issues. This study tests the hypothesis that therapy with polyclonal recipient regulatory T cells (Tregs) and anti-IL6R (tocilizumab) leads to transient chimerism and achieves pro-tolerogenic immunomodulation in kidney transplant recipients also receiving donor bone marrow (BM) without myelosuppressive conditioning of the recipient. Methods/design: A prospective, open-label, controlled, single-center, phase I/IIa academic study is performed in HLA-mismatched living donor kidney transplant recipients. Study group: Recipients of the study group receive in vitro expanded recipient Tregs and a donor bone marrow cell infusion within 3 days after transplantation and tocilizumab for the first 3 weeks post-transplant. In addition they are treated with thymoglobulin, belatacept, sirolimus, and steroids as immunosuppression. Starting 6 months post-transplant, sirolimus and steroids are withdrawn in a step-wise manner in stable patients. Control group: Recipients of the control group are treated with thymoglobulin, belatacept, sirolimus, and steroids as immunosuppression. Co-primary endpoints of safety (impaired graft function [eGFR <35 mL/min/1.73 m2], graft-vs.-host disease or patient death by 12 months) and efficacy (total leukocyte donor chimerism within 28 days post-transplant) are assessed. Secondary endpoints include frequency of biopsy-proven acute rejection episodes and subclinical rejection episodes on surveillance biopsies, assessment of kidney graft function, and the evaluation whether the study protocol leads to detectable changes in the immune system indicative of pro-tolerogenic immune modulation. Discussion: The results of this trial will provide evidence whether treatment with recipient Tregs and donor BM is feasible, safe and efficacious in leading to transient chimerism. If successful, this combination cell therapy has the potential to become a novel treatment option for immunomodulation in organ transplantation without the toxicities associated with myelosuppressive recipient conditioning. Trial registration: European Clinical Trials Database EudraCT Nr 2018-003142-16 and clinicaltrials.gov NCT03867617.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rainer Oberbauer
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthias Edinger
- University Hospital Regensburg, Department of Internal Medicine III & Regensburg Center for Interventional Immunology (RCI), Regensburg, Germany
| | - Gabriela Berlakovich
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Kalhs
- Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nina Worel
- Department of Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg Heinze
- Section for Clinical Biometrics, Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics and Intelligent Systems, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Wolzt
- Clinical Trials Coordination Centre, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Lion
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria.,Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Hematology & Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Labdia Labordiagnostik GmbH, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Wekerle
- Section of Transplantation Immunology, Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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20
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Frederiksen HR, Doehn U, Tveden-Nyborg P, Freude KK. Non-immunogenic Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, a Promising Way Forward for Allogenic Transplantations for Neurological Disorders. Front Genome Ed 2021; 2:623717. [PMID: 34713244 PMCID: PMC8525385 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2020.623717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurological disorder is a general term used for diseases affecting the function of the brain and nervous system. Those include a broad range of diseases from developmental disorders (e.g., Autism) over injury related disorders (e.g., stroke and brain tumors) to age related neurodegeneration (e.g., Alzheimer's disease), affecting up to 1 billion people worldwide. For most of those disorders, no curative treatment exists leaving symptomatic treatment as the primary mean of alleviation. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) in combination with animal models have been instrumental to foster our understanding of underlying disease mechanisms in the brain. Of specific interest are patient derived hiPSC which allow for targeted gene editing in the cases of known mutations. Such personalized treatment would include (1) acquisition of primary cells from the patient, (2) reprogramming of those into hiPSC via non-integrative methods, (3) corrective intervention via CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing of mutations, (4) quality control to ensure successful correction and absence of off-target effects, and (5) subsequent transplantation of hiPSC or pre-differentiated precursor cells for cell replacement therapies. This would be the ideal scenario but it is time consuming and expensive. Therefore, it would be of great benefit if transplanted hiPSC could be modulated to become invisible to the recipient's immune system, avoiding graft rejection and allowing for allogenic transplantations. This review will focus on the current status of gene editing to generate non-immunogenic hiPSC and how these cells can be used to treat neurological disorders by using cell replacement therapy. By providing an overview of current limitations and challenges in stem cell replacement therapies and the treatment of neurological disorders, this review outlines how gene editing and non-immunogenic hiPSC can contribute and pave the road for new therapeutic advances. Finally, the combination of using non-immunogenic hiPSC and in vivo animal modeling will highlight the importance of models with translational value for safety efficacy testing; before embarking on human trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henriette Reventlow Frederiksen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulrik Doehn
- Stem Cell Discovery, Novo Nordisk A/S, Måløv, Denmark
| | - Pernille Tveden-Nyborg
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristine K. Freude
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- *Correspondence: Kristine K. Freude
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21
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Chambers ET. Role of low-dose calcineurin inhibitor regimens in pediatric kidney transplantation. Am J Transplant 2021; 21:11-12. [PMID: 32580235 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Eileen Tsai Chambers
- Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.,Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
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22
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Schmitz R, Fitch ZW, Xu H, Ghali A, Mehta AK, Guasch A, Kirk AD. Kidney transplantation using alemtuzumab, belatacept, and sirolimus: Five-year follow-up. Am J Transplant 2020; 20:3609-3619. [PMID: 32515087 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Kidney transplant outcomes are limited by toxicities associated with calcineurin inhibitors and steroids. This trial was conducted to determine whether a costimulation blockade (CoB)-based regimen could achieve acceptable long-term outcomes and graft survival could be maintained solely with CoB. Forty patients underwent alemtuzumab induction followed by belatacept and sirolimus maintenance therapy. Patients were offered weaning to belatacept monotherapy after 1 year and followed for 5 years. Five-year patient and graft survival rates were 100% and 95%, respectively. Graft function remained stable with a mean estimated glomerular filtration rates of 67 ± 21 and 71 ± 19 at 36 and 60 months, respectively. There was no clinical rejection in the first year; subclinical rejection was detected by protocol biopsy in 4 patients. Twelve patients were successfully weaned to belatacept monotherapy. Cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus reactivations were well controlled, but 9 patients experienced transient BK viremia during the first year. Alemtuzumab produced profound lymphopenia followed by gradual T cell and more rapid B cell reconstitution to a repertoire deviated toward naïve cells with increased regulatory T cells. This regimen effectively prevents allograft rejection without using steroids or calcineurin inhibitors, enriches for naïve cells susceptible to control with CoB, and permits control of rejection with belatacept monotherapy in selected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Schmitz
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Zachary W Fitch
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - He Xu
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ada Ghali
- Emory Transplant Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Aneesh K Mehta
- Emory Transplant Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Antonio Guasch
- Emory Transplant Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Allan D Kirk
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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23
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mTOR Inhibitor Therapy Diminishes Circulating CD8+ CD28- Effector Memory T Cells and Improves Allograft Inflammation in Belatacept-refractory Renal Allograft Rejection. Transplantation 2020; 104:1058-1069. [PMID: 31415033 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000002917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Renal allograft rejection is more frequent under belatacept-based, compared with tacrolimus-based, immunosuppression. We studied kidney transplant recipients experiencing rejection under belatacept-based early corticosteroid withdrawal following T-cell-depleting induction in a recent randomized trial (Belatacept-based Early Steroid Withdrawal Trial, clinicaltrials.gov NCT01729494) to determine mechanisms of rejection and treatment. METHODS Peripheral mononuclear cells, serum creatinine levels, and renal biopsies were collected from 8 patients undergoing belatacept-refractory rejection (BRR). We used flow cytometry, histology, and immunofluorescence to characterize CD8 effector memory T cell (TEM) populations in the periphery and graft before and after mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibition. RESULTS Here, we found that patients with BRR did not respond to standard antirejection therapy and had a substantial increase in alloreactive CD8 T cells with a CD28/DR/CD38/CD45RO TEM. These cells had increased activation of the mTOR pathway, as assessed by phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6 expression. Notably, everolimus (an mTOR inhibitor) treatment of patients with BRR halted the in vivo proliferation of TEM cells and their ex vivo alloreactivity and resulted in their significant reduction in the peripheral blood. The frequency of circulating FoxP3 regulatory T cells was not altered. Importantly, everolimus led to rapid resolution of rejection as confirmed by histology. CONCLUSIONS Thus, while prior work has shown that concomitant belatacept + mTOR inhibitor therapy is effective for maintenance immunosuppression, our preliminary data suggest that everolimus may provide an available means for effecting "rescue" therapy for rejections occurring under belatacept that are refractory to traditional antirejection therapy with corticosteroids and polyclonal antilymphocyte globulin.
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24
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Calabrese LH, Caporali R, Blank CU, Kirk AD. Modulating the wayward T cell: New horizons with immune checkpoint inhibitor treatments in autoimmunity, transplant, and cancer. J Autoimmun 2020; 115:102546. [PMID: 32980229 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2020.102546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The T-cell response is regulated by the balance between costimulatory and coinhibitory signals. Immune checkpoints are essential for efficient T-cell activation, but also for maintaining self-tolerance and protecting tissues from damage caused by the immune system, and for providing protective immunity. Modulating immune checkpoints can serve diametric goals, such that blocking a coinhibitory molecule can unleash anti-cancer immunity whereas stimulating the same molecule can reduce an over-reaction in autoimmune disease. The purpose of this review is to examine the regulation of T-cell costimulation and coinhibition, which is central to the processes underpinning autoimmunity, transplant rejection and immune evasion in cancer. We will focus on the immunomodulation agents that regulate these unwanted over- and under-reactions. The use of such agents has led to control of symptoms and slowing of progression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, reduced rejection rates in transplant patients, and prolonged survival in patients with cancer. The management of immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment in certain challenging patient populations, including patients with pre-existing autoimmune conditions or transplant patients who develop cancer, as well as the management of immune-related adverse events in patients receiving antitumor therapy, is examined. Finally, the future of immune checkpoint inhibitors, including examples of emerging targets that are currently in development, as well as recent insights gained using new molecular techniques, is discussed. T-cell costimulation and coinhibition play vital roles in these diverse therapeutic areas. Targeting immune checkpoints continues to be a powerful avenue for the development of agents suitable for treating autoimmune diseases and cancers and for improving transplant outcomes. Enhanced collaboration between therapy area specialists to share learnings across disciplines will improve our understanding of the opposing effects of treatments for autoimmune disease/transplant rejection versus cancer on immune checkpoints, which has the potential to lead to improved patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Roberto Caporali
- University of Milan, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health and Rheumatology Division, ASST Pini-CTO Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Allan D Kirk
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
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25
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Abstract
Therapeutic targeting of immune checkpoints has garnered significant attention in the area of cancer immunotherapy, in which efforts have focused in particular on cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) and PD1, both of which are members of the CD28 family. In autoimmunity, these same pathways can be targeted to opposite effect: to curb the over-exuberant immune response. The CTLA4 checkpoint serves as an exemplar, whereby CTLA4 activity is blocked by antibodies in cancer immunotherapy and augmented by the provision of soluble CTLA4 in autoimmunity. Here, we review the targeting of co-stimulatory molecules in autoimmune diseases, focusing in particular on agents directed at members of the CD28 or tumour necrosis factor receptor families. We present the state of the art in co-stimulatory blockade approaches, including rational combinations of immune inhibitory agents, and discuss the future opportunities and challenges in this field.
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26
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Knechtle SJ, Shaw JM, Hering BJ, Kraemer K, Madsen JC. Translational impact of NIH-funded nonhuman primate research in transplantation. Sci Transl Med 2020; 11:11/500/eaau0143. [PMID: 31292263 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aau0143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has long supported using nonhuman primate (NHP) models for research on kidney, pancreatic islet, heart, and lung transplantation. The primary purpose of this research has been to develop new treatments for down-modulating or preventing deleterious immune responses after transplantation in human patients. Here, we discuss NIH-funded NHP studies of immune cell depletion, costimulation blockade, regulatory cell therapy, desensitization, and mixed hematopoietic chimerism that either preceded clinical trials or prevented the human application of therapies that were toxic or ineffective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart J Knechtle
- Duke Transplant Center, Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
| | - Julia M Shaw
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Bernhard J Hering
- Schulze Diabetes Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Kristy Kraemer
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Joren C Madsen
- Center for Transplantation Sciences and Division of Cardiac Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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27
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Abstract
Costimulation between T cells and antigen-presenting cells is essential for the regulation of an effective alloimmune response and is not targeted with the conventional immunosuppressive therapy after kidney transplantation. Costimulation blockade therapy with biologicals allows precise targeting of the immune response but without non-immune adverse events. Multiple costimulation blockade approaches have been developed that inhibit the alloimmune response in kidney transplant recipients with varying degrees of success. Belatacept, an immunosuppressive drug that selectively targets the CD28-CD80/CD86 pathway, is the only costimulation blockade therapy that is currently approved for kidney transplant recipients. In the last decade, belatacept therapy has been shown to be a promising therapy in subgroups of kidney transplant recipients; however, the widespread use of belatacept has been tempered by an increased risk of acute kidney transplant rejection. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the costimulation blockade therapies that are currently in use or being developed for kidney transplant indications.
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28
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Stock PG, Mannon RB, Armstrong B, Watson N, Ikle D, Robien M, Morrison Y, Odorico J, Fridell J, Mehta AK, Newell KA. Challenges of calcineurin inhibitor withdrawal following combined pancreas and kidney transplantation: Results of a prospective, randomized clinical trial. Am J Transplant 2020; 20:1668-1678. [PMID: 32039559 PMCID: PMC8982902 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.15817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 01/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
In a phase 2 multicenter open-label randomized trial sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) recipients were randomized to a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based immunosuppressive regimen (tacrolimus) (n = 21), or an investigational arm using low-dose CNI plus costimulation blockade (belatacept) with intended CNI withdrawal (n = 22). Both arms included induction therapy with rabbit ATG, mycophenolate sodium, or mycophenolate mofetil and rapid withdrawal of steroids. Enrollment and CNI withdrawal were stopped after 43/60 planned subjects had been enrolled. At that time, the rate of biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR) of the pancreas was low in both groups until CNI was withdrawn, with four of the five pancreas rejections occurring during or after CNI withdrawal. The rate of BPAR of kidney allografts was low in both control (9.5%) and investigational (9.1%) arms. Pancreas graft survival at 52 weeks, defined by insulin independence, was 21 (100%) in the control group and 19 (86%) in the investigational arm. One subject in the investigational arm died with functioning pancreas and kidney grafts. Renal function at week 52 was similar in both arms. Costimulation blockade with belatacept did not provide sufficient immunosuppression to reliably prevent pancreas rejection in SPK transplants undergoing CNI withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Natasha Watson
- Transplantation Branch, National Institute Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | - Mark Robien
- Transplantation Branch, National Institute Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Yvonne Morrison
- Transplantation Branch, National Institute Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jon Odorico
- University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
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29
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Li S, Oh BC, Chu C, Arnold A, Jablonska A, Furtmüller GJ, Qin HM, Boltze J, Magnus T, Ludewig P, Janowski M, Brandacher G, Walczak P. Induction of immunological tolerance to myelinogenic glial-restricted progenitor allografts. Brain 2020; 142:3456-3472. [PMID: 31529023 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awz275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Revised: 06/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The immunological barrier currently precludes the clinical utilization of allogeneic stem cells. Although glial-restricted progenitors have become attractive candidates to treat a wide variety of neurological diseases, their survival in immunocompetent recipients is limited. In this study, we adopted a short-term, systemically applicable co-stimulation blockade-based strategy using CTLA4-Ig and anti-CD154 antibodies to modulate T-cell activation in the context of allogeneic glial-restricted progenitor transplantation. We found that co-stimulation blockade successfully prevented rejection of allogeneic glial-restricted progenitors from immunocompetent mouse brains. The long-term engrafted glial-restricted progenitors myelinated dysmyelinated adult mouse brains within one month. Furthermore, we identified a set of plasma miRNAs whose levels specifically correlated to the dynamic changes of immunoreactivity and as such could serve as biomarkers for graft rejection or tolerance. We put forward a successful strategy to induce alloantigen-specific hyporesponsiveness towards stem cells in the CNS, which will foster effective therapeutic application of allogeneic stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shen Li
- Neurology Department, Dalian Municipal Central Hospital affiliated to Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.,Division of MR Research, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Byoung Chol Oh
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation (VCA) Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Chengyan Chu
- Division of MR Research, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Antje Arnold
- Division of MR Research, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Anna Jablonska
- Division of MR Research, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Georg J Furtmüller
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation (VCA) Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hua-Min Qin
- Division of MR Research, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Johannes Boltze
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Tim Magnus
- Neurology Department, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Peter Ludewig
- Neurology Department, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Mirosław Janowski
- Division of MR Research, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Gerald Brandacher
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation (VCA) Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Piotr Walczak
- Division of MR Research, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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30
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Park JB. Future direction of immunosuppressive treatment in organ transplantation. JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION 2020. [DOI: 10.5124/jkma.2020.63.5.259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the first success of kidney transplantation in 1954, significant advances have been achieved in the field of organ transplantation. It was possible with the introduction of immunosuppressive drugs belonging to the class of calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) such as cyclosporine and tacrolimus, the advances in surgical techniques and perioperative management, the monitoring and management infections, and the highly sensitive and specific antibody detection techniques. Despite recent progress, we currently encounter the limitation of better long-term transplant outcomes mainly because of paradoxical CNI toxicity and failure to control antibody or antibody-mediated rejections. The future direction of immunosuppression can be continued by optimizing immunosuppressive regimens with currently available immunosuppressants for better control of antibodies while avoiding CNI toxicity and by using biological therapeutics such as costimulation blockade agents that provide effective control of antibodies along with a reduction in usage or avoidance of CNIs and may develop as new immunosuppressants in the near future. Moreover, a tolerance induction through transplantation of donor hematopoietic stem cells or an infusion of regulatory cells using various sources of immune cells can also be a promising strategy as it can fundamentally escape from the complications of immunosuppressants. Over and above, it is important to note that the results of clinically applicable immunosuppressants from research in the non-human primate xenotransplantation model at the forefront of the future development of immunosuppressants can be a good opportunity to selectively apply to allo-transplants. No immunosuppressants can be risk-free, and therefore, all new immunosuppressants should be evaluated under the considerations for the risk/benefit ratio in various clinical conditions.
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31
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Atia A, Moris D, McRae M, Song M, Stempora L, Leopardi F, Williams K, Kwun J, Parker W, Cardones AR, Kirk AD, Cendales LC. Th17 cell inhibition in a costimulation blockade-based regimen for vascularized composite allotransplantation using a nonhuman primate model. Transpl Int 2020; 33:1294-1301. [PMID: 32277724 DOI: 10.1111/tri.13612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) is challenged by the morbidity of immunosuppression required to prevent rejection. The use of highly specific biologics has not been well explored in VCA. Given that psoriasis is T-cell mediated, as is rejection of skin-containing VCAs, we sought to assess the role of ustekinumab and secukinumab, which are approved to treat psoriasis by inhibiting Th17 cells. We combined these agents with belatacept and steroids in a VCA nonhuman primate model. Group I consisted of belatacept and steroids, group II was belatacept, ustekinumab with steroid taper, and group III was belatacept, secukinumab with steroid taper. Three animals were transplanted in each group. In group I, the mean graft survival time until the first sign of rejection was 10 days whereas in group II and III it was 10.33 and 11 days, respectively. The immunohistochemistry analysis showed that the number of IL-17a+ cells and the intensity of IL-17a expression were significantly reduced in both dermis and hypodermis parts in groups II and III when compared to group I (P < 0.01). Ustekinumab and secukinumab led to less T-cell infiltration and IL-17a expression in the allograft but provided no benefit to belatacept and steroids in VCA survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Atia
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Dimitrios Moris
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - MacKenzie McRae
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Mingqing Song
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Linda Stempora
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Francis Leopardi
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kyha Williams
- Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jean Kwun
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - William Parker
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Adela R Cardones
- Department of Dermatology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Allan D Kirk
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Linda C Cendales
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
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32
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The past, present, and future of costimulation blockade in organ transplantation. Curr Opin Organ Transplant 2020; 24:391-401. [PMID: 31157670 DOI: 10.1097/mot.0000000000000656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Manipulating costimulatory signals has been shown to alter T cell responses and prolong graft survival in solid organ transplantation. Our understanding of and ability to target various costimulation pathways continues to evolve. RECENT FINDINGS Since the approval of belatacept in kidney transplantation, many additional biologics have been developed targeting clinically relevant costimulation signaling axes including CD40-CD40L, inducible costimulator-inducible costimulator ligand (ICOS-ICOSL), and OX40-OX40L. Currently, the effects of costimulation blockade on posttransplant humoral responses, tolerance induction, and xenotransplantation are under active investigation. Here, we will discuss these pathways as well as preclinical and clinical outcomes of biologics targeting these pathways in organ transplantation. SUMMARY Targeting costimultion is a promising approach for not only controlling T cell but also B cell responses. Consequently, costimulation blockade shows considerable potential for improving outcomes in antibody-mediated rejection and xenotransplantation.
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33
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Woodle ES, Kaufman DB, Shields AR, Leone J, Matas A, Wiseman A, West-Thielke P, Sa T, King EC, Alloway RR. Belatacept-based immunosuppression with simultaneous calcineurin inhibitor avoidance and early corticosteroid withdrawal: A prospective, randomized multicenter trial. Am J Transplant 2020; 20:1039-1055. [PMID: 31680394 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.15688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Simultaneous calcineurin inhibitor avoidance (CNIA) and early corticosteroid withdrawal (ESW) have not been achieved primarily due to excessive acute rejection. This trial compared 2 belatacept-based CNIA/ESW regimens with a tacrolimus-based ESW regimen. Kidney transplant recipients were randomized to receive alemtuzumab/belatacept, rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (rATG)/belatacept, or rATG/tacrolimus. The combinatorial primary endpoint consisted of patient death, renal allograft loss, or a Modification of Diet in Renal Disease-calculated eGFR of <45 mL/min/1.73 m2 at 12 months. Results are reported by treatment group (alemtuzumab/belatacept, rATG/belatacept, and rATG/tacrolimus). Superiority was not observed at 1 year for the primary endpoint (9/107 [8.4%], 15/104 [14.4%], and 14/105 [13.3%], respectively; P = NS) for either belatacept-based regimen. Differences were not observed for secondary endpoints (death, death-censored graft loss, or estimated glomerular filtration rates < 45 mL/min/1.73 m2 ). Differences were observed in biopsy-proved acute cellular rejection (10.3%, 18.3%, and 1.9%, respectively) (P < .001), but not in antibody-mediated rejection, mixed acute rejection, or de novo donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies. Neurologic and electrolyte abnormality adverse events were less frequent under belatacept. Belatacept-based CNIA/ESW regimens did not prove to be superior for the primary or secondary endpoints. Belatacept-treated patients demonstrated an increase in biopsy-proved acute cellular rejection and reduced neurologic and metabolic adverse events. These results demonstrate that simultaneous CNIA/ESW is feasible without excessive acute rejection.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Steve Woodle
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | | | - Adele R Shields
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | | | | | | | | | - Ting Sa
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Eileen C King
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio.,Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Rita R Alloway
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
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34
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Blew KH, Chua A, Foreman J, Gbadegesin R, Jackson A, Nagaraj S, Sadun R, Wigfall D, Kirk AD, Chambers ET. Tailored use of belatacept in adolescent kidney transplantation. Am J Transplant 2020; 20:884-888. [PMID: 31550421 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.15611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Adolescent transplant recipients are at risk for nonadherence, development of de novo donor-specific antibody (dnDSA), and allograft loss. Belatacept, a selective T cell costimulatory blocker, is associated with reduced dnDSA, improved renal function, and prolonged allograft survival when compared to calcineurin inhibitor-based regimens in adults; however, its use in children is scant. Three adolescents were initiated on belatacept between August 2017 and September 2018 at the time of kidney transplantation. Selection criteria included age ≥ 14 and EBV IgG + serostatus. Intraoperative alemtuzumab and methylprednisolone were given as induction therapy. Tailored maintenance therapy included steroid-free belatacept and sirolimus for two patients. One patient was initially maintained steroid-free on belatacept and belimumab, an inhibitor of B cell activating factor to treat concurrent systemic lupus erythematous; steroids were added subsequently. Renal function, biopsy-proven rejection, dnDSA, allograft survival, infection, nonadherence, and proteinuria were monitored. Renal function was 86, 73, 52 mL/min/1.73 m2 at 20, 20, and 8 months, respectively. There was 100% adherence to therapy and no development of dnDSA. All patients had treatable infections. One developed steroid-responsive acute cellular rejection. Belatacept-based regimens can be tailored for adolescent recipients with good short-term clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn H Blew
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Annabelle Chua
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - John Foreman
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Rasheed Gbadegesin
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Annette Jackson
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Shashi Nagaraj
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Rebecca Sadun
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.,Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Del Wigfall
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Allan D Kirk
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.,Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Eileen T Chambers
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
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35
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Xu H, Mehta AK, Gao Q, Lee HJ, Ghali A, Guasch A, Kirk AD. B cell reconstitution following alemtuzumab induction under a belatacept-based maintenance regimen. Am J Transplant 2020; 20:653-662. [PMID: 31596034 PMCID: PMC7202689 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.15639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Lymphocyte depletion has been shown to control costimulation blockade-resistant rejection but, in some settings, to exacerbate antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). We have used alemtuzumab, which depletes T and B cells, combined with belatacept and rapamycin and previously reported control of both costimulation blockade-resistant rejection and AMR. To evaluate this regimen's effect on B cell signatures, we investigated 40 patients undergoing this therapy. B cell counts and phenotypes were interrogated using flow cytometry, and serum was analyzed for total IgG, IgM, and donor-specific alloantibody (DSA). Alemtuzumab induction produced pan-lymphocyte depletion; B cells repopulated faster and more completely than T cells. Reconstituting B cells were predominantly naïve, and memory B cells were significantly reduced (P = .001) post repopulation. Two B cell populations with potential immunomodulatory effects-regulatory (CD38hi CD24hi IgMhi CD20hi ) and transitional B cells (CD19+ CD27- IgD+ CD38hi )-were enriched posttransplant (P = .001). Total serum IgG decreased from baseline (P = .016) while IgM levels remained stable. Five patients developed DSAs within 36 months posttransplant, but none developed AMR. Baseline IgG levels in these patients were significantly higher than those in patients without DSAs. These findings suggest that belatacept and rapamycin together limit homeostatic B cell activation following B cell depletion and may lessen the risk of AMR. This regimen warrants prospective, comparative study. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00565773.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Xu
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC,,Corresponding author: He Xu, M.D., Mailing Address: Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Edwin Jones Building, Room 368, Durham, NC 27710, Telephone: (919) 681-4853, Fax Number: (919) 681-2779,
| | - Aneesh K. Mehta
- Emory Transplant Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Qimeng Gao
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
| | - Hui-Jie Lee
- Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
| | - Ada Ghali
- Emory Transplant Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Antonio Guasch
- Emory Transplant Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Allan D. Kirk
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
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36
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Pepper RJ, McAdoo SP, Moran SM, Kelly D, Scott J, Hamour S, Burns A, Griffith M, Galliford J, Levy JB, Cairns TD, Gopaluni S, Jones RB, Jayne D, Little MA, Pusey CD, Salama AD. A novel glucocorticoid-free maintenance regimen for anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody-associated vasculitis. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2019; 58:260-268. [PMID: 30239910 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/key288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Glucocorticoids (GCs) are a mainstay of treatment for patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) but are associated with significant adverse effects. Effective remission induction in severe AAV using extremely limited GC exposure has not been attempted. We tested an early rapid GC withdrawal induction regimen for patients with severe AAV. Methods Patients with active MPO- or PR3-ANCA vasculitis or ANCA-negative pauci-immune glomerulonephritis were included. Induction treatment consisted of two doses of rituximab, 3 months of low-dose CYC and a short course of oral GC (for between 1 and 2 weeks). Clinical, biochemical and immunological outcomes as well as adverse events were recorded. Results A total of 49 patients were included, with at least 12 months of follow-up in 46. All patients achieved remission, with decreases observed in creatinine, proteinuria, CRP, ANCA level and BVAS. Three patients requiring dialysis at presentation became dialysis independent. Two patients required the introduction of maintenance GC for treatment of vasculitis. Overall outcomes were comparable to those of two matched cohorts (n = 172) from previous European Vasculitis Society (EUVAS) trials, but with lower total exposure to CYC and GCs (P < 0.001) and reduced rates of severe infections (P = 0.02) compared with the RITUXVAS (rituximab versus cyclophosphamide in AAV) trial. We found no new cases of diabetes in the first year compared with historic rates of 8.2% from the EUVAS trials (P = 0.04). Conclusion Early GC withdrawal in severe AAV is as effective for remission induction as the standard of care and is associated with reduced GC-related adverse events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth J Pepper
- University College London Centre for Nephrology, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
| | - Stephen P McAdoo
- Renal and Vascular Inflammation Section, Imperial College London, London, UK.,Vasculitis Clinic, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Sarah M Moran
- Trinity Health Kidney Centre, Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Dearbhla Kelly
- Trinity Health Kidney Centre, Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jennifer Scott
- Trinity Health Kidney Centre, Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sally Hamour
- University College London Centre for Nephrology, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
| | - Aine Burns
- University College London Centre for Nephrology, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
| | - Megan Griffith
- Renal and Vascular Inflammation Section, Imperial College London, London, UK.,Vasculitis Clinic, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Jack Galliford
- Vasculitis Clinic, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Jeremy B Levy
- Renal and Vascular Inflammation Section, Imperial College London, London, UK.,Vasculitis Clinic, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Thomas D Cairns
- Vasculitis Clinic, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Rachel B Jones
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - David Jayne
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mark A Little
- Trinity Health Kidney Centre, Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.,Irish Centre for Vascular Biology, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Charles D Pusey
- Renal and Vascular Inflammation Section, Imperial College London, London, UK.,Vasculitis Clinic, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Alan D Salama
- University College London Centre for Nephrology, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
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37
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Zhang L, Du T, Ma D, Guo F, Li Z, Yan H. Retracted: Combined therapy using LHRH-PE40 and anti-CD40 dendritic cells substantially eliminate tumor cells. J Cell Biochem 2019; 120:8093-8100. [PMID: 30485508 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.28088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
LHRH-PE40 was used to promote the proliferation of bone marrow derived cell (BMDC) and improve the antigen-presenting ability of BMDC as well as the immune function via the CD40 signal pathway. LHRH-PE40 was also implicated in cancer treatment, targeting a variety of cancer cells that express luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone receptor (LHRHR). In the present study, the mechanism and efficacy of LHRH-PE40 were addressed in the following three aspects. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to confirm the binding specificity of LHRH-PE40 to LHRHR. The killing effect of LHRH-PE40 on target cells was mediated by LHRHR, which specifically killed LHRHR-positive target cells while the minimal cytotoxicity of LHRHR-negative cells is negligible. Spiegelmers, a molecule mutually exclusive with GnRH and developed by Sven Klussmann and Dr Sven Klussmann of NOXXON Pharmaceuticals in Germany, demonstrated that LHRH-PE40 maintains a combinatory characteristics of LHRH and LHRHR. In the end, the mechanism of LHRH-PE40 underlying induction of apoptosis at low concentration and prolonged conditions was firstly demonstrated by the basic method of detecting apoptosis to induce apoptosis. It provided a scientific basis for clinical application of LHRH-PE40 and laid a foundation for the further study of LHRH-PE40 on inducing apoptosis of target cells. The target cells herein refer to tumor cells that overexpress LHRHR. This study shows that activated DC can more effectively promote the proliferation of CD4+ T cells, and initially proved that DC carrying anti-CD40 antibody promoted the immune treatment of the tumor. Combining LHRH-PE40 with anti-CD40 DCs achieved substantially improved efficacy in killing tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Limin Zhang
- The Affiliated Hospital of North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
| | | | - DongBin Ma
- Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Fang Guo
- Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - ZhenWei Li
- Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Hua Yan
- Tianjin Huanhu Hospital, Tianjin, China
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38
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Sparkes T, Ravichandran B, Opara O, Ugarte R, Drachenberg CB, Philosophe B, Bromberg JS, Barth RN. Alemtuzumab induction and belatacept maintenance in marginal pathology renal allografts. Clin Transplant 2019; 33:e13531. [PMID: 30866104 DOI: 10.1111/ctr.13531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
We performed a prospective, 12-month, single-center, nonrandomized, open-label pilot study to investigate the use of belatacept therapy combined with alemtuzumab induction in renal allografts with preexisting pathology, as these kidneys may be more susceptible to additional toxicity when exposed to calcineurin inhibitors posttransplant. Nineteen belatacept recipients were matched retrospectively to a cohort of tacrolimus recipients on the basis of preimplantation pathology. The estimated glomerular filtration rate was not significantly different between belatacept and tacrolimus recipients at either 3 or 12 months posttransplant (59 vs 45, P = 0.1 and 56 vs 48 mL/min/1.72/m2 , P = 0.3). Biopsy-proven acute rejection rates at 12 months were 26% in belatacept recipients and 16% in tacrolimus recipients (P = 0.7). Graft survival at 1 year was 89% in both groups. Alemtuzumab induction combined with either calcineurin inhibitor or costimulatory blockade therapies resulted in similar acceptable one-year outcomes in kidneys with preexisting pathologic changes. Longer-term follow-up may be necessary to identify preferential strategies to improve outcomes of kidneys at a higher risk for poor function (ClinicalTrials.gov-NCT01496417).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy Sparkes
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Bharath Ravichandran
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Onumara Opara
- Department of Transplant, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Richard Ugarte
- Department of Transplant, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Cinthia B Drachenberg
- Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Benjamin Philosophe
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jonathan S Bromberg
- Department of Transplant, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Rolf N Barth
- Department of Transplant, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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39
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Belatacept in Solid Organ Transplant: Review of Current Literature Across Transplant Types. Transplantation 2019; 102:1440-1452. [PMID: 29787522 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000002291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) have been the backbone immunosuppressant for solid organ transplant recipients for decades. Long-term use of CNIs unfortunately is associated with multiple toxicities, with the biggest concern being CNI-induced nephrotoxicity. Belatacept is a novel agent approved for maintenance immunosuppression in renal transplant recipients. In the kidney transplant literature, it has shown promise as being an alternative agent by preserving renal function and having a minimal adverse effect profile. There are emerging studies of its use in other organ groups, particularly liver transplantation, as well as using with other alternative immunosuppressive strategies. The purpose of this review is to analyze the current literature of belatacept use in solid organ transplantation and discuss its use in current practice.
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40
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Fitch Z, Schmitz R, Kwun J, Hering B, Madsen J, Knechtle SJ. Transplant research in nonhuman primates to evaluate clinically relevant immune strategies in organ transplantation. Transplant Rev (Orlando) 2019; 33:115-129. [PMID: 31027947 DOI: 10.1016/j.trre.2019.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Research in transplant immunology using non-human primate (NHP) species to evaluate immunologic strategies to prevent rejection and prolong allograft survival has yielded results that have translated successfully into human organ transplant patient management. Other therapies have not proceeded to human translation due to failure in NHP testing, arguably sparing humans the futility and risk of such testing. The NHP transplant models are ethically necessary for drug development in this field and provide the closest analogue to human transplant patients available. The refinement of this resource with respect to colony MHC typing, reagent and assay development, and availability to the research community has greatly enhanced knowledge about transplant immunology and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Fitch
- Department of Surgery, Duke Transplant Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Center for Transplantation Sciences, Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, White 510c, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robin Schmitz
- Department of Surgery, Duke Transplant Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Jean Kwun
- Department of Surgery, Duke Transplant Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Bernhard Hering
- Schulze Diabetes Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Joren Madsen
- Department of Surgery, Duke Transplant Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Stuart J Knechtle
- Department of Surgery, Duke Transplant Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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41
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Xu M, Garcia-Aroz S, Banan B, Wang X, Rabe BJ, Zhou F, Nayak DK, Zhang Z, Jia J, Upadhya GA, Manning PT, Gaut JP, Lin Y, Chapman WC. Enhanced immunosuppression improves early allograft function in a porcine kidney transplant model of donation after circulatory death. Am J Transplant 2019; 19:713-723. [PMID: 30152136 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.15098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Revised: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
It remains controversial whether renal allografts from donation after circulatory death (DCD) have a higher risk of acute rejection (AR). In the porcine large animal kidney transplant model, we investigated the AR and function of DCD renal allografts compared to the non-DCD renal allografts and the effects of increased immunosuppression. We found that the AR was significantly increased along with elevated MHC-I expression in the DCD transplants receiving low-dose immunosuppression; however, AR and renal function were significantly improved when given high-dose immunosuppressive therapy postoperatively. Also, high-dose immunosuppression remarkably decreased the mRNA levels of ifn-g, il-6, tgf-b, il-4, and tnf-a in the allograft at day 5 and decreased serum cytokines levels of IFN-g and IL-17 at day 4 and day 5 after operation. Furthermore, Western blot analysis showed that higher immunosuppression decreased phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells-p65, increased phosphorylation of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase, and reduced the expression of Bcl-2-associated X protein and caspase-3 in the renal allografts. These results suggest that the DCD renal allograft seems to be more vulnerable to AR; enhanced immunosuppression reduces DCD-associated AR and improves early allograft function in a preclinical large animal model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Xu
- Department of Surgery, Section of Abdominal Transplantation, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Sandra Garcia-Aroz
- Department of Surgery, Section of Abdominal Transplantation, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Babak Banan
- Department of Surgery, Section of Abdominal Transplantation, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Xuanchuan Wang
- Department of Surgery, Section of Abdominal Transplantation, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Brian J Rabe
- Department of Surgery, Section of Abdominal Transplantation, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Fangyu Zhou
- Department of Surgery, Section of Abdominal Transplantation, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Deepak K Nayak
- University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Zhengyan Zhang
- Department of Surgery, Section of Abdominal Transplantation, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jianluo Jia
- Department of Surgery, Section of Abdominal Transplantation, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Gundumi A Upadhya
- Department of Surgery, Section of Abdominal Transplantation, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - Joseph P Gaut
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Yiing Lin
- Department of Surgery, Section of Abdominal Transplantation, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - William C Chapman
- Department of Surgery, Section of Abdominal Transplantation, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
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42
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Noble J, Jouve T, Janbon B, Rostaing L, Malvezzi P. Belatacept in kidney transplantation and its limitations. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2019; 15:359-367. [DOI: 10.1080/1744666x.2019.1574570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Johan Noble
- Service de Néphrologie, Hémodialyse, Aphérèses et Transplantation Rénale, CHU Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Thomas Jouve
- Service de Néphrologie, Hémodialyse, Aphérèses et Transplantation Rénale, CHU Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Bénédicte Janbon
- Service de Néphrologie, Hémodialyse, Aphérèses et Transplantation Rénale, CHU Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Lionel Rostaing
- Service de Néphrologie, Hémodialyse, Aphérèses et Transplantation Rénale, CHU Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Paolo Malvezzi
- Service de Néphrologie, Hémodialyse, Aphérèses et Transplantation Rénale, CHU Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
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43
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van den Heuvel H, van der Meer-Prins EM, van Miert PP, Zhang X, Anholts JD, Claas FH. Infection with a virus generates a polyclonal immune response with broad alloreactive potential. Hum Immunol 2019; 80:97-102. [DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2018.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Abstract
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogeneous population of immunosuppressive cells of the myeloid lineage upregulated by mediators of inflammation, such as IL-2, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and S100A8/A9. These cells have been studied extensively by tumor biologists. Because of their robust immunosuppressive potential, MDSCs have stirred recent interest among transplant immunologists as well. MDSCs inhibit T-cell responses through, among other mechanisms, the activity of arginase-1 and inducible nitric oxide synthase, and the expansion of T regulatory cells. In the context of transplantation, MDSCs have been studied in several animal models, and to a lesser degree in humans. Here, we will review the immunosuppressive qualities of this important cell type and discuss the relevant studies of MDSCs in transplantation. It may be possible to exploit the immunosuppressive capacity of MDSCs for the benefit of transplant patients.
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45
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Herrera-Gómez F, Del Aguila W, Tejero-Pedregosa A, Adler M, Padilla-Berdugo R, Maurtua-Briseño-Meiggs Á, Pascual J, Pascual M, San Segundo D, Heidt S, Álvarez FJ, Ochoa-Sangrador C, Lambert C. The number of FoxP3 regulatory T cells in the circulation may be a predictive biomarker for kidney transplant recipients: A multistage systematic review. Int Immunopharmacol 2018; 65:483-492. [PMID: 30390595 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2018.10.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2018] [Revised: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The kinetics of the FoxP3 regulatory T-cell (Treg) population in kidney transplant recipients (KTR) are related to the clinical effect of immunosuppression based on mammalian Target Of Rapamycin inhibitors (mTORi) with/without belatacept (predictive biomarker). METHODS A multistage systematic review of published and unpublished literature is presented [registration IDs in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO): CRD42017057570, CRD42018085019, CRD42018084941, CRD42018085186]. A multidisciplinary supervision mechanism for contextualizing of search findings was required. The peripheral blood immune cell phenotypes encompassing all regulatory cells in KTRs were assessed in order to suggest new markers of acute rejection-associated acute allograft dysfunction (AR/AAD) events in KTRs treated with mTORi alone or combined to belatacept. Quantitative estimates and evaluation of the body of evidence are provided. RESULTS An increase in Tregs and other regulatory cell types in the circulation in KTRs under mTORi with/without belatacept were observed. Patients with increased Tregs presented a low frequency of AR/AAD events compared to those in which the number of Tregs remained unchanged or even diminished [Odds Ratio (OR)/95% confidence interval (95% CI)/I2/number of studies (n): 0.31/0.10-0.93/0%/6]. Nevertheless, there are too few trials to consider Tregs in the circulation as a predictive biomarker. Inadequate reporting prevents appreciating clinical relevance in such studies. CONCLUSIONS Despite advances, clinical qualification of potential predictive biomarkers continues to be difficult. Clinical evidence on Tregs in KTRs needs to be enlarged. Biomarkers should be able to evaluate the effect of medicines targeted to specific patient populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Herrera-Gómez
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain; Department of Nephrology, Hospital Virgen de la Concha, Sanidad de Castilla y León, Zamora, Spain.
| | | | - Armando Tejero-Pedregosa
- Intensive Care Medicine, Hospital Virgen de la Concha, Sanidad de Castilla y León, Zamora, Spain
| | - Marcel Adler
- Hematology, University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Rosario Padilla-Berdugo
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | | | | | - Manuel Pascual
- Centre de Transplantation d'Organes, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - David San Segundo
- Immunology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain.
| | - Sebastiaan Heidt
- Immunohaematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - F Javier Álvarez
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain; CEIm Área de Salud Valladolid Este, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain.
| | | | - Claude Lambert
- Immunology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint-Etienne, Saint-Priest-en-Jarez, France
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46
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Cendales LC, Ruch DS, Cardones AR, Potter G, Dooley J, Dore D, Orr J, Ruskin G, Song M, Chen DF, Selim MA, Kirk AD. De novo belatacept in clinical vascularized composite allotransplantation. Am J Transplant 2018; 18:1804-1809. [PMID: 29723921 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.14910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Revised: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Most immunosuppressive regimens used in clinical vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) have been calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based. As such, most recipients have experienced CNI-related side effects. Costimulation blockade, specifically CD28/B7 inhibition with belatacept, has emerged as a clinical replacement for CNI-based immunosuppression in kidney transplantation. We have previously shown that belatacept can be used as a centerpiece immunosuppressant for VCA in nonhuman primates, and subsequently reported successful conversion from a CNI-based regimen to a belatacept-based regimen after clinical hand transplantation. We now report on the case of a hand transplant recipient, whom we have successfully treated with a de novo belatacept-based regimen, transitioned to a CNI-free regimen. This case demonstrates that belatacept can provide sufficient prophylaxis from rejection without chronic CNI-associated side effects, a particularly important goal in nonlifesaving solid organ transplants such as VCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda C Cendales
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - David S Ruch
- Department of Orthopaedics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Adela R Cardones
- Department of Dermatology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Guy Potter
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Joshua Dooley
- Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Daniel Dore
- Department of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jonah Orr
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Gregory Ruskin
- Department of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Mingqing Song
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Dong-Feng Chen
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Maria A Selim
- Department of Dermatology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.,Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Allan D Kirk
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
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47
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Samy KP, Davis RP, Gao Q, Martin BM, Song M, Cano J, Farris AB, McDonald A, Gall EK, Dove CR, Leopardi FV, How T, Williams KD, Devi GR, Collins BH, Kirk AD. Early barriers to neonatal porcine islet engraftment in a dual transplant model. Am J Transplant 2018; 18:998-1006. [PMID: 29178588 PMCID: PMC5878697 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.14601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Revised: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Porcine islet xenografts have the potential to provide an inexhaustible source of islets for β cell replacement. Proof-of-concept has been established in nonhuman primates. However, significant barriers to xenoislet transplantation remain, including the poorly understood instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction and a thorough understanding of early xeno-specific immune responses. A paucity of data exist comparing xeno-specific immune responses with alloislet (AI) responses in primates. We recently developed a dual islet transplant model, which enables direct histologic comparison of early engraftment immunobiology. In this study, we investigate early immune responses to neonatal porcine islet (NPI) xenografts compared with rhesus islet allografts at 1 hour, 24 hours, and 7 days. Within the first 24 hours after intraportal infusion, we identified greater apoptosis (caspase 3 activity and TUNEL [terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling])-positive cells) of NPIs compared with AIs. Macrophage infiltration was significantly greater at 24 hours compared with 1 hour in both NPI (wild-type) and AIs. At 7 days, IgM and macrophages were highly specific for NPIs (α1,3-galactosyltransferase knockout) compared with AIs. These findings demonstrate an augmented macrophage and antibody response toward xenografts compared with allografts. These data may inform future immune or genetic manipulations required to improve xenoislet engraftment.
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Affiliation(s)
- KP Samy
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710
| | - RP Davis
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710
| | - Q Gao
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710
| | - BM Martin
- Emory Transplant Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - M Song
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710
| | - J Cano
- Emory Transplant Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - AB Farris
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - A McDonald
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710
| | - EK Gall
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710
| | - CR Dove
- College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602
| | | | - T How
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710
| | - KD Williams
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710
| | - GR Devi
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710
| | - BH Collins
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710
| | - AD Kirk
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710,Emory Transplant Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
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48
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Xu H, Bendersky VA, Brennan TV, Espinosa JR, Kirk AD. IL-7 receptor heterogeneity as a mechanism for repertoire change during postdepletional homeostatic proliferation and its relation to costimulation blockade-resistant rejection. Am J Transplant 2018; 18:720-730. [PMID: 29136317 PMCID: PMC6035390 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.14589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Revised: 10/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Kidney transplant patients treated with belatacept without depletional induction experience higher rates of acute rejection compared to patients treated with conventional immunosuppression. Costimulation blockade-resistant rejection (CoBRR) is associated with terminally differentiated T cells. Alemtuzumab induction and belatacept/sirolimus immunotherapy effectively prevent CoBRR. We hypothesized that cells in late phases of differentiation would be selectively less capable than more naive phenotypes of repopulating postdepletion, providing a potential mechanism by which lymphocyte depletion and repopulation could reduce the risk of CoBRR. Lymphocytes from 20 recipients undergoing alemtuzumab-induced depletion and belatacept/sirolimus immunosuppression were studied longitudinally for markers of maturation (CCR7, CD45RA, CD57, PD1), recent thymic emigration (CD31), and the IL-7 receptor-α (IL-7Rα). Serum was analyzed for IL-7. Alemtuzumab induction produced profound lymphopenia followed by repopulation, during which naive IL-7Rα+ CD57- PD1- cells progressively became the predominant subset. This did not occur in a comparator group of 10 patients treated with conventional immunosuppression. Serum from depleted patients showed markedly elevated IL-7 levels posttransplantation. Sorted CD57- PD1- cells demonstrated robust proliferation in response to IL-7, whereas more differentiated cells proliferated poorly. These data suggest that differences in IL-7-dependent proliferation is one exploitable mechanism that distinguishes CoB-sensitive and CoB-resistant T cell populations to reduce the risk of CoBRR. (ClinicalTrials.gov - NCT00565773.).
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Affiliation(s)
- He Xu
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Todd V Brennan
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jaclyn R Espinosa
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Allan D Kirk
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
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49
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Song M, Mulvihill MS, Williams KD, Collins BH, Kirk AD. Fatal SV40-associated pneumonia and nephropathy following renal allotransplantation in rhesus macaque. J Med Primatol 2018; 47:81-84. [PMID: 28671309 PMCID: PMC5752629 DOI: 10.1111/jmp.12285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Recrudescence of latent and dormant viruses may lead to overwhelming viremia in immunosuppressed hosts. In immunocompromised hosts, Simian virus 40 (SV40) reactivation is known to cause nephritis and demyelinating central nervous system disease. Here, we report SV40 viremia leading to fatal interstitial pneumonia in an immunosuppressed host following renal allotransplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Song
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - M S Mulvihill
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - K D Williams
- Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - B H Collins
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - A D Kirk
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The review will focus on the impact and current status of costimulatory blockade in renal transplantation. RECENT FINDINGS The mainstay of immunosuppression in kidney transplantation is calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) which have reduced acute rejection rates but failed to improve long-term allograft survival. Their cardiometabolic side-effects and nephrotoxicity have shifted the focus of investigation to CNI-free regimens. Costimulation blockade with belatacept, a second generation, higher avidity variant of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4 has emerged as part of a CNI-free regimen. Belatacept has demonstrated superior glomerular filtration rate compared with CNIs, albeit with an increased risk of early and histologically severe rejection. Focus on optimizing the belatacept regimen is underway. ASKP1240, which blocks the cluster of differentiation 40 (CD40)/CD154 costimulatory pathway, has just completed a phase 2 trial with a CNI-free regimen. CFZ533, an anti-CD40, is also poised to be tested in a phase 2 trial in renal transplantation. Nonagonistic CD28 antibodies have re-emerged with two anti-CD28 candidates in preclinical development. SUMMARY A reliable, CNI-free regimen that maintains low acute rejection rates and improves long-term renal allograft survival has become an achievable goal with costimulation blockade. The task of clinicians and researchers is to find the optimal combinations to maintain safety and improve efficacy.
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