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Zhang H, Xu A, Li X, Pan B, Wan X. Correlation Between C4/IgG with Macroproteinuria in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Pilot Study. Immunotargets Ther 2024; 13:205-214. [PMID: 38628623 PMCID: PMC11020232 DOI: 10.2147/itt.s451307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives Loss of immunoglobulin G (IgG) is accompanied with proteinuria, especially macroproteinuria. The complement system participates kidney disease resulting in proteinuria. Whether the ratio of complement and IgG is associated with macroproteinuria remains unknown. Design Setting Participants and Measurements A total of 1013 non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients were recruited according to the electrical case records system with 268 patients who endured kidney biopsy. Patients were grouped via the estimated glomerular filtration rate or the levels of proteinuria determination. Biomarkers in different CKD groups or proteinuria groups were compared by one-way ANOVA or independent samples t-test. Pearson or spearman analysis was employed to analyze correlation between clinical indexes. Further, influence factor of macroproteinuria was studied by using binary logistic regression. The ROC curve was performed to explore probable predictive biomarker for macroproteinuria. Results No significant difference of complement C3 and C4 among CKD1 to CKD5 stages, while higher level of complement C4 in patients with macroproteinuria. Further, C4 had a positive correlation with proteinuria (r=0.255, p=0.006). After adjusted for age, IgA, IgM, triglyceride and HDL, a binary logistic regression model showed lnC4/IgG (OR=3.561, 95% CI 2.196-5.773, p<0.01), gender (OR=1.737, 95% CI 1.116-2.702, p=0.014), age (OR=0.983, 95% CI 0.969-0.997, p=0.014), and history of diabetes (OR=0.405, 95% CI 0.235-0.699, p<0.01) were independent influence factors of macroproteinuria. The area under the ROC curve was 0.77 (95% CI: 0.75-0.82, p<0.001) for C4/IgG. The analysis of ROC curves revealed a best cut-off for complement C4 was 0.024 and yielded a sensitivity of 71% and a specificity of 71%. The area under the ROC curve was 0.841 (95% CI: 0.735-0.946, p < 0.001) for C4/IgG in IgA nephropathy patients. The analysis of ROC curves revealed a best cut-off for complement C4/IgG was 0.026 and yielded a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 81.2%. The area under the ROC curve for C4/IgG in CKD1-5 stages were 0.772, 0.811, 0.785, 0.835, 0.674. Conclusion Complement C4/IgG could be used to predict macroproteinuria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Anqi Xu
- Department of Quality Management, Nanjing Red Cross Blood Center, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiangxiang Li
- Department of Nephrology, Nanjing Yuhua Hospital, Yuhua Branch of Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Binbin Pan
- Department of Nephrology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xin Wan
- Department of Nephrology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
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Jin Y, Gao P, Liang L, Wang Y, Li J, Wang J, Hou J, Yang C, Wang X. Noninvasive quantification of granzyme B in cardiac allograft rejection using targeted ultrasound imaging. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1164183. [PMID: 37435082 PMCID: PMC10331296 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1164183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Endomyocardial biopsy is the gold standard method for the diagnosis of cardiac allograft rejection. However, it causes damage to the heart. In this study, we developed a noninvasive method for quantification of granzyme B (GzB) in vivo by targeted ultrasound imaging, which detects and provides quantitative information for specific molecules, for acute rejection assessment in a murine cardiac transplantation model. Methods Microbubbles bearing anti-GzB antibodies (MBGzb) or isotype antibodies (MBcon) were prepared. Hearts were transplanted from C57BL/6J (allogeneic) or C3H (syngeneic) donors to C3H recipients. Target ultrasound imaging was performed on Days 2 and 5 post-transplantations. A pathologic assessment was performed. The expression of granzyme B and IL-6 in the heart was detected by Western blotting. Results After MB injection, we observed and collected data at 3 and 6 min before and after the flash pulse. Quantitative analysis revealed that the reduction in peak intensity was significantly higher in the allogeneic MBGzb group than in the allogeneic MBcon group and the isogeneic MBcon group at PODs 2 and 5. In the allogeneic groups, granzyme B and IL-6 expression levels were higher than those in the isogeneic group. In addition, more CD8 T cells and neutrophils were observed in the allogeneic groups. Conclusion Ultrasound molecular imaging of granzyme B can be used as a noninvasive method for acute rejection detection after cardiac transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunjie Jin
- Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, China
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Peng Gao
- Department of Urology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lifei Liang
- Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuhang Wang
- Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiawei Li
- Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiyan Wang
- Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiangang Hou
- Department of Urology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Cheng Yang
- Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Shanghai, China
- Zhangjiang Institute of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaolin Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, China
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3
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Development and Evaluation of a Novel Radiotracer 125I-rIL-27 to Monitor Allotransplant Rejection by Specifically Targeting IL-27Rα. Mol Imaging 2023. [DOI: 10.1155/2023/4200142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Noninvasive monitoring of allograft rejection is beneficial for the prognosis of patients with organ transplantation. Recently, IL-27/IL-27Rα was proved in close relation with inflammatory diseases, and 125I-anti-IL-27Rα mAb our group developed demonstrated high accumulation in the rejection of the allograft. However, antibody imaging has limitations in the imaging background due to its large molecular weight. Therefore, we developed a novel radiotracer (iodine-125-labeled recombinant IL-27) to evaluate the advantage in the targeting and imaging of allograft rejection. In vitro specific binding of 125I-rIL-27 was determined by saturation and competitive assay. Blood clearance, biodistribution, phosphor autoradioimaging, and IL-27Rα expression were studied on day 10 after transplantation (top period of allorejection). Our results indicated that 125I-rIL-27 could bind with IL-27Rα specifically and selectively in vitro. The blood clearance assay demonstrated fast blood clearance with 13.20 μl/h of 125I-rIL-27 staying in the blood after 24 h. The whole-body phosphor autoradiography and biodistribution assay indicated a higher specific uptake of 125I-rIL-27 and a clear radioimage in allograft than in syngraft at 24 h, while a similar result was obtained at 48 h in the group of 125I-anti-IL-27Rα mAb injection. Meanwhile, a higher expression of IL-27Rα was found in the allograft by Western blot. The accumulation of radioactivity of 125I-rIL-27 was highly correlated with the expression of IL-27Rα in the allograft. In conclusion, 125I-rIL-27 could be a promising probe for acutely monitoring allograft rejection with high specific binding towards IL-27Rα on allograft and low imaging background.
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Luo Z, Liao T, Zhang Y, Zheng H, Sun Q, Han F, Ma M, Ye Y, Sun Q. Ex vivo anchored
PD‐L1
functionally prevent in vivo renal allograft rejection. BIOENGINEERING & TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2022; 7:e10316. [PMID: 36176616 PMCID: PMC9472007 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Organ transplantation is the optimal treatment for patients with end‐stage diseases. T cell activation is a major contributing factor toward the trigger of rejection. Induction therapy with T cell depleting agent is a common option but increases the risk of severe systemic infections. The ideal therapy should precisely target the allograft. Here, we developed a membrane‐anchored‐protein PD‐L1 (map‐PD‐L1), which effectively anchored onto the surface of rat glomerular endothelial cells (rgEC). The expression of PD‐L1 increased directly with map‐PD‐L1 concentration and incubation time. Moreover, map‐PD‐L1 was even stably anchored to rgEC at low temperature. Map‐PD‐L1 could bind to PD‐1 and significantly promote T cell apoptosis and inhibited T cell activation. Using kidney transplantation models, we found that ex vivo perfusion of donor kidneys with map‐PD‐L1 significantly protected grafts against acute injury without using any immunosuppressant. We found map‐PD‐L1 could reduce T cell graft infiltration and increase intragraft Treg infiltration, suggesting a long‐term effect in allograft protection. More importantly, modifying donor organs in vitro was not only safe, but also significantly reduced the side effects of systemic application. Our results suggested that ex vivo perfusion of donor organ with map‐PD‐L1 might provide a viable clinical option for organ‐targeted induction therapy in organ transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihuan Luo
- Department of Renal Transplantation Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences Guangzhou Guangdong China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine Southern Medical University Guangzhou Guangdong China
| | - Tao Liao
- Department of Renal Transplantation Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences Guangzhou Guangdong China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine Southern Medical University Guangzhou Guangdong China
| | - Yannan Zhang
- Department of Renal Transplantation Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences Guangzhou Guangdong China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine Southern Medical University Guangzhou Guangdong China
| | - Haofeng Zheng
- Department of Renal Transplantation Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences Guangzhou Guangdong China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine Southern Medical University Guangzhou Guangdong China
| | - Qipeng Sun
- Department of Renal Transplantation Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences Guangzhou Guangdong China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine Southern Medical University Guangzhou Guangdong China
| | - Fei Han
- Organ Transplantation Research Institute The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou Guangdong China
| | - Maolin Ma
- Organ Transplantation Research Institute The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou Guangdong China
| | - Yongrong Ye
- Organ Transplantation Research Institute The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou Guangdong China
| | - Qiquan Sun
- Department of Renal Transplantation Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences Guangzhou Guangdong China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine Southern Medical University Guangzhou Guangdong China
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5
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Ma M, Sun Q, Li X, Deng G, Zhang Y, Yang Z, Han F, Huang Z, Fang Y, Liao T, Sun Q. Blockade of IL-6/IL-6R Signaling Attenuates Acute Antibody-Mediated Rejection in a Mouse Cardiac Transplantation Model. Front Immunol 2021; 12:778359. [PMID: 34777394 PMCID: PMC8581398 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.778359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute antibody-mediated rejection (AAMR) is an important cause of cardiac allograft dysfunction, and more effective strategies need to be explored to improve allograft prognosis. Interleukin (IL)-6/IL-6R signaling plays a key role in the activation of immune cells including B cells, T cells and macrophages, which participate in the progression of AAMR. In this study, we investigated the effect of IL-6/IL-6R signaling blockade on the prevention of AAMR in a mouse model. We established a mouse model of AAMR for cardiac transplantation via presensitization of skin grafts and addition of cyclosporin A, and sequentially analyzed its features. Tocilizumab, anti-IL-6R antibody, and recipient IL-6 knockout were used to block IL-6/IL-6R signaling. We demonstrated that blockade of IL-6/IL-6R signaling significantly attenuated allograft injury and improved survival. Further mechanistic research revealed that signaling blockade decreased B cells in circulation, spleens, and allografts, thus inhibiting donor-specific antibody production and complement activation. Moreover, macrophage, T cell, and pro-inflammatory cytokine infiltration in allografts was also reduced. Collectively, we provided a highly practical mouse model of AAMR and demonstrated that blockade of IL-6/IL-6R signaling markedly alleviated AAMR, which is expected to provide a superior option for the treatment of AAMR in clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maolin Ma
- Organ Transplantation Research Institute, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qipeng Sun
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiujie Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Gengguo Deng
- Organ Transplantation Research Institute, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yannan Zhang
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhe Yang
- Organ Transplantation Research Institute, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Fei Han
- Organ Transplantation Research Institute, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhengyu Huang
- Organ Transplantation Research Institute, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Youqiang Fang
- Department of Urology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Tao Liao
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qiquan Sun
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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6
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Klinkhammer BM, Lammers T, Mottaghy FM, Kiessling F, Floege J, Boor P. Non-invasive molecular imaging of kidney diseases. Nat Rev Nephrol 2021; 17:688-703. [PMID: 34188207 PMCID: PMC7612034 DOI: 10.1038/s41581-021-00440-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
In nephrology, differential diagnosis or assessment of disease activity largely relies on the analysis of glomerular filtration rate, urinary sediment, proteinuria and tissue obtained through invasive kidney biopsies. However, currently available non-invasive functional parameters, and most serum and urine biomarkers, cannot capture intrarenal molecular disease processes specifically. Moreover, although histopathological analyses of kidney biopsy samples enable the visualization of pathological morphological and molecular alterations, they only provide information about a small part of the kidney and do not allow longitudinal monitoring. These limitations not only hinder understanding of the dynamics of specific disease processes in the kidney, but also limit the targeting of treatments to active phases of disease and the development of novel targeted therapies. Molecular imaging enables non-invasive and quantitative assessment of physiological or pathological processes by combining imaging technologies with specific molecular probes. Here, we discuss current preclinical and clinical molecular imaging approaches in nephrology. Non-invasive visualization of the kidneys through molecular imaging can be used to detect and longitudinally monitor disease activity and can therefore provide companion diagnostics to guide clinical trials, as well as the safe and effective use of drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Twan Lammers
- Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany,Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht University, The Netherlands,Department of Targeted Therapeutics, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Felix M. Mottaghy
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Germany,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Fabian Kiessling
- Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany,Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Jürgen Floege
- Department of Nephrology and Immunology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | - Peter Boor
- Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany,Department of Nephrology and Immunology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany,Electron Microscopy Facility, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany,
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7
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Zheng H, Zhang Y, He J, Yang Z, Zhang R, Li L, Luo Z, Ye Y, Sun Q. Hydroxychloroquine Inhibits Macrophage Activation and Attenuates Renal Fibrosis After Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury. Front Immunol 2021; 12:645100. [PMID: 33936063 PMCID: PMC8079743 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.645100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is associated with high morbidity, remains a worldwide health concern, while effective therapies remain limited. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), which mainly targets toll-like receptor-7 (TLR-7) and TLR-9, is associated with a lower risk of incident CKD. Taking into account that TLR-9 is involved in the development of renal fibrosis and serves as a potential therapy target for CKD, we investigated whether HCQ could attenuate CKD via TLR-9 signal pathway. The effects of HCQ on renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis were further explored using a mouse model of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis after ischemia/reperfusion injury. Bone marrow-derived macrophages were isolated to explore the effects of HCQ in vitro. Judicious use of HCQ efficiently inhibited the activation of macrophages and MAPK signaling pathways, thereby attenuating renal fibrosis in vivo. In an in vitro model, results showed that HCQ promoted apoptosis of macrophages and inhibited activation of macrophages, especially M2 macrophages, in a dose-dependent manner. Because TLR-7 is not involved in the development of CKD post-injury, a TLR-9 knockout mouse was used to explore the mechanisms of HCQ. The effects of HCQ on renal fibrosis and macrophages decreased after depletion of TLR-9 in vivo and in vitro. Taken together, this study indicated that proper use of HCQ could be a new strategy for anti-fibrotic therapy and that TLR-9 could be a potential therapeutic target for CKD following acute kidney injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haofeng Zheng
- Organ Transplantation Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yannan Zhang
- Organ Transplantation Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiannan He
- Organ Transplantation Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhe Yang
- Organ Transplantation Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Organ Transplantation Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lei Li
- Organ Transplantation Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zihuan Luo
- Organ Transplantation Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yongrong Ye
- Organ Transplantation Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiquan Sun
- Organ Transplantation Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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8
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Zheng H, Zhang Y, Li L, Zhang R, Luo Z, Yang Z, Ye Y, He J, Sun Q. Depletion of Toll-Like Receptor-9 Attenuates Renal Tubulointerstitial Fibrosis After Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:641527. [PMID: 33644078 PMCID: PMC7907438 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.641527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Toll-like receptor-9 (TLR-9) is a potent proinflammatory receptor that mediates renal injury. However, the reported effects of TLR-9 are contradictory. Here, using a traditional mouse AKI→CKD transition model, the roles of TLR-9 during the transition from acute kidney injury (AKI) to chronic kidney disease (CKD) were further explored. Using a TLR-9–/– mouse, the effects and mechanisms of TLR-9 were investigated. Loss of TLR-9 elicited no obvious effects as regards renal function or histology during AKI in the early phases (24–48 h), while TLR-9 KO attenuated renal fibrosis (as shown using fibronectin and collagen III) and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) [E-cadherin (E-Cad) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)] on the long-term after AKI through the inhibition of macrophages infiltration, especially M2 macrophages. The roles of TLR-9 on macrophages were also explored using Raw264.7 macrophage cell line, and results indicated that the inhibition of TLR-9 on Raw 264.7 macrophages decreased the induction of M2 type macrophage in a dose-dependent manner. The roles of TLR-9 on renal tubular epithelial (RTE) cells were also explored. Conversely, TLR-9 depletion did not contribute to the improvement of fibrosis and EMT in vitro. Therefore, TLR-9 plays a critical role in the AKI→CKD transition. Attenuation of CKD post-AKI in the TLR-9 KO group mainly relies on the effects of TLR-9 on macrophages. These results also suggest that TLR-9 could be a therapeutic target for CKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haofeng Zheng
- Organ Transplantation Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yannan Zhang
- Organ Transplantation Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lei Li
- Organ Transplantation Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Organ Transplantation Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zihuan Luo
- Organ Transplantation Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhe Yang
- Organ Transplantation Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yongrong Ye
- Organ Transplantation Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiannan He
- Organ Transplantation Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiquan Sun
- Organ Transplantation Research Institute of Sun Yat-sen University, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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9
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Qi R, Yang C, Zhu T. Advances of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography and Elastography in Kidney Transplantation: From Microscopic to Microcosmic. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2021; 47:177-184. [PMID: 33143970 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2020.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Kidney transplantation is the best choice for patients with end-stage renal disease. To date, allograft biopsy remains the gold standard for revealing pathologic changes and predicting long-term outcomes. However, the invasive nature of transplant biopsy greatly limits its application. Ultrasound has been a first-line examination for evaluating kidney allografts for a long time. Advances in ultrasound in recent years, especially the growing number of studies in elastography and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS), have shed new light on its application in kidney transplantation. Elastography, including strain elastography and shear wave elastography, is used mainly to assess allograft stiffness and, thus, predict renal fibrosis. CEUS has been used extensively in evaluating blood microperfusion, assessing acute kidney injury and detecting different complications after transplantation. Requiring the use of microbubbles also makes CEUS a novel method of gene transfer and drug delivery, enabling promising targeted diagnosis and therapy. In this review, we summarize the advances of elastography and CEUS in kidney transplantation and evaluate their potential efficiency in becoming a better complement to or even substitute for transplant biopsy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruochen Qi
- Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Cheng Yang
- Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Tongyu Zhu
- Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Shanghai, China.
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10
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Kosareva A, Abou-Elkacem L, Chowdhury S, Lindner JR, Kaufmann BA. Seeing the Invisible-Ultrasound Molecular Imaging. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2020; 46:479-497. [PMID: 31899040 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2019.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasound molecular imaging has been developed in the past two decades with the goal of non-invasively imaging disease phenotypes on a cellular level not depicted on anatomic imaging. Such techniques already play a role in pre-clinical research for the assessment of disease mechanisms and drug effects, and are thought to in the future contribute to earlier diagnosis of disease, assessment of therapeutic effects and patient-tailored therapy in the clinical field. In this review, we first describe the chemical composition and structure as well as the in vivo behavior of the ultrasound contrast agents that have been developed for molecular imaging. We then discuss the strategies that are used for targeting of contrast agents to specific cellular targets and protocols used for imaging. Next we describe pre-clinical data on imaging of thrombosis, atherosclerosis and microvascular inflammation and in oncology, including the pathophysiological principles underlying the selection of targets in each area. Where applicable, we also discuss efforts that are currently underway for translation of this technique into the clinical arena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Kosareva
- Cardiovascular Molecular Imaging, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lotfi Abou-Elkacem
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Sayan Chowdhury
- Department of Radiology, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Jonathan R Lindner
- Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Portland, Oregon, USA; Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Beat A Kaufmann
- Cardiovascular Molecular Imaging, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Department of Cardiology, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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11
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Thurman JM. Complement and the Kidney: An Overview. Adv Chronic Kidney Dis 2020; 27:86-94. [PMID: 32553250 DOI: 10.1053/j.ackd.2019.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The complement cascade was first recognized as a downstream effector system of antibody-mediated cytotoxicity. Consistent with this view, it was discovered in the 1960s that complement is activated in the glomeruli of patients with immune complex glomerulonephritis. More recently, research has shown that complement system has many additional functions relating to regulation of the immune response, homeostasis, and metabolism. It has also become clear that the complement system is important to the pathogenesis of many non-immune complex mediated kidney diseases. In fact, in atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome and C3 glomerulopathy, uncontrolled complement activation is the primary driver of disease. Complement activation generates multiple pro-inflammatory fragments, and if not properly controlled it can cause fulminant tissue injury. Furthermore, the mechanisms of complement activation and complement-mediated injury vary from disease to disease. Many new drugs that target the complement cascade are in clinical development, so it is important to fully understand the biology of the complement system and its role in disease.
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12
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IL-27Rα: A Novel Molecular Imaging Marker for Allograft Rejection. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21041315. [PMID: 32075272 PMCID: PMC7072931 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21041315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-invasively monitoring allogeneic graft rejection with a specific marker is of great importance for prognosis of patients. Recently, data revealed that IL-27Rα was up-regulated in alloreactive CD4+ T cells and participated in inflammatory diseases. Here, we evaluated whether IL-27Rα could be used in monitoring allogeneic graft rejection both in vitro and in vivo. Allogeneic (C57BL/6 donor to BALB/c recipient) and syngeneic (BALB/c both as donor and recipient) skin grafted mouse models were established. The expression of IL-27Rα in grafts was detected. The radio-probe, 125I-anti-IL-27Rα mAb, was prepared. Dynamic whole-body phosphor-autoradiography, ex vivo biodistribution and immunofluorescence staining were performed. The results showed that the highest expression of IL-27Rα was detected in allogeneic grafts on day 10 post transplantation (top period of allorejection). 125I-anti-IL-27Rα mAb was successfully prepared with higher specificity and affinity. Whole-body phosphor-autoradiography showed higher radioactivity accumulation in allogeneic grafts than syngeneic grafts on day 10. The uptake of 125I-anti-IL-27Rα mAb in allogeneic grafts could be almost totally blocked by pre-injection with excess unlabeled anti-IL-27Rα mAb. Interestingly, we found that 125I-anti-IL-27Rα mAb accumulated in allogeneic grafts, along with weaker inflammation earlier on day 6. The high uptake of 125I-anti-IL-27Rα mAb was correlated with the higher infiltrated IL-27Rα positive cells (CD3+/CD68+) in allogeneic grafts. In conclusion, IL-27Rα may be a novel molecular imaging marker to predict allorejection.
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13
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Yang C, Wu S, Yang P, Shang G, Qi R, Xu M, Rong R, Zhu T, He W. Prediction of renal allograft chronic rejection using a model based on contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. Microcirculation 2019; 26:e12544. [PMID: 30887637 PMCID: PMC6767498 DOI: 10.1111/micc.12544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Objective To evaluate the application of contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) for the diagnosis of renal allograft chronic rejection (CR). Methods A total of 104 patients who were suspected to have AR or CR were enrolled in this study (derivation group, n = 66; validation group, n = 38). Before biopsy, all patients received an ultrasound examination. Results In the CR group, rising time (RT) and time to peak (TTP) of medulla (RTm and TTPm, respectively) were significantly longer compared to those in the AR group. The kidney volume was significantly decreased in the CR group but was increased in the AR group. In the derivation group, age, change in kidney volume, and TTPm were identified as independent predictors by multivariate analysis. Based on the multivariate analysis results and area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (AUROCs) of individual markers, we constructed a new index as follows: P = −5.424 + 0.074 × age −9.818 × kidney volume change + 0.115 × TTPm; New Index = eP/(1 + eP). The new index discriminates CR from AR and had better AUROCs than any other parameters. Conclusion In conclusion, the new index provides a new diagnosis model for CR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Yang
- Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Shengdi Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Yang
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Imaging Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoguo Shang
- Department of Pathology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruochen Qi
- Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming Xu
- Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruiming Rong
- Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Tongyu Zhu
- Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Wanyuan He
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Imaging Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Renal Allograft Rejection: Noninvasive Ultrasound- and MRI-Based Diagnostics. CONTRAST MEDIA & MOLECULAR IMAGING 2019; 2019:3568067. [PMID: 31093027 PMCID: PMC6481101 DOI: 10.1155/2019/3568067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
To date, allogeneic kidney transplantation remains the best available therapeutic option for patients with end-stage renal disease regarding overall survival and quality of life. Despite the advancements in immunosuppressive drugs and protocols, episodes of acute allograft rejection, a sterile inflammatory process, continue to endanger allograft survival. Since effective treatment for acute rejection episodes is available, instant diagnosis of this potentially reversible graft injury is imperative. Although histological examination by invasive core needle biopsy of the graft remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of ongoing rejection, it is always associated with the risk of causing substantial graft injury as a result of the biopsy procedure itself. At the same time, biopsies are not immediately feasible for a considerable number of patients taking anticoagulants due to the high risk of complications such as bleeding and uneven distribution of pathological changes within the graft. This can result in the wrong diagnosis due to the small size of the tissue sample taken. Therefore, there is a need for a tool that overcomes these problems by being noninvasive and capable of assessing the whole organ at the same time for specific and fast detection of acute allograft rejection. In this article, we review current state-of-the-art approaches for noninvasive diagnostics of acute renal transplant inflammation, i.e., rejection. We especially focus on nonradiation-based methods using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound.
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