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Lu D, Yang X, Pan L, Lian Z, Tan W, Zhuo J, Yang M, Lin Z, Wei Q, Chen J, Zheng S, Xu X. Dynamic immune cell profiling identified natural killer cell shift as the key event in early allograft dysfunction after liver transplantation. Cell Prolif 2024; 57:e13568. [PMID: 37905596 PMCID: PMC10984105 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13568] [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] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Early allograft dysfunction (EAD) is a life-threatening and fast-developing complication after liver transplantation. The underlying mechanism needs to be better understood, and there has yet to be an efficient therapeutic target. This study retrospectively reviewed 109 patients undergoing liver transplantation, with dynamic profiling of CD3/4/8/16/19/45/56 on the peripheral immune cells (before transplant and 2-4 days after). Altogether, 35 out of the 109 patients developed EAD after liver transplantation. We observed a significant decrease in the natural killer cell proportion (NK cell shift, p = 0.008). The NK cell shift was linearly correlated with cold ischemic time (p = 0.016) and was potentially related to the recipients' outcomes. In mouse models, ischemic/reperfusion (I/R) treatments induced the recruitment of NK cells from peripheral blood into liver tissues. NK cell depletion blocked a series of immune cascades (including CD8+ CD127+ T cells) and inhibited hepatocyte injury effectively in I/R and liver transplantation models. We further found that I/R treatment increased hepatic expression of the ligands for natural killer group 2 member D (NKG2D), a primary activating cell surface receptor in NK cells. Blockade of NKG2D showed a similar protective effect against I/R injury, indicating its role in NK cell activation and the subsequent immunological injury. Our findings built a bridge for the translation from innate immune response to EAD at the bedside. Peripheral NK cell shift is associated with the incidence of EAD after liver transplantation. NKG2D-mediated NK cell activation is a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Lu
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
- Institute of Organ TransplantationZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Xinyu Yang
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
- Institute of Organ TransplantationZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Linhui Pan
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
- Institute of Organ TransplantationZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Zhengxing Lian
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
| | - Winyen Tan
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Jianyong Zhuo
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
- Institute of Organ TransplantationZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Modan Yang
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
| | - Zuyuan Lin
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
- Institute of Organ TransplantationZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Qiang Wei
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
- Institute of Organ TransplantationZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Jun Chen
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
- Institute of Organ TransplantationZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Shusen Zheng
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Institute of Organ TransplantationZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic SurgeryShulan (Hangzhou) HospitalHangzhouChina
| | - Xiao Xu
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
- Institute of Organ TransplantationZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
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2
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Chen G, Hu X, Huang Y, Xiang X, Pan S, Chen R, Xu X. Role of the immune system in liver transplantation and its implications for therapeutic interventions. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e444. [PMID: 38098611 PMCID: PMC10719430 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver transplantation (LT) stands as the gold standard for treating end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma, yet postoperative complications continue to impact survival rates. The liver's unique immune system, governed by a microenvironment of diverse immune cells, is disrupted during processes like ischemia-reperfusion injury posttransplantation, leading to immune imbalance, inflammation, and subsequent complications. In the posttransplantation period, immune cells within the liver collaboratively foster a tolerant environment, crucial for immune tolerance and liver regeneration. While clinical trials exploring cell therapy for LT complications exist, a comprehensive summary is lacking. This review provides an insight into the intricacies of the liver's immune microenvironment, with a specific focus on macrophages and T cells as primary immune players. Delving into the immunological dynamics at different stages of LT, we explore the disruptions after LT and subsequent immune responses. Focusing on immune cell targeting for treating liver transplant complications, we provide a comprehensive summary of ongoing clinical trials in this domain, especially cell therapies. Furthermore, we offer innovative treatment strategies that leverage the opportunities and prospects identified in the therapeutic landscape. This review seeks to advance our understanding of LT immunology and steer the development of precise therapies for postoperative complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanrong Chen
- The Fourth School of Clinical MedicineZhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Xin Hu
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
| | - Yingchen Huang
- The Fourth School of Clinical MedicineZhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Xiaonan Xiang
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
| | - Sheng Pan
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
| | - Ronggao Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic SurgeryThe First Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Xiao Xu
- Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityHangzhouChina
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3
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Halma J, Pierce S, McLennan R, Bradley T, Fischer R. Natural killer cells in liver transplantation: Can we harness the power of the immune checkpoint to promote tolerance? Clin Transl Sci 2021; 15:1091-1103. [PMID: 34866338 PMCID: PMC9099129 DOI: 10.1111/cts.13208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The roles that natural killer (NK) cells play in liver disease and transplantation remain ill‐defined. Reports on the matter are often contradictory, and the mechanisms elucidated are complex and dependent on the context of the model tested. Moreover, NK cell attributes, such as receptor protein expression and function differ among species, make study of primate or rodent transplant models challenging. Recent insights into NK function and NK‐mediated therapy in the context of cancer therapy may prove applicable to transplantation. Of specific interest are immune checkpoint molecules and the mechanisms by which they modulate NK cells in the tumor micro‐environment. In this review, we summarize NK cell populations in the peripheral blood and liver, and we explore the data regarding the expression and function of immune checkpoint molecules on NK cells. We also hypothesize about the roles they could play in liver transplantation and discuss how they might be harnessed therapeutically in transplant sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Halma
- Pediatric Gastroenterology, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
| | - Stephen Pierce
- Genomic Medicine Center, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
| | - Rebecca McLennan
- Genomic Medicine Center, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
| | - Todd Bradley
- Genomic Medicine Center, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, USA.,Pediatrics, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
| | - Ryan Fischer
- Pediatric Gastroenterology, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, USA.,Pediatrics, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
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4
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Hu C, Li L. The immunoregulation of mesenchymal stem cells plays a critical role in improving the prognosis of liver transplantation. J Transl Med 2019; 17:412. [PMID: 31823784 PMCID: PMC6905033 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-019-02167-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The liver is supplied by a dual blood supply, including the portal venous system and the hepatic arterial system; thus, the liver organ is exposed to multiple gut microbial products, metabolic products, and toxins; is sensitive to extraneous pathogens; and can develop liver failure, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after short-term or long-term injury. Although liver transplantation (LT) serves as the only effective treatment for patients with end-stage liver diseases, it is not very popular because of the complications and low survival rates. Although the liver is generally termed an immune and tolerogenic organ with adaptive systems consisting of humoral immunity and cell-mediated immunity, a high rejection rate is still the main complication in patients with LT. Growing evidence has shown that mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) transplantation could serve as an effective immunomodulatory strategy to induce tolerance in various immune-related disorders. MSCs are reported to inhibit the immune response from innate immune cells, including macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), natural killer cells (NK cells), and natural killer T (NKT) cells, and that from adaptive immune cells, including T cells, B cells and other liver-specific immune cells, for the generation of a tolerogenic microenvironment. In this review, we summarized the relationship between LT and immunoregulation, and we focused on how to improve the effects of MSC transplantation to improve the prognosis of LT. Only after exhaustive clarification of the potential immunoregulatory mechanisms of MSCs in vitro and in vivo can we implement MSC protocols in routine clinical practice to improve LT outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxia Hu
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.,National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Lanjuan Li
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China. .,National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
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5
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Harmon C, Sanchez-Fueyo A, O'Farrelly C, Houlihan DD. Natural Killer Cells and Liver Transplantation: Orchestrators of Rejection or Tolerance? Am J Transplant 2016; 16:751-7. [PMID: 26690302 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.13565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2015] [Revised: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are highly heterogeneous innate lymphocytes with a diverse repertoire of phenotypes and functions. Their role in organ transplantation has been poorly defined due to conflicting clinical and experimental data. There is evidence that NK cells can contribute to graft rejection and also to tolerance induction. In most solid organ transplantation settings, the role of NK cells is only considered from the perspective of the recipient immune system. In contrast to other organs, the liver contains major resident populations of immune cells, particularly enriched with innate lymphocytes such as NK cells, NKT cells, and gamma-delta T cells. Liver transplantation therefore results in a unique meeting of donor and recipient immune systems. The unusual immune repertoire and tolerogenic environment of the liver may explain why this potentially inflammatory "meeting" often results in attenuated immune responses and reduced requirement for immunosuppression. Recent trials of immunosuppression withdrawal in liver transplant patients have identified NK cell features as possible predictors of tolerance. Here we propose that hepatic NK cells play a key role in the induction of tolerance post-liver transplant and examine potential mechanisms by which these cells influence liver transplant outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Harmon
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - A Sanchez-Fueyo
- Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, London, UK
| | - C O'Farrelly
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,School of Medicine, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - D D Houlihan
- Liver Unit, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
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Hoerning A, Kalkavan H, Rehme C, Menke J, Worm K, Garritsen HSP, Büscher R, Hoyer PF. Quantitative real-time ARMS-qPCR for mitochondrial DNA enables accurate detection of microchimerism in renal transplant recipients. Pediatr Transplant 2011; 15:809-18. [PMID: 21967552 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-3046.2011.01581.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The presence of microchimerism in peripheral blood of solid organ transplant recipients has been postulated to be beneficial for allograft acceptance. Kinetics of donor cell trafficking and accumulation in pediatric allograft recipients are largely unknown. In this study, we implemented SNPs of the HVRs I and II of mitochondrial DNA to serve as molecular genetic markers to detect donor-specific cell chimerism after pediatric renal transplantation. Serial dilution of artificial chimeric DNA samples showed a linear correlation coefficient of R > 0.98 and a detection sensitivity of 0.01% with high reproducibility. Longitudinal semiquantitative analysis of donor-specific SNPs was then performed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells samples up to two yr post-transplant. Quantity of donor-specific cell chimerism in peripheral blood was highest in the early post-transplant period reaching values of ~10% after liver-kidney and 2.8% after renal transplantation. From one wk after transplantation, renal transplant patients exhibited an amount of donor-specific mtDNA ranging from 0.01% to 0.1%. We developed a highly accurate, sensitive, and rapid real-time quantitative PCR method using sequence-specific primers and fluorescent hydrolysis probes for the detection of at least 0.01% donor-specific cells in the recipient's peripheral blood after renal transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Hoerning
- Department of Pediatrics II, Children's Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
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7
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Demirkiran A, Bosma BM, Kok A, Baan CC, Metselaar HJ, Ijzermans JNM, Tilanus HW, Kwekkeboom J, van der Laan LJW. Allosuppressive Donor CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cells Detach from the Graft and Circulate in Recipients after Liver Transplantation. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2007; 178:6066-72. [PMID: 17475831 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.178.10.6066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Organ transplantation (Tx) results in a transfer of donor leukocytes from the graft to the recipient, which can lead to chimerism and may promote tolerance. It remains unclear whether this tolerance involves donor-derived regulatory T cells (Tregs). In this study, we examined the presence and allosuppressive activity of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs in perfusates of human liver grafts and monitored the cells presence in the circulation of recipients after liver Tx. Vascular perfusions of 22 liver grafts were performed with University of Wisconsin preservation and albumin solutions. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that perfusate T cells had high LFA-1 integrin expression and had a reversed CD4 to CD8 ratio compared with control blood of healthy individuals. These findings indicate that perfusate cells are of liver origin and not derived from residual donor blood. Further characterization of perfusate mononuclear cells showed an increased proportion of CD4+CD25+CTLA4+ T cells compared with healthy control blood. Increased percentages of Foxp3+ cells, which were negative for CD127, confirmed the enrichment of Tregs in perfusates. In MLR, CD4+CD25+ T cells from perfusates suppressed proliferation and IFN-gamma production of donor and recipient T cells. In vivo within the first weeks after Tx, up to 5% of CD4+CD25+CTLA4+ T cells in recipient blood were derived from the donor liver. In conclusion, a substantial number of donor Tregs detach from the liver graft during perfusion and continue to migrate into the recipient after Tx. These donor Tregs suppress the direct pathway alloresponses and may in vivo contribute to chimerism-associated tolerance early after liver Tx.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Demirkiran
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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