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Montero N, Rodrigo E, Crespo M, Cruzado JM, Gutierrez-Dalmau A, Mazuecos A, Sancho A, Belmar L, Calatayud E, Mora P, Oliveras L, Solà E, Villanego F, Pascual J. The use of lymphocyte-depleting antibodies in specific populations of kidney transplant recipients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Transplant Rev (Orlando) 2023; 37:100795. [PMID: 37774445 DOI: 10.1016/j.trre.2023.100795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recommendations of the use of antibody induction treatments in kidney transplant recipients (KTR) are based on moderate quality and historical studies. This systematic review aims to reevaluate, based on actual studies, the effects of different antibody preparations when used in specific KTR subgroups. METHODS We searched MEDLINE and CENTRAL and selected randomized controlled trials (RCT) and observational studies looking at different antibody preparations used as induction in KTR. Comparisons were categorized into different KTR subgroups: standard, high risk of rejection, high risk of delayed graft function (DGF), living donor, and elderly KTR. Two authors independently assessed the risk of bias. RESULTS Thirty-seven RCT and 99 observational studies were finally included. Compared to anti-interleukin-2-receptor antibodies (IL2RA), anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) reduced the risk of acute rejection at two years in standard KTR (RR 0.74, 95%CI 0.61-0.89) and high risk of rejection KTR (RR 0.55, 95%CI 0.43-0.72), but without decreasing the risk of graft loss. We did not find significant differences comparing ATG vs. alemtuzumab or different ATG dosages in any KTR group. CONCLUSIONS Despite many studies carried out on induction treatment in KTR, their heterogeneity and short follow-up preclude definitive conclusions to determine the optimal induction therapy. Compared with IL2RA, ATG reduced rejection in standard-risk, highly sensitized, and living donor graft recipients, but not in high DGF risk or elderly recipients. More studies are needed to demonstrate beneficial effects in other KTR subgroups and overall patient and graft survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Montero
- Nephrology Department, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Emilio Rodrigo
- Nephrology Department, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla/IDIVAL, Santander, Spain
| | - Marta Crespo
- Nephrology Department, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep M Cruzado
- Nephrology Department, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alex Gutierrez-Dalmau
- Nephrology Department, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Aragon Health Research Institute, Zaragoza, Spain
| | | | - Asunción Sancho
- Nephrology Department, Hospital Universitari Dr Peset, FISABIO, Valencia, Spain
| | - Lara Belmar
- Nephrology Department, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla/IDIVAL, Santander, Spain
| | - Emma Calatayud
- Nephrology Department, Hospital Universitari Dr Peset, FISABIO, Valencia, Spain
| | - Paula Mora
- Nephrology Department, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Aragon Health Research Institute, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Laia Oliveras
- Nephrology Department, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eulalia Solà
- Nephrology Department, Consorci Sanitari del Garraf, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Julio Pascual
- Nephrology Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.
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Chancharoenthana W, Traitanon O, Leelahavanichkul A, Tasanarong A. Molecular immune monitoring in kidney transplant rejection: a state-of-the-art review. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1206929. [PMID: 37675106 PMCID: PMC10477600 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1206929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Although current regimens of immunosuppressive drugs are effective in renal transplant recipients, long-term renal allograft outcomes remain suboptimal. For many years, the diagnosis of renal allograft rejection and of several causes of renal allograft dysfunction, such as chronic subclinical inflammation and infection, was mostly based on renal allograft biopsy, which is not only invasive but also possibly performed too late for proper management. In addition, certain allograft dysfunctions are difficult to differentiate from renal histology due to their similar pathogenesis and immune responses. As such, non-invasive assays and biomarkers may be more beneficial than conventional renal biopsy for enhancing graft survival and optimizing immunosuppressive drug regimens during long-term care. This paper discusses recent biomarker candidates, including donor-derived cell-free DNA, transcriptomics, microRNAs, exosomes (or other extracellular vesicles), urine chemokines, and nucleosomes, that show high potential for clinical use in determining the prognosis of long-term outcomes of kidney transplantation, along with their limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiwat Chancharoenthana
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Tropical Immunology and Translational Research Unit (TITRU), Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Thammasat Multi-Organ Transplant Center, Thammasat University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand
| | - Opas Traitanon
- Thammasat Multi-Organ Transplant Center, Thammasat University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand
| | - Asada Leelahavanichkul
- Center of Excellence on Translational Research in Inflammation and Immunology (CETRII), Department of Microbiology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Adis Tasanarong
- Thammasat Multi-Organ Transplant Center, Thammasat University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand
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Deng DX, Fan S, Zhang XH, Xu LP, Wang Y, Yan CH, Chen H, Chen YH, Han W, Wang FR, Wang JZ, Pei XY, Chang YJ, Liu KY, Huang XJ, Mo XD. Immune Reconstitution of Patients Who Recovered From Steroid-Refractory Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease After Basiliximab Treatment. Front Oncol 2022; 12:916442. [PMID: 35936697 PMCID: PMC9351448 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.916442] [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: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We aimed to identify the characteristics of immune reconstitution (IR) in patients who recovered from steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (SR-aGVHD) after basiliximab treatment. A total of 179, 124, 80, and 92 patients were included in the analysis for IR at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, respectively, after haploidentical donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HID HSCT). We observed that IR was fastest for monocytes and CD8+ T cells, followed by lymphocytes, CD3+ T cells, and CD19+ B cells and slowest for CD4+ T cells. Almost all immune cell subsets recovered comparably between patients receiving <5 doses and ≥5 doses of basiliximab. Most immune cell subsets recovered comparably between SR-aGVHD patients who recovered after basiliximab treatment and event-free HID HSCT recipients. Patients who recovered from SR-aGVHD after basiliximab treatment experienced satisfactory IR, which suggested that basiliximab may not have prolonged the negative impact on IR in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dao-Xing Deng
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Shuang Fan
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Hui Zhang
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Lan-Ping Xu
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Chen-Hua Yan
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Huan Chen
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-Hong Chen
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Han
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Feng-Rong Wang
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Jing-Zhi Wang
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Xu-Ying Pei
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Ying-Jun Chang
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Kai-Yan Liu
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Huang
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Dong Mo
- Peking University People’s Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Beijing, China
- Research Unit of Key Technique for Diagnosis and Treatments of Hematologic Malignancies, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Xiao-Dong Mo,
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Aschauer C, Jelencsics K, Hu K, Gregorich M, Reindl-Schwaighofer R, Wenda S, Wekerle T, Heinzel A, Oberbauer R. Effects of Reduced-Dose Anti-Human T-Lymphocyte Globulin on Overall and Donor-Specific T-Cell Repertoire Reconstitution in Sensitized Kidney Transplant Recipients. Front Immunol 2022; 13:843452. [PMID: 35281040 PMCID: PMC8913717 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.843452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundPre-sensitized kidney transplant recipients have a higher risk for rejection following kidney transplantation and therefore receive lymphodepletional induction therapy with anti-human T-lymphocyte globulin (ATLG) whereas non-sensitized patients are induced in many centers with basiliximab. The time course of lymphocyte reconstitution with regard to the overall and donor-reactive T-cell receptor (TCR) specificity remains elusive.Methods/DesignFive kidney transplant recipients receiving a 1.5-mg/kg ATLG induction therapy over 7 days and five patients with 2 × 20 mg basiliximab induction therapy were longitudinally monitored. Peripheral mononuclear cells were sampled pre-transplant and within 1, 3, and 12 months after transplantation, and their overall and donor-reactive TCRs were determined by next-generation sequencing of the TCR beta CDR3 region. Overall TCR repertoire diversity, turnover, and donor specificity were assessed at all timepoints.ResultsWe observed an increase in the donor-reactive TCR repertoire after transplantation in patients, independent of lymphocyte counts or induction therapy. Donor-reactive CD4 T-cell frequency in the ATLG group increased from 1.14% + -0.63 to 2.03% + -1.09 and from 0.93% + -0.63 to 1.82% + -1.17 in the basiliximab group in the first month. Diversity measurements of the entire T-cell repertoire and repertoire turnover showed no statistical difference between the two induction therapies. The difference in mean clonality between groups was 0.03 and 0.07 pre-transplant in the CD4 and CD8 fractions, respectively, and was not different over time (CD4: F(1.45, 11.6) = 0.64 p = 0.496; CD8: F(3, 24) = 0.60 p = 0.620). The mean difference in R20, a metric for immune dominance, between groups was -0.006 in CD4 and 0.001 in CD8 T-cells and not statistically different between the groups and subsequent timepoints (CD4: F(3, 24) = 0.85 p = 0.479; CD8: F(1.19, 9.52) = 0.79 p = 0.418).ConclusionReduced-dose ATLG induction therapy led to an initial lymphodepletion followed by an increase in the percentage of donor-reactive T-cells after transplantation similar to basiliximab induction therapy. Furthermore, reduced-dose ATLG did not change the overall TCR repertoire in terms of a narrowed or skewed TCR repertoire after immune reconstitution, comparable to non-depletional induction therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constantin Aschauer
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kira Jelencsics
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karin Hu
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mariella Gregorich
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Section for Clinical Biometrics, Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics and Intelligent Systems, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Roman Reindl-Schwaighofer
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sabine Wenda
- Department of Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Wekerle
- Division of Transplantation, Department of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Heinzel
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- *Correspondence: Andreas Heinzel, ; Rainer Oberbauer,
| | - Rainer Oberbauer
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- *Correspondence: Andreas Heinzel, ; Rainer Oberbauer,
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5
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Girmanova E, Hruba P, Viklicky O, Slavcev A. ELISpot assay and prediction of organ transplant rejection. Int J Immunogenet 2021; 49:39-45. [PMID: 34910357 DOI: 10.1111/iji.12565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The ELISpot assay is a sensitive technique applied to assess cytokine-producing memory/effector T cells and human leukocyte antigens (HLA)-specific IgG-producing B cells. Besides the fact that the method is laborious and is difficult to standardise between laboratories, it may provide valuable information on the immune response of recipients before and after organ transplantation. In this article, we briefly review the recent literature and discuss the clinical significance of the ELISpot assay in predicting the risk and incidence of allograft rejection and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Girmanova
- Transplant Laboratory, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Hruba
- Transplant Laboratory, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ondrej Viklicky
- Transplant Laboratory, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic.,Department of Nephrology and Transplantation Centre, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Antonij Slavcev
- Department of Immunogenetics, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
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6
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Donor-specific ELISPOT assay for predicting acute rejection and allograft function after kidney transplantation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Biochem 2021; 94:1-11. [PMID: 33882287 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2021.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Acute rejection remains an important problem after kidney transplantation. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assay has been investigated extensively and has shown promising results as a predictor of allograft rejection. The objective of this study was to systematically review and analyze the predictive value of the donor-specific ELISPOT assay to identify recipients at risk for acute rejection. Electronic databases were searched for studies reporting donor-specific ELISPOT and kidney transplantation outcomes. Odds ratio (OR) for acute rejection was calculated, along with standardized mean difference (SMD) of cytokine producing-cells between recipients with and without acute rejection. Pooled estimates were calculated using random-effect models. The positive ELISPOT cutoff frequencies were extracted from each study. From 665 articles found, 32 studies were included in the meta-analysis. IFN-γ was the most investigated cytokine (30 out of 32 studies). Patients with positive pre-transplantation donor-reactive IFN-γ ELISPOT had an OR of 3.3 for acute rejection (95%-CI 2.1 to 5.1), and OR of 6.8 (95%-CI 2.5 to 18.9) for post-transplantation ELISPOT. Recipients with rejection had significantly higher frequencies of pre- and post-transplantation cytokine producing-cells (SMD 0.47, 95%-CI 0.07 to 0.87 and SMD 3.68, 95%-CI 1.04 to 6.32, respectively). Pre-transplantation ELISPOT had a positive predictive value of 43% and a negative predictive value of 81% for acute rejection. A positive ELISPOT result was associated with a lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (SMD -0.59, 95%-CI -0.83 to -0.34). In conclusion, patients with a high frequency of donor-reactive IFN-γ ELISPOT are at higher risk for acute rejection. The donor-specific IFN-γ ELISPOT assay can serve as an immune-monitoring tool in kidney transplantation.
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7
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Karahan GE, Claas FHJ, Heidt S. Pre-existing Alloreactive T and B Cells and Their Possible Relevance for Pre-transplant Risk Estimation in Kidney Transplant Recipients. Front Med (Lausanne) 2020; 7:340. [PMID: 32793610 PMCID: PMC7385137 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2020.00340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In allogeneic transplantation, genetic disparities between patient and donor may lead to cellular and humoral immune responses mediated by both naïve and memory alloreactive cells of the adaptive immune system. This review will focus on alloreactive T and B cells with emphasis on the memory compartment, their role in relation to kidney rejection, and in vitro assays to detect these alloreactive cells. Finally, the potential additional value of utilizing donor-specific memory T and B cell assays supplementary to current routine pre-transplant risk assessment of kidney transplant recipients will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonca E Karahan
- Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Frans H J Claas
- Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Sebastiaan Heidt
- Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
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Khattar M, Baum CE, Schroder P, Breidenbach JD, Haller ST, Chen W, Stepkowski S. Interleukin 21 (IL-21) regulates chronic allograft vasculopathy (CAV) in murine heart allograft rejection. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0225624. [PMID: 31756235 PMCID: PMC6874341 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
IL-21 is the most recently discovered common gamma-chain cytokine that promotes persistent T-cell responses in chronic infections, autoimmunity and cancer. However, the therapeutic potential of inhibiting the IL-21-BATF signaling axis, particularly in transplant rejection, remains unclear. We used heart transplant models to examine the effects of IL-21 blockade in prevention of chronic cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) using genetic knock-out and therapeutic approaches. Both wild-type C57BL/6 and IL-21-/- strains acutely rejected Balb/c skin grafts and once immunized with this skin graft, rejected Balb/c heart allografts in an accelerated fashion. However, when transplanted with heart grafts from the class-II major histocompatibility complex mutant, B6bm12 mice; wild-type recipients developed CAV, while IL-21-/- recipients were protected, even at day 100 post-transplant. Similarly, BATF-/- recipients, lacking the transcription factor BATF responsible for IL-21 production, did not develop CAV in B6-bm12 heart allografts. Strikingly, in a transient treatment protocol, the development of CAV in wild-type recipients of B6-bm12 hearts allografts was blocked by the administration of IL-21 receptor fusion protein (R-Fc). Thus, we demonstrate that CAV is regulated at least in part by IL-21 signaling and its blockade by genetic approaches or therapy with IL-21R-Fc prevents CAV in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mithun Khattar
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, United States of America
| | - Caitlin E. Baum
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, United States of America
| | - Paul Schroder
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Joshua D. Breidenbach
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, United States of America
| | - Steven T. Haller
- Department of Medicine, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, United States of America
| | - Wenhao Chen
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, United States of America
| | - Stanislaw Stepkowski
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Tomita Y, Iwadoh K, Ogawa Y, Miki K, Kato Y, Kai K, Sannomiya A, Koyama I, Kitajima K, Nakajima I, Fuchinoue S. Single fixed low-dose rituximab as induction therapy suppresses de novo donor-specific anti-HLA antibody production in ABO compatible living kidney transplant recipients. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224203. [PMID: 31644555 PMCID: PMC6808551 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate de novo donor-specific anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibody (dnDSA) production leading to antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) after rituximab induction in non-sensitized ABO-compatible living kidney transplantation (ABO-CLKTx). During 2008-2015, 318 ABO-CLKTx were performed at the Department of Surgery III at Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital. To reduce confounding factors, we adopted a propensity score analysis, which was applied with adjustment for age, gender, duration of pretransplant dialysis, HLA mismatch count, preformed DSA, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, immunosuppressive treatment, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) on postoperative day 7. Using a propensity score matching model (1:1, 115 pairs), we analyzed the long-term outcomes of 230 ABO-CLKTx recipients retrospectively. Recipients were classified into a rituximab-treated (RTX-KTx, N = 115) group and a control group not treated with rituximab (C-KTx, N = 115). During five years, adverse events, survival rates for grafts and patients, and incidence of biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR) and dnDSA production for the two groups were monitored and compared. All recipients in the RTX-KTx group received rituximab induction on preoperative day 4 at a single fixed low dose of 100 mg; the CD19+ B cells were eliminated completely before surgery. Of those recipients, 13 (11.3%) developed BPAR; 1 (0.8%) experienced graft loss. By contrast, of C-KTx group recipients, 25 (21.7%) developed BPAR; 3 (2.6%) experienced graft loss. The RTX-KTx group exhibited a significantly lower incidence of BPAR (P = .041) and dnDSA production (13.9% in the RTX-KTx group vs. 26.9% in the C-RTx group, P = .005). Furthermore, lower incidence of CMV infection was detected in the RTX-KTx group than in the C-KTx group (13.9% in the RTX-KTx group vs. 27.0% in the C-KTx group, P = .014). No significant difference was found between groups for several other factors: renal function (P = .384), graft and patient survival (P = .458 and P = .119, respectively), and the respective incidences of BK virus infection (P = .722) and leukopenia (P = .207). During five-year follow-up, single fixed low-dose rituximab therapy is sufficient for ensuring safety, reducing rejection, and suppressing dnDSA production for immunological low-risk non-sensitized ABO-CLKTx.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Tomita
- Department of Surgery, Kidney Center, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Kazuhiro Iwadoh
- Department of Surgery, Kidney Center, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuichi Ogawa
- Department of Surgery, Kidney Center, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Katsuyuki Miki
- Department of Surgery, Kidney Center, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yojiro Kato
- Department of Surgery, Kidney Center, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kotaro Kai
- Department of Surgery, Kidney Center, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihito Sannomiya
- Department of Surgery, Kidney Center, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ichiro Koyama
- Department of Surgery, Kidney Center, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kumiko Kitajima
- Department of Surgery, Kidney Center, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ichiro Nakajima
- Department of Surgery, Kidney Center, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shohei Fuchinoue
- Department of Surgery, Kidney Center, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
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10
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Aschauer C, Jelencsics K, Hu K, Heinzel A, Vetter J, Fraunhofer T, Schaller S, Winkler S, Pimenov L, Gualdoni GA, Eder M, Kainz A, Regele H, Reindl-Schwaighofer R, Oberbauer R. Next generation sequencing based assessment of the alloreactive T cell receptor repertoire in kidney transplant patients during rejection: a prospective cohort study. BMC Nephrol 2019; 20:346. [PMID: 31477052 PMCID: PMC6719356 DOI: 10.1186/s12882-019-1541-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Kidney transplantation is the optimal treatment in end stage renal disease but the allograft survival is still hampered by immune reactions against the allograft. This process is driven by the recognition of allogenic antigens presented to T-cells and their unique T-cell receptor (TCR) via the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), which triggers a complex immune response potentially leading to graft injury. Although the immune system and kidney transplantation have been studied extensively, the subtlety of alloreactive immune responses has impeded sensitive detection at an early stage. Next generation sequencing of the TCR enables us to monitor alloreactive T-cell populations and might thus allow the detection of early rejection events. METHODS/DESIGN This is a prospective cohort study designed to sequentially evaluate the alloreactive T cell repertoire after kidney transplantation. The TCR repertoire of patients who developed biopsy confirmed acute T cell mediated rejection (TCMR) will be compared to patients without rejection. To track the alloreactive subsets we will perform a mixed lymphocyte reaction between kidney donor and recipient before transplantation and define the alloreactive TCR repertoire by next generation sequencing of the complementary determining region 3 (CDR3) of the T cell receptor beta chain. After initial clonotype assembly from sequencing reads, TCR repertoire diversity and clonal expansion of T cells of kidney transplant recipients in periphery and kidney biopsy will be analyzed for changes after transplantation, during, prior or after a rejection. The goal of this study is to describe changes of overall T cell repertoire diversity, clonality in kidney transplant recipients, define and track alloreactive T cells in the posttransplant course and decipher patterns of expanded alloreactive T cells in acute cellular rejection to find an alternative monitoring to invasive and delayed diagnostic procedures. DISCUSSION Changes of the T cell repertoire and tracking of alloreactive T cell clones after combined bone marrow and kidney transplant has proven to be of potential use to monitor the donor directed alloresponse. The dynamics of the donor specific T cells in regular kidney transplant recipients in rejection still rests elusive and can give further insights in human alloresponse. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03422224 , registered February 5th 2018.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constantin Aschauer
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kira Jelencsics
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karin Hu
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Heinzel
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Vetter
- Bioinformatics Research Group, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Softwarepark 13, 4232, Hagenberg im Muehlkreis, Austria
| | - Thomas Fraunhofer
- Bioinformatics Research Group, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Softwarepark 13, 4232, Hagenberg im Muehlkreis, Austria
| | - Susanne Schaller
- Bioinformatics Research Group, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Softwarepark 13, 4232, Hagenberg im Muehlkreis, Austria
| | - Stephan Winkler
- Bioinformatics Research Group, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Softwarepark 13, 4232, Hagenberg im Muehlkreis, Austria
| | - Lisabeth Pimenov
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Guido A Gualdoni
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Eder
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander Kainz
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Heinz Regele
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Roman Reindl-Schwaighofer
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rainer Oberbauer
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
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11
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Macedo C, Hadi K, Walters J, Elinoff B, Marrari M, Zeevi A, Ramaswami B, Chalasani G, Landsittel D, Shields A, Alloway R, Lakkis FG, Woodle ES, Metes D. Impact of Induction Therapy on Circulating T Follicular Helper Cells and Subsequent Donor-Specific Antibody Formation After Kidney Transplant. Kidney Int Rep 2018; 4:455-469. [PMID: 30899873 PMCID: PMC6409398 DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.2018.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Revised: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The cellular events that contribute to generation of donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSA) post-kidney transplantation (KTx) are not well understood. Characterization of such mechanisms could allow tailoring of immunosuppression to benefit sensitized patients. Methods We prospectively monitored circulating T follicular helper (cTFH) cells in KTx recipients who received T-cell depleting (thymoglobulin, n = 54) or T-cell nondepleting (basiliximab, n = 20) induction therapy from pre-KTx to 1 year post-KTx and assessed their phenotypic changes due to induction and DSA occurrence, in addition to healthy controls (n = 13), for a total of 307 blood samples. Results Before KTx, patients displayed comparable levels of resting, central memory cTFH cells with similar polarization to those of healthy controls. Unlike basiliximab induction, thymoglobulin induction significantly depleted cTFH cells, triggered lymphopenia-induced proliferation that skewed cTFH cells toward increased Th1 polarization, effector memory, and elevated programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)int/hi expression, resembling activated phenotypes. Regardless of induction, patients who developed DSA post-KTx, harbored pre-KTx donor-reactive memory interleukin (IL)-21+ cTFH cells and showed higher % cTFH and lower % of T regulatory (TREG) cells post-KTx resulting in elevated cTFH:TREG ratio at DSA occurrence. Conclusion Induction therapy distinctly shapes cTFH cell phenotype post-KTx. Monitoring cTFH cells before and after KTx may help detect those patients prone to DSA generation post-KTx.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Macedo
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kevin Hadi
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - John Walters
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Beth Elinoff
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Marilyn Marrari
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Adriana Zeevi
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Bala Ramaswami
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Geetha Chalasani
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Douglas Landsittel
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Adele Shields
- Division of Transplantation, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Rita Alloway
- Division of Nephrology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Fadi G Lakkis
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - E Steve Woodle
- Division of Transplantation, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Diana Metes
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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12
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Ducloux D, Bamoulid J, Crepin T, Rebibou JM, Courivaud C, Saas P. Posttransplant Immune Activation: Innocent Bystander or Insidious Culprit of Posttransplant Accelerated Atherosclerosis. Cell Transplant 2018; 26:1601-1609. [PMID: 29113470 PMCID: PMC5680959 DOI: 10.1177/0963689717735404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity, disability, and mortality in kidney transplant patients. Cumulative reports indicate that the excessive risk of cardiovascular events is not entirely explained by the increased prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease, and it has been postulated that posttransplant immune disturbances may explain the gap between the predicted and observed risks of cardiovascular events. Although concordant data suggest that innate immunity contributes to the posttransplant accelerated atherosclerosis, only few arguments plead for a role of adaptive immunity. We report and discuss here consistent data demonstrating that CD8+ T cell activation is a frequent posttransplant immune feature that may have pro-atherogenic effects. Expansion of exhausted/activated CD8+ T cells in kidney transplant recipients is stimulated by several factors including cytomegalovirus infections, lymphodepletive therapy (e.g., antithymocyte globulins), chronic allogeneic stimulation, and a past history of renal insufficiency. This is observed in the setting of decreased thymic activity, a process also found in elderly individuals and reflecting accelerated immune senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Didier Ducloux
- 1 Inserm, UMR1098, Federation Hospitalo-Universitaire INCREASE, Besançon, France.,2 Department of Nephrology, Dialysis, and Renal Transplantation, CHU Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Jamal Bamoulid
- 1 Inserm, UMR1098, Federation Hospitalo-Universitaire INCREASE, Besançon, France.,2 Department of Nephrology, Dialysis, and Renal Transplantation, CHU Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Thomas Crepin
- 1 Inserm, UMR1098, Federation Hospitalo-Universitaire INCREASE, Besançon, France.,2 Department of Nephrology, Dialysis, and Renal Transplantation, CHU Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Jean-Michel Rebibou
- 1 Inserm, UMR1098, Federation Hospitalo-Universitaire INCREASE, Besançon, France.,3 Department of Nephrology, Dialysis, and Renal Transplantation, CHU Dijon, Dijon, France
| | - Cecile Courivaud
- 1 Inserm, UMR1098, Federation Hospitalo-Universitaire INCREASE, Besançon, France.,2 Department of Nephrology, Dialysis, and Renal Transplantation, CHU Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Philippe Saas
- 1 Inserm, UMR1098, Federation Hospitalo-Universitaire INCREASE, Besançon, France.,4 EFS, UMR1098, Plateforme de BioMonitoring, Besançon, France.,5 Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté (UBFC), UMR1098, Besançon, France.,6 INSERM CIC-1431, Besançon, France
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13
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Taner T, Gustafson MP, Hansen MJ, Park WD, Bornschlegl S, Dietz AB, Stegall MD. Donor-specific hypo-responsiveness occurs in simultaneous liver-kidney transplant recipients after the first year. Kidney Int 2018; 93:1465-1474. [PMID: 29656904 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2018.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Revised: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Kidney allografts of patients who undergo simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation incur less immune-mediated injury, and retain better function compared to other kidney allografts. To characterize the host alloimmune responses in 28 of these patients, we measured the donor-specific alloresponsiveness and phenotypes of peripheral blood cells after the first year. These values were then compared to those of 61 similarly immunosuppressed recipients of a solitary kidney or 31 recipients of liver allografts. Four multicolor, non-overlapping flow cytometry protocols were used to assess the immunophenotypes. Mixed cell cultures with donor or third party cells were used to measure cell proliferation and interferon gamma production. Despite a significant overlap, simultaneous liver-kidney transplant recipients had a lower overall frequency of circulating CD8+, activated CD4+ and effector memory T cells, compared to solitary kidney transplant recipients. Simultaneous liver-kidney transplant recipient T cells had a significantly lower proliferative response to the donor cells compared to solitary kidney recipients (11.9 vs. 42.9%), although their response to third party cells was unaltered. The frequency of interferon gamma producing alloreactive T cells in simultaneous liver-kidney transplant recipients was significantly lower than that of solitary kidney transplant recipients. Flow cytometric analysis of the mixed cultures demonstrated that both alloreactive CD4+ and CD8+ compartments of the simultaneous liver-kidney transplant recipient circulating blood cells were smaller. Thus, the phenotypic and functional characteristics of the circulating blood cells of the simultaneous liver-kidney transplant recipients resembled those of solitary liver transplant recipients, and appear to be associated with donor-specific hypo-alloresponsiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timucin Taner
- William J. von Liebig Center for Transplantation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
| | | | - Michael J Hansen
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Walter D Park
- William J. von Liebig Center for Transplantation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Allan B Dietz
- Human Cellular Therapy Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Mark D Stegall
- William J. von Liebig Center for Transplantation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA; Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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14
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Molecular and Functional Noninvasive Immune Monitoring in the ESCAPE Study for Prediction of Subclinical Renal Allograft Rejection. Transplantation 2017; 101:1400-1409. [PMID: 27362314 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000001287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Subclinical acute rejection (sc-AR) is a main cause for functional decline and kidney graft loss and may only be assessed through surveillance biopsies. METHODS The predictive capacity of 2 novel noninvasive blood biomarkers, the transcriptional kidney Solid Organ Response Test (kSORT), and the IFN-γ enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assay (ELISPOT) assay were assessed in the Evaluation of Sub-Clinical Acute rejection PrEdiction (ESCAPE) Study in 75 consecutive kidney transplants who received 6-month protocol biopsies. Both assays were run individually and in combination to optimize the use of these techniques to predict sc-AR risk. RESULTS Subclinical acute rejection was observed in 22 (29.3%) patients (17 T cell-mediated subclinical rejection [sc-TCMR], 5 antibody-mediated subclinical rejection [sc-ABMR]), whereas 53 (70.7%) showed a noninjured, preserved (stable [STA]) parenchyma. High-risk (HR), low-risk, and indeterminate-risk kSORT scores were observed in 15 (20%), 50 (66.7%), and 10 (13.3%) patients, respectively. The ELISPOT assay was positive in 31 (41%) and negative in 44 (58.7%) patients. The kSORT assay showed high accuracy predicting sc-AR (specificity, 98%; positive predictive value 93%) (all sc-ABMR and 58% sc-TCMR showed HR-kSORT), whereas the ELISPOT showed high precision ruling out sc-TCMR (specificity = 70%, negative predictive value = 92.5%), but could not predict sc-ABMR, unlike kSORT. The predictive probabilities for sc-AR, sc-TCMR, and sc-ABMR were significantly higher when combining both biomarkers (area under the curve > 0.85, P < 0.001) and independently predicted the risk of 6-month sc-AR in a multivariate regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS Combining a molecular and immune cell functional assay may help to identify HR patients for sc-AR, distinguishing between different driving alloimmune effector mechanisms.
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15
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Bremer S, Vethe NT, Skauby M, Kasbo M, Johansson ED, Midtvedt K, Bergan S. NFAT-regulated cytokine gene expression during tacrolimus therapy early after renal transplantation. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2017; 83:2494-2502. [PMID: 28686294 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.13367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Revised: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 07/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Despite pharmacokinetic monitoring of calcineurin inhibitors, the long-term outcome after transplantation (Tx) is still hampered by the side effects of these drugs. The aim of the present study was to characterize nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)-regulated gene expression as a potential pharmacodynamic biomarker for further individualization of tacrolimus (Tac) therapy. METHODS In 29 renal allograft recipients, samples were drawn once pre-Tx, and before and 1.5 h after Tac dosing at approximately 1 week, 6 weeks and 1 year post-Tx. Tac concentrations were measured by immunoassay, while the expression of genes encoding NFAT-regulated cytokines [interleukin 2 (IL2), interferon gamma (IFNG), colony stimulating factor 2 (CSF2)] and cytochrome P450 3A5 (CYP3A5) genotyping were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS The cytokine response after Tac dosing varied up to 46-fold between patients and changed significantly with time post-engraftment. Tac concentrations 1.5 h postdose (C1.5 ) >15 μg l-1 were associated with strong cytokine inhibition and residual gene expression (RGE) ≤10%, while lower Tac C1.5 resulted in more variable responses (RGE 2.5-68.7%). Patients with ongoing subclinical acute rejection (n = 5) demonstrated limited cytokine inhibition (RGE 39.7-72.6%), while patients with polyoma virus viraemia (n = 3) had relatively strong inhibition of cytokines (RGE 2.5-32.5%). By contrast, there was no association between Tac exposure and rejection or viraemia. CONCLUSIONS The findings of our study support the potential of NFAT-regulated gene expression measurements as a pharmacodynamic tool for additional monitoring of Tac therapy, especially in the context of overimmunosuppression and viraemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Bremer
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nils T Vethe
- Deptartment of Pharmacology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Morten Skauby
- Department of Transplantation Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Margrete Kasbo
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Elisabet D Johansson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Karsten Midtvedt
- Department of Transplantation Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Stein Bergan
- Deptartment of Pharmacology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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16
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Crespo E, Cravedi P, Martorell J, Luque S, Melilli E, Cruzado JM, Jarque M, Meneghini M, Manonelles A, Donadei C, Lloberas N, Gomà M, Grinyó JM, Heeger P, Bestard O. Posttransplant peripheral blood donor-specific interferon-γ enzyme-linked immune spot assay differentiates risk of subclinical rejection and de novo donor-specific alloantibodies in kidney transplant recipients. Kidney Int 2017; 92:201-213. [PMID: 28274484 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2016.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2016] [Revised: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 12/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Noninvasive diagnosis of kidney allograft inflammation in transplant recipients with stable graft function (subclinical rejection) could permit more effective therapy and prevent later development of de novo anti-donor HLA antibodies and/or graft dysfunction. Here we tested whether quantifying posttransplant donor-specific alloreactive T-cells by IFN-γ ELISPOT assay noninvasively detects subclinical T-cell mediated rejection and/or predicts development of anti-donor HLA antibodies. Using an initial cross-sectional cohort of 60 kidney transplant patients with six-month surveillance biopsies, we found that negative donor-specific IFN-γ ELISPOT assays accurately ruled out the presence of subclinical T-cell mediated rejection. These results were validated using a distinct prospective cohort of 101 patients where donor-specific IFN-γ ELISPOT results at both three- and six-months posttransplant significantly differentiated patients with subclinical T-cell mediated rejection at six months, independent of other clinical variables (odds ratio 0.072, 95% confidence interval 0.008-0.653). The posttransplant donor-specific IFN-γ ELISPOT results independently associated with subsequent development of significant anti-donor HLA antibodies (0.085, 0.008-0.862) and with significantly worse two-year function (estimated glomerular filtration rate) compared to patients with a negative test. Thus, posttransplant immune monitoring by donor-specific IFN-γ ELISPOT can assess risk for developing subclinical T-cell mediated rejection and anti-donor HLA antibodies, potentially limiting the need for surveillance biopsies. Our study provides a guide for individualizing immunosuppression to improve posttransplant outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Crespo
- Experimental Nephrology Laboratory, IDIBELL, Barcelona University, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paolo Cravedi
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine and the Translational Transplant Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Jaume Martorell
- HLA histocompatibility Laboratory, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergi Luque
- Experimental Nephrology Laboratory, IDIBELL, Barcelona University, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Edoardo Melilli
- Kidney Transplant Unit, Nephrology Department, Bellvitge University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep M Cruzado
- Experimental Nephrology Laboratory, IDIBELL, Barcelona University, Barcelona, Spain; Kidney Transplant Unit, Nephrology Department, Bellvitge University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Jarque
- Experimental Nephrology Laboratory, IDIBELL, Barcelona University, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Meneghini
- Kidney Transplant Unit, Nephrology Department, Bellvitge University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Manonelles
- Kidney Transplant Unit, Nephrology Department, Bellvitge University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Chiara Donadei
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine and the Translational Transplant Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Núria Lloberas
- Experimental Nephrology Laboratory, IDIBELL, Barcelona University, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Montse Gomà
- Pathology Department, Bellvitge University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep M Grinyó
- Experimental Nephrology Laboratory, IDIBELL, Barcelona University, Barcelona, Spain; Kidney Transplant Unit, Nephrology Department, Bellvitge University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Peter Heeger
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine and the Translational Transplant Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Oriol Bestard
- Experimental Nephrology Laboratory, IDIBELL, Barcelona University, Barcelona, Spain; Kidney Transplant Unit, Nephrology Department, Bellvitge University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
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17
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Menon MC, Murphy B, Heeger PS. Moving Biomarkers toward Clinical Implementation in Kidney Transplantation. J Am Soc Nephrol 2017; 28:735-747. [PMID: 28062570 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2016080858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-term kidney transplant outcomes remain suboptimal, delineating an unmet medical need. Although current immunosuppressive therapy in kidney transplant recipients is effective, dosing is conventionally adjusted empirically on the basis of time after transplant or altered in response to detection of kidney dysfunction, histologic evidence of allograft damage, or infection. Such strategies tend to detect allograft rejection after significant injury has already occurred, fail to detect chronic subclinical inflammation that can negatively affect graft survival, and ignore specific risks and immune mechanisms that differentially contribute to allograft damage among transplant recipients. Assays and biomarkers that reliably quantify and/or predict the risk of allograft injury have the potential to overcome these deficits and thereby, aid clinicians in optimizing immunosuppressive regimens. Herein, we review the data on candidate biomarkers that we contend have the highest potential to become clinically useful surrogates in kidney transplant recipients, including functional T cell assays, urinary gene and protein assays, peripheral blood cell gene expression profiles, and allograft gene expression profiles. We identify barriers to clinical biomarker adoption in the transplant field and suggest strategies for moving biomarker-based individualization of transplant care from a research hypothesis to clinical implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhav C Menon
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Translational Transplant Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Barbara Murphy
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Translational Transplant Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Peter S Heeger
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Translational Transplant Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
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18
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Alachkar H, Mutonga M, Kato T, Kalluri S, Kakuta Y, Uemura M, Imamura R, Nonomura N, Vujjini V, Alasfar S, Rabb H, Nakamura Y, Alachkar N. Quantitative characterization of T-cell repertoire and biomarkers in kidney transplant rejection. BMC Nephrol 2016; 17:181. [PMID: 27871261 PMCID: PMC5117555 DOI: 10.1186/s12882-016-0395-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND T-cell-mediated rejection (TCMR) remains a major cause of kidney allograft failure. The characterization of T-cell repertoire in different immunological disorders has emerged recently as a novel tool with significant implications. We herein sought to characterize T-cell repertoire using next generation sequencing to diagnose TCMR. METHODS In this prospective study, we analyzed samples from 50 kidney transplant recipients. We collected blood and kidney transplant biopsy samples at sequential time points before and post transplant. We used next generation sequencing to characterize T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire by using illumina miSeq on cDNA synthesized from RNA extracted from six patients' samples. We also measured RNA expression levels of FOXP3, CD8, CD4, granzyme and perforin in blood samples from all 50 patients. RESULTS Seven patients developed TCMR during the first three months of the study. Out of six patients who had complete sets of blood and biopsy samples two had TCMR. We found an expansion of the TCR repertoire in blood at time of rejection when compared to that at pre-transplant or one-month post transplant. Patients with TCMR (n = 7) had significantly higher RNA expression levels of FOXP3, Perforin, Granzyme, CD4 and CD8 in blood samples than those with no TCMR (n = 43) (P = 0.02, P = 0.003, P = 0.002, P = 0.017, and P = 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Our study provides a potential utilization of TCR clone kinetics analysis in the diagnosis of TCMR. This approach may allow for the identification of the expanded T-cell clones associated with the rejection and lead to potential noninvasive diagnosis and targeted therapies of TCMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houda Alachkar
- School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA.
| | - Martin Mutonga
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Taigo Kato
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Sowjanya Kalluri
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Kendall regional medical center, Miami, FL, 33175, USA
| | - Yoichi Kakuta
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Urology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Motohide Uemura
- Department of Urology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ryoichi Imamura
- Department of Urology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Norio Nonomura
- Department of Urology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Vikas Vujjini
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Sami Alasfar
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Hamid Rabb
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Yusuke Nakamura
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Nada Alachkar
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
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Virtual Global Transplant Laboratory Standard Operating Protocol for Donor Alloantigen-specific Interferon-gamma ELISPOT Assay. Transplant Direct 2016; 2:e111. [PMID: 27826604 PMCID: PMC5096438 DOI: 10.1097/txd.0000000000000621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The quantification of frequency of IFN-γ–producing T cells responding to donor alloantigen using the IFN-γ enzyme linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) holds potential for pretransplant and posttransplant immunological risk stratification. The effectiveness of this assay, and the ability to compare results generated by different studies, is dependent on the utilization of a standardized operating procedure (SOP). Key factors in assay standardization include the identification of primary and secondary antibody pairs, and the reading of the ELISPOT plate with a standardized automated algorithm. Here, we describe in detail, an SOP that should provide low coefficient of variation results. For multicenter trials, it is recommended that groups perform the ELISPOT assays locally but use a centralized ELISPOT reading facility, as this has been shown to be beneficial in reducing coefficient of variation between laboratories even when the SOP is strictly adhered to.
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20
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Bestard O, Cravedi P. Monitoring alloimmune response in kidney transplantation. J Nephrol 2016; 30:187-200. [PMID: 27245689 DOI: 10.1007/s40620-016-0320-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2016] [Accepted: 05/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Currently, immunosuppressive therapy in kidney transplant recipients is generally performed by protocols and adjusted according to functional or histological evaluation of the allograft and/or signs of drug toxicity or infection. As a result, a large fraction of patients are likely to receive too much or too little immunosuppression, exposing them to higher rates of infection, malignancy and drug toxicity, or increased risk of acute and chronic graft injury from rejection, respectively. Developing reliable biomarkers is crucial for individualizing therapy aimed at extending allograft survival. Emerging data indicate that many assays, likely used in panels rather than single assays, have potential to be diagnostic and predictive of short and also long-term outcome. While numerous cross-sectional studies have found associations between the results of these assays and the presence of clinically relevant post-transplantation outcomes, data from prospective studies are still scanty, thereby preventing widespread implementation in the clinic. Of note, some prospective, randomized, multicenter biomarker-driven studies are currently on-going aiming at confirming such preliminary data. These works as well as other future studies are highly warranted to test the hypothesis that tailoring immunosuppression on the basis of results offered by these biomarkers leads to better outcomes than current standard clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oriol Bestard
- Kidney Transplant Unit, Nephrology Department, Bellvitge University Hospital, Barcelona University, IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paolo Cravedi
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, Annenberg Building, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
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21
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Alemtuzumab as Antirejection Therapy: T Cell Repopulation and Cytokine Responsiveness. Transplant Direct 2016; 2:e83. [PMID: 27500273 PMCID: PMC4946521 DOI: 10.1097/txd.0000000000000595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 04/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Supplemental digital content is available in the text. Background Alemtuzumab induction therapy in kidney transplant patients results in T cell depletion followed by slow immune reconstitution of memory T cells with reduced immune functions. The kinetics and functional characteristics of T cell reconstitution when alemtuzumab is given during immune activation, ie, as antirejection therapy, are unknown. Methods Patients (n = 12) with glucocorticoid-resistant or severe vascular kidney transplant rejection were treated with alemtuzumab. Flow cytometric analysis was performed on whole blood to measure cell division by the marker Ki-67, and cytokine responsiveness by IL-2–mediated and IL-7–mediated phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 of T cells before and during the first year after rejection therapy. Results At 1 year after alemtuzumab antirejection therapy, the total T cell population recovered to baseline level. Repopulation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was associated with increased percentages of Ki-67+ proliferating T cells (P < 0.05). In addition, both populations showed a phenotypic shift toward relatively more memory T cells (P < 0.01). At the functional level, IL-7 reactivity of CD4+ memory T cells was diminished, reflected by a decreased capacity to phosphorylate signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 during the first 6 months after alemtuzumab treatment (P < 0.05), whereas reactivity to IL-2 was preserved. CD8+ T cells were affected in terms of both IL-2 and IL-7 responses (both P < 0.05). After reconstitution, relatively more regulatory T cells were present, and a relatively high proportion of Ki-67+ T cells was observed. Conclusions Preliminary data from this small series suggest that alemtuzumab antirejection therapy induces homeostatic proliferation of memory and regulatory T cells with diminished responsiveness to the homeostatic cytokine IL-7. IL-2 responsiveness was affected in repopulated CD8+ T cells.
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Abstract
Antigen-experienced T cells, also known as memory T cells, are functionally and phenotypically distinct from naive T cells. Their enhanced expression of adhesion molecules and reduced requirement for co-stimulation enables them to mount potent and rapid recall responses to subsequent antigen encounters. Memory T cells generated in response to prior antigen exposures can cross-react with other nonidentical, but similar, antigens. This heterologous cross-reactivity not only enhances protective immune responses, but also engenders de novo alloimmunity. This latter characteristic is increasingly recognized as a potential barrier to allograft acceptance that is worthy of immunotherapeutic intervention, and several approaches have been investigated. Calcineurin inhibition effectively controls memory T-cell responses to allografts, but this benefit comes at the expense of increased infectious morbidity. Lymphocyte depletion eliminates allospecific T cells but spares memory T cells to some extent, such that patients do not completely lose protective immunity. Co-stimulation blockade is associated with reduced adverse-effect profiles and improved graft function relative to calcineurin inhibition, but lacks efficacy in controlling memory T-cell responses. Targeting the adhesion molecules that are upregulated on memory T cells might offer additional means to control co-stimulation-blockade-resistant memory T-cell responses.
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23
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Mancebo E, Castro MJ, Allende LM, Talayero P, Brunet M, Millán O, Guirado L, López-Hoyos M, San Segundo D, Rodrigo E, Muñoz P, Boix Giner F, Llorente Viñas S, Muro-Amador M, Paz-Artal E. High proportion of CD95(+) and CD38(+) in cultured CD8(+) T cells predicts acute rejection and infection, respectively, in kidney recipients. Transpl Immunol 2016; 34:33-41. [PMID: 26773856 DOI: 10.1016/j.trim.2016.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Revised: 12/14/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to find noninvasive T-cell markers able to predict rejection or infection risk after kidney transplantation. We prospectively examined T-lymphocyte subsets after cell culture stimulation (according to CD38, CD69, CD95, CD40L, and CD25 expression) in 79 first graft recipients from four centers, before and after transplantation. Patients were followed up for one year. Patients who rejected within month-1 (n=10) showed high pre-transplantation and week-1 post-transplantation percentages of CD95(+), in CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cells (P<0.001 for all comparisons). These biomarkers conferred independent risk for early rejection (HR:5.05, P=0.061 and HR:75.31, P=0.004; respectively). The cut-off values were able to accurately discriminate between rejectors and non-rejectors and Kaplan-Meier curves showed significantly different free-of-rejection time rates (P<0.005). Patients who rejected after the month-1 (n=4) had a higher percentage of post-transplantation CD69(+) in CD8(+) T-cells than non-rejectors (P=0.002). Finally, patients with infection (n=41) previously showed higher percentage of CD38(+) in CD8(+) T-cells at all post-transplantation times evaluated, being this increase more marked in viral infections. A cut-off of 59% CD38(+) in CD8(+) T-cells at week-1, week-2 and month-2 reached 100% sensitivity for the detection of subsequent viral infections. In conclusion, predictive biomarkers of rejection and infection risk after transplantation were detected that could be useful for the personalized care of kidney recipients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Mancebo
- Immunology Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain; Research Institute, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.
| | - María José Castro
- Immunology Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain; Research Institute, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luís M Allende
- Immunology Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain; Research Institute, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paloma Talayero
- Immunology Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain; Research Institute, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mercè Brunet
- Farmacología y Toxicología, Centro de Diagnóstico Biomédico, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clínico, Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Spain
| | - Olga Millán
- Farmacología y Toxicología, Centro de Diagnóstico Biomédico, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clínico, Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Spain
| | - Luís Guirado
- Unidad de Trasplante Renal, Servicio de Nefrología, Fundación Puigvert, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marcos López-Hoyos
- Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla - IDIVAL, Santander, Spain. REDINREN-ISCIII (RD12/0021/007)
| | - David San Segundo
- Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla - IDIVAL, Santander, Spain. REDINREN-ISCIII (RD12/0021/007)
| | - Emilio Rodrigo
- Nefrología, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla - IDIVAL, Santander, Spain. REDINREN-ISCIII (RD12/0021/007)
| | - Pedro Muñoz
- Gerencia de Atención Primaria. Servicio Cántabro de Salud, Santander, Spain
| | - Francisco Boix Giner
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen Arrixaca-IMIB, Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Manuel Muro-Amador
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen Arrixaca-IMIB, Murcia, Spain
| | - Estela Paz-Artal
- Immunology Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain; Research Institute, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
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24
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T cells Exhibit Reduced Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 5 Phosphorylation and Upregulated Coinhibitory Molecule Expression After Kidney Transplantation. Transplantation 2015; 99:1995-2003. [PMID: 25769075 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000000674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND T-cell depletion therapy is associated with diminished interleukin (IL)-7/IL-15-dependent homeostatic proliferation resulting in incomplete T-cell repopulation. Furthermore, it is associated with impaired T-cell functions. We hypothesized that this is the result of impaired cytokine responsiveness of T cells, through affected signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)5 phosphorylation and upregulation of coinhibitory molecules. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients were treated with T cell-depleting rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) (6 mg/kg, n = 17) or nondepleting, anti-CD25 antibody (basiliximab, 2 × 40 mg, n = 25) induction therapy, in combination with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and steroids. Before and the first year after transplantation, IL-7 and IL-2 induced STAT5 phosphorylation, and the expression of the coinhibitory molecules programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), T cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (TIM-3), lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3), cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), cluster of differentiation (CD) 160, and CD244 was measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS The first year after rATG, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells were affected in their IL-7-dependent phosphorylation of STAT5 (pSTAT5) which was most outspoken in the CD8+ memory population. The capacity of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells to pSTAT5 in response to IL-2 decreased after both rATG and basiliximab therapy. After kidney transplantation, the percentage of TIM-3+, PD-1+, and CD160+CD4+ T cells and the percentage of CD160+ and CD244+CD8+ T cells increased, with no differences in expression between rATG- and basiliximab-treated patients. The decrease in pSTAT5 capacity CD8+ T cells and the increase in coinhibitory molecules were correlated. CONCLUSIONS We show that memory T cells in kidney transplant patients, in particular after rATG treatment, have decreased cytokine responsiveness by impaired phosphorylation of STAT5 and have increased expression of coinhibitory molecules, processes which were correlated in CD8+ T cells.
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25
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Elfadawy N, Diaz G, Chiesa-Vottero A, Nurko S, Poggio E, Flechner S, Klingman L, Thomas D, Zhang A, Askar M. Primary Graft Dysfunction After Zero-Mismatch Kidney Transplantation Secondary to Early Biopsy-Proven Acute Cell-Mediated Rejection: Case Report. Transplant Proc 2015; 47:2223-6. [PMID: 26361684 DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2015.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2015] [Accepted: 07/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We report a case of primary renal allograft dysfunction and early acute cell-mediated rejection after a 12/12 HLA antigen zero-mismatch (0MM) transplant. The recipient was a 40-year-old white man who was highly allosensitized, with a calculated panel reactive antibody score of 100%. In posteroperative day 1 the recipient remained anuric and underwent dialysis because of hyperkalemia. Graft biopsy showed early acute cellular rejection, Banff grade 2B. No evidence of antibody-mediated rejection was observed. To our knowledge, this case is the 1st to report early cell-mediated rejection after 12/12 HLA antigen 0MM kidney transplantation. This case suggests that highly sensitized candidates are at high immunologic risk even in the context of 0MM kidney transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Elfadawy
- Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.
| | - G Diaz
- Unidad de Inmunología e Histocompatibilidad, Hospital Durand, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A Chiesa-Vottero
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - S Nurko
- Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - E Poggio
- Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - S Flechner
- Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - L Klingman
- Allogen Laboratories, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - D Thomas
- Allogen Laboratories, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - A Zhang
- Allogen Laboratories, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - M Askar
- Allogen Laboratories, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
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26
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Rosenblum JM, Kirk AD. Recollective homeostasis and the immune consequences of peritransplant depletional induction therapy. Immunol Rev 2015; 258:167-82. [PMID: 24517433 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
One's cellular immune repertoire is composed of lymphocytes in multiple stages of maturation - the dynamic product of their responses to antigenic challenges and the homeostatic contractions necessary to accommodate immune expansions within physiologic norms. Given that alloreactivity is predominantly a cross-reactive phenomenon that is stochastically distributed throughout the overall T-cell repertoire, one's allospecific repertoire is similarly made up of cells in a variety of differentiation states. As such, the continuous expansion and elimination of activated memory populations, producing a 'recollective homeostasis' of sorts, has the potential over time to alter the maturation state and effector composition of both ones protective and alloreactive T-cell repertoire. Importantly, a T cell's maturation state significantly influences its response to numerous immunomodulatory therapies used in organ transplantation, including depletional antibody induction. In this review, we discuss clinically utilized depletional induction strategies, how their use alters a transplant recipient's cellular immune repertoire, and how a recipient's repertoire influences the clinical effects of induction therapy.
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27
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Crespo E, Lucia M, Cruzado JM, Luque S, Melilli E, Manonelles A, Lloberas N, Torras J, Grinyó JM, Bestard O. Pre-transplant donor-specific T-cell alloreactivity is strongly associated with early acute cellular rejection in kidney transplant recipients not receiving T-cell depleting induction therapy. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0117618. [PMID: 25689405 PMCID: PMC4331510 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2014] [Accepted: 12/29/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Preformed T-cell immune-sensitization should most likely impact allograft outcome during the initial period after kidney transplantation, since donor-specific memory T-cells may rapidly recognize alloantigens and activate the effector immune response, which leads to allograft rejection. However, the precise time-frame in which acute rejection is fundamentally triggered by preformed donor-specific memory T cells rather than by de novo activated naïve T cells is still to be established. Here, preformed donor-specific alloreactive T-cell responses were evaluated using the IFN-γ ELISPOT assay in a large consecutive cohort of kidney transplant patients (n = 90), to assess the main clinical variables associated with cellular sensitization and its predominant time-frame impact on allograft outcome, and was further validated in an independent new set of kidney transplant recipients (n = 67). We found that most highly T-cell sensitized patients were elderly patients with particularly poor HLA class-I matching, without any clinically recognizable sensitizing events. While one-year incidence of all types of biopsy-proven acute rejection did not differ between T-cell alloreactive and non-alloreactive patients, Receiver Operating Characteristic curve analysis indicated the first two months after transplantation as the highest risk time period for acute cellular rejection associated with baseline T-cell sensitization. This effect was particularly evident in young and highly alloreactive individuals that did not receive T-cell depletion immunosuppression. Multivariate analysis confirmed preformed T-cell sensitization as an independent predictor of early acute cellular rejection. In summary, monitoring anti-donor T-cell sensitization before transplantation may help to identify patients at increased risk of acute cellular rejection, particularly in the early phases after kidney transplantation, and thus guide decision-making regarding the use of induction therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Crespo
- Experimental Nephrology Laboratory, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marc Lucia
- Experimental Nephrology Laboratory, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep M. Cruzado
- Experimental Nephrology Laboratory, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain
- Renal Transplant Unit, Nephrology department, Bellvitge University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergio Luque
- Experimental Nephrology Laboratory, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Edoardo Melilli
- Renal Transplant Unit, Nephrology department, Bellvitge University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Manonelles
- Experimental Nephrology Laboratory, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain
- Renal Transplant Unit, Nephrology department, Bellvitge University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nuria Lloberas
- Experimental Nephrology Laboratory, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Torras
- Experimental Nephrology Laboratory, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain
- Renal Transplant Unit, Nephrology department, Bellvitge University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep M. Grinyó
- Experimental Nephrology Laboratory, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain
- Renal Transplant Unit, Nephrology department, Bellvitge University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Oriol Bestard
- Experimental Nephrology Laboratory, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain
- Renal Transplant Unit, Nephrology department, Bellvitge University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
- * E-mail:
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28
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Mehrotra A, Leventhal J, Purroy C, Cravedi P. Monitoring T cell alloreactivity. Transplant Rev (Orlando) 2014; 29:53-9. [PMID: 25475045 DOI: 10.1016/j.trre.2014.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2014] [Revised: 10/03/2014] [Accepted: 11/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Currently, immunosuppressive therapy in kidney transplant recipients is center-specific, protocol-driven, and adjusted according to functional or histological evaluation of the allograft and/or signs of drug toxicity or infection. As a result, a large fraction of patients receive too much or too little immunosuppression, exposing them to higher rates of infection, malignancy and drug toxicity, or increased risk of acute and chronic graft injury from rejection, respectively. The individualization of immunosuppression requires the development of assays able to reliably quantify and/or predict the magnitude of the recipient's immune response toward the allograft. As alloreactive T cells are central mediators of allograft rejection, monitoring T cell alloreactivity has become a priority for the transplant community. Among available assays, flow cytometry based phenotyping, T cell proliferation, T cell cytokine secretion, and ATP release (ImmuKnow), have been the most thoroughly tested. While numerous cross-sectional studies have found associations between the results of these assays and the presence of clinically relevant post-transplantation outcomes, data from prospective studies are still scanty, thereby preventing widespread implementation in the clinic. Future studies are required to test the hypothesis that tailoring immunosuppression on the basis of results offered by these biomarkers leads to better outcomes than current standard clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Mehrotra
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, USA
| | - Jeremy Leventhal
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, USA
| | - Carolina Purroy
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, USA
| | - Paolo Cravedi
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, USA.
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29
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Outcome and cost analysis of induction immunosuppression with IL2Mab or ATG in DCD kidney transplants. Transplantation 2014; 97:1161-5. [PMID: 24573113 DOI: 10.1097/01.tp.0000442505.10490.20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Kidney transplantation from DCD now represents a significant part of the overall transplant activity in the UK. Outcome of different induction immunosuppression regimes and related cost benefit analysis has been reported by very few studies.This is a single centre study on frequency-matched patients who received a DCD kidney transplant between August 2007 and August 2009. METHODS Data on 45 patients divided in 2 groups were collected prospectively and analyzed retrospectively. Group A (24 patients) received IL2Mab and Group B (21 patients) ATG as induction immunosuppression. Patient and graft survival were similar in both groups. RESULTS In the ATG-induced group, there was a significant lower rate of DGF, BPAR, and infections requiring readmission.A cost analysis was performed including all immunosuppression-related costs, and it has shown remarkable savings in the ATG-induced group. CONCLUSION Considering that the number of DCD kidney transplants is destined to rise in the UK, we believe that ATG is a valid option to continue optimizing outcomes of DCD kidney transplant. In our experience, ATG proved to be safe, effective, and contributed to significant cost savings.
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30
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ATG induction in renal transplant recipients: Long-term hazard of severe infection is associated with long-term functional T cell impairment but not the ATG-induced CD4 cell decline. Hum Immunol 2014; 75:561-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2014.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2013] [Revised: 01/03/2014] [Accepted: 02/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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31
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Ducloux D, Courivaud C, Bamoulid J, Crepin T, Chalopin JM, Tiberghien P, Saas P. Polyclonal antithymocyte globulin and cardiovascular disease in kidney transplant recipients. J Am Soc Nephrol 2014; 25:1349-56. [PMID: 24511120 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2013060663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
T-lymphocyte activation may contribute to atherosclerosis, the prevalence of which is increased in transplant patients. However, the cardiovascular consequences of polyclonal antithymocyte globulin (ATG)-induced immune modifications, which include alterations in T-cell subsets, are unknown. We conducted a retrospective single-center study to assess whether ATG associates with an increased incidence of atherosclerotic events (CVEs) in kidney transplant patients. Propensity score analysis was performed to address potential confounding by indication. We also tested whether ATG use induces a proatherogenic immune status. Sixty-nine (12.2%) CVEs occurred during follow-up (87±31 months). The cumulative incidence of CVEs was higher in ATG-treated patients (14.7% versus 8.2%; P=0.03). Cox regression analysis revealed that ATG use was an independent risk factor for CVEs (hazard ratio [HR], 2.36; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.35 to 4.13; P=0.003). Results obtained in the propensity score match analysis recapitulated those obtained from the overall cohort (HR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.11 to 3.98; P=0.02). Late-stage differentiated CD8(+) T cells increased 1 year after transplantation only in ATG-treated patients. More generally, ATG associated with features of immune activation. These modifications increased markedly in patients exposed to cytomegalovirus (CMV). Subanalyses suggest that the effect of ATG on CVEs is restricted to CMV-exposed patients. However, CMV infection associated significantly with CVEs only in ATG-treated patients (HR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.16 to 3.70; P=0.01). In conclusion, ATG associated with both immune activation and post-transplant CVEs in this cohort. Further studies should precisely determine whether ATG-induced immune activation is the causal link between ATG and CVEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Didier Ducloux
- Integrated Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases (UMR1098), French Institute of Health and Medical Research, University Hospital Federation, Besançon, France; French Federal Research Institute for Engineering for Cellular and Tissue Biology (IFR133), University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; Department of Nephrology, Dialysis, and Renal Transplantation, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France; Clinical Investigation Centre-Integrated Biotherapeutics (CIC-BT 506), University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France; and
| | - Cécile Courivaud
- Integrated Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases (UMR1098), French Institute of Health and Medical Research, University Hospital Federation, Besançon, France; French Federal Research Institute for Engineering for Cellular and Tissue Biology (IFR133), University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; Department of Nephrology, Dialysis, and Renal Transplantation, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Jamal Bamoulid
- Integrated Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases (UMR1098), French Institute of Health and Medical Research, University Hospital Federation, Besançon, France; French Federal Research Institute for Engineering for Cellular and Tissue Biology (IFR133), University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; Department of Nephrology, Dialysis, and Renal Transplantation, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Thomas Crepin
- Integrated Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases (UMR1098), French Institute of Health and Medical Research, University Hospital Federation, Besançon, France; French Federal Research Institute for Engineering for Cellular and Tissue Biology (IFR133), University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; Department of Nephrology, Dialysis, and Renal Transplantation, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Jean-Marc Chalopin
- Integrated Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases (UMR1098), French Institute of Health and Medical Research, University Hospital Federation, Besançon, France; French Federal Research Institute for Engineering for Cellular and Tissue Biology (IFR133), University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; Department of Nephrology, Dialysis, and Renal Transplantation, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France; Clinical Investigation Centre-Integrated Biotherapeutics (CIC-BT 506), University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France; and
| | - Pierre Tiberghien
- Integrated Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases (UMR1098), French Institute of Health and Medical Research, University Hospital Federation, Besançon, France; French Federal Research Institute for Engineering for Cellular and Tissue Biology (IFR133), University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; Clinical Investigation Centre-Integrated Biotherapeutics (CIC-BT 506), University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France; and Biomonitoring Platform, French Blood Service Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Clinical Investigation Centre-Integrated Biotherapeutics (CIC-BT 506), Besançon, France
| | - Philippe Saas
- Integrated Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases (UMR1098), French Institute of Health and Medical Research, University Hospital Federation, Besançon, France; French Federal Research Institute for Engineering for Cellular and Tissue Biology (IFR133), University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; Clinical Investigation Centre-Integrated Biotherapeutics (CIC-BT 506), University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France; and Biomonitoring Platform, French Blood Service Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Clinical Investigation Centre-Integrated Biotherapeutics (CIC-BT 506), Besançon, France
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Kinetics of homeostatic proliferation and thymopoiesis after rATG induction therapy in kidney transplant patients. Transplantation 2014; 96:904-13. [PMID: 23985721 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0b013e3182a203e4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lymphocyte-depleting therapy is associated with long-lasting effects on repopulated T cells and subsequent increased rates of infections and malignancies. The mechanisms of T-cell repopulation and their posttransplantation kinetics are not fully understood. METHODS We studied thymopoiesis by CD31(+) naïve T cells (recent thymic emigrants) and homeostatic proliferation by Ki-67(+) T cells in rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG)-treated patients the first 6 months after transplantation. Patients receiving basiliximab or no induction therapy served as controls. RESULTS At 6 months after transplantation, T-cell numbers were lower than before transplantation in rATG-treated patients, whereas T-cell numbers remained stable in both control groups. In this time period, thymopoiesis was similar between the three treatment groups; CD8(+) T cells showed the highest percentage of recent thymic emigrants. At month 1, percentages of Ki-67(+) naïve and memory CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells were the highest in rATG-treated patients, but these percentages declined in the months thereafter. When CD31 was used to distinguish between cytokine- and antigen-driven proliferation in naïve T cells, we found evidence for cytokine-dependent proliferation. Cytokine-dependent proliferation was also shown by in vivo increased percentages of phosphorylated STAT5 and high expression levels of the interleukin-7 receptor-α and interleukin-15 receptor-α by T cells. CONCLUSION These findings demonstrate that, in the first month after rATG therapy, cytokine-induced homeostatic proliferation is involved in T-cell repopulation of both naïve and memory T cells. At later time points, the contribution of homeostatic proliferation diminished, which explains the observed incomplete T-cell recovery.
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Marco MRL, Dons EM, van der Windt DJ, Bhama JK, Lu LT, Zahorchak AF, Lakkis FG, Cooper DKC, Ezzelarab MB, Thomson AW. Post-transplant repopulation of naïve and memory T cells in blood and lymphoid tissue after alemtuzumab-mediated depletion in heart-transplanted cynomolgus monkeys. Transpl Immunol 2013; 29:88-98. [PMID: 24120957 DOI: 10.1016/j.trim.2013.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2013] [Revised: 10/02/2013] [Accepted: 10/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Repopulation of memory T cells (Tmem) in allograft recipients after lymphodepletion is a major barrier to transplant tolerance induction. Ineffective depletion of naïve T cells (Tn) and Tmem may predispose to repopulation of Tmem after transplantation. Cynomolgus macaque monkeys given heart allografts were lymphodepleted using Alemtuzumab (Campath-1H; anti-CD52). Peripheral blood (PB) and lymph nodes (LN) were analyzed for CD95(-) (Tn) and CD95(+) cells (Tmem), one day, one month and up to three months after Alemtuzumab infusion. CD52 expression, susceptibility to Alemtuzumab cytotoxicity and pro-apoptotic caspase-3 were evaluated in Tn and Tmem. In vivo, Alemtuzumab induction profoundly depleted lymphocytes in PB (99% reduction) but exerted a lesser effect in LN (70% reduction), with similar depletion of Tn and Tmem subsets. After transplantation, Tmem comprised the majority of lymphocytes in PB and LN. In vitro, LN T cells were more resistant to Alemtuzumab-mediated cytotoxicity than PB lymphocytes. CD4(+) Tn and Tmem were equally susceptible to Alemtuzumab-mediated cytotoxicity, whereas CD8(+) Tn were more resistant than CD8(+) Tmem. However, no significant differences in CD52 expression between lymphocyte subsets in PB and LN were observed. Caspase-3 expression was higher in PB than LN T cells. CD4(+) and CD8(+) Tn expressed lower levels of Caspase-3 than Tmem, in both PB and LN. Thus, after Alemtuzumab infusion, residual Tn in secondary lymphoid tissue may predispose to rapid recovery of Tmem in allograft recipients.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R L Marco
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Setoguchi K, Hattori Y, Iida S, Baldwin WM, Fairchild RL. Endogenous memory CD8 T cells are activated within cardiac allografts without mediating rejection. Am J Transplant 2013; 13:2293-307. [PMID: 23914930 PMCID: PMC3776013 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.12372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2013] [Revised: 05/14/2013] [Accepted: 06/03/2013] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Endogenous memory CD8 T cells infiltrate MHC-mismatched cardiac allografts within 12-24 h posttransplant in mice and are activated to proliferate and produce IFN-γ. To more accurately assess the graft injury directly imposed by these endogenous memory CD8 T cells, we took advantage of the ability of anti-LFA-1 mAb given to allograft recipients on days 3 and 4 posttransplant to inhibit the generation of primary effector T cells. When compared to grafts from IgG-treated recipients on day 7 posttransplant, allografts from anti-LFA-1 mAb-treated recipients had increased numbers of CD8 T cells but these grafts had marked decreases in expression levels of mRNA encoding effector mediators associated with graft injury and decreases in donor-reactive CD8 T cells producing IFN-γ. Despite this decreased activity within the allograft, CD8 T cells in allografts from recipients treated with anti-LFA-1 mAb continued to proliferate up to day 7 posttransplant and did not upregulate expression of the exhaustion marker LAG-3 but did have decreased expression of ICOS. These results indicate that endogenous memory CD8 T cells infiltrate and proliferate in cardiac allografts in mice but do not express sufficient levels of functions to mediate overt graft injury and acute rejection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiyoshi Setoguchi
- Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195,Department of Immunology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195,Department of Urology, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yusuke Hattori
- Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195,Department of Immunology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195,Department of Urology, Yokohama City University, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Shoichi Iida
- Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195,Department of Immunology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195,Department of Urology, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - William M. Baldwin
- Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195,Department of Immunology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195,Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - Robert L. Fairchild
- Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195,Department of Immunology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195,Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106
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Elevation of CD4+ differentiated memory T cells is associated with acute cellular and antibody-mediated rejection after liver transplantation. Transplantation 2013; 95:1512-20. [PMID: 23619734 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0b013e318290de18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is now well known that the outcome after allogeneic transplantation, such as incidence of acute rejections, very much depends on the individual's immune reactivity status. There is also increasing evidence that the presence of preexisting memory T cells can affect antigraft immune responses. METHODS In a prospective study, we monitored peripheral CD4 and CD8 central memory, effector memory, and terminal differentiated effector memory (TEMRA) T cells in 55 patients who underwent deceased liver transplantation and received conventional immunosuppressive treatment with or without basiliximab induction. The primary endpoint of the study was acute allograft rejection during a 1-year follow-up period. RESULTS We observed significantly increased proportions of CD4 and CD8 TEMRA cells in patients before transplantation compared with healthy controls (P=0.006 and 0.009, respectively). This characteristic was independent of the underlying disease. In patients with no signs of acute rejection, we observed an immediate reduction of CD4 TEMRA cells. In contrast, patients who experienced acute cellular rejection, and especially antibody-mediated rejection, displayed persistent elevated TEMRA cells (P=0.017 and 0.027, respectively). Basiliximab induction therapy did not influence CD4 and CD8 TEMRA numbers. CONCLUSIONS Conventional immunosuppressive or basiliximab treatment cannot control the persistence of TEMRA T cells, which may contribute to acute cellular rejection and antibody-mediated rejection after liver transplantation. In the future, specific targeting of TEMRA cells in selected patients may prevent the occurrence of difficult to treat steroid-resistant rejections, thereby leading to improved patient outcome.
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Immunologic monitoring in kidney transplant recipients. Kidney Res Clin Pract 2013; 32:52-61. [PMID: 26877913 PMCID: PMC4713911 DOI: 10.1016/j.krcp.2013.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2012] [Accepted: 01/10/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Transplant biopsy has always been the gold standard for assessing the immune response to a kidney allograft (Chandraker A: Diagnostic techniques in the work-up of renal allograft dysfunction-an update. Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens 8:723-728, 1999). A biopsy is not without risk and is unable to predict rejection and is only diagnostic once rejection has already occurred. However, in the past two decades, we have seen an expansion in assays that can potentially put an end to the "drug level" era, which until now has been one of the few tools available to clinicians for monitoring the immune response. A better understanding of the mechanisms of rejection and tolerance, and technological advances has led to the development of new noninvasive methods to monitor the immune response. In this article, we discuss these new methods and their potential uses in renal transplant recipients.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Tailoring immunosuppressive drugs to an individual's needs is crucial to improve long-term outcomes of organ transplant patients. The purpose of this review is to summarize the data on promising biomarkers able to detect the risk of acute or chronic rejection and to discuss the potential issues for their implementation in the clinic. RECENT FINDINGS Multiple publications have indicated that circulating antibodies targeting human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and non-HLA antigens as well as donor-specific memory T cells are associated with accelerated graft failure. Other studies published within the year show that specific genomic and proteomic signatures obtained from urine, blood, and graft tissue correlate with acute rejection in kidney and heart transplant patients. SUMMARY The development of reliable biomarkers is crucial for individualizing therapy aimed at extending allograft survival and improving patient health. Emerging data indicate that monitoring assays, likely used in panels, have the potential to be diagnostic and possibly predictive of long-term outcome. In addition to ongoing discovery efforts, progress in the field will require multicenter validation, assay standardization, and commercialization so as to efficiently deliver reliable testing strategies to the practicing clinician.
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Waldron-Lynch F, Deng S, Preston-Hurlburt P, Henegariu O, Herold KC. Analysis of human biologics with a mouse skin transplant model in humanized mice. Am J Transplant 2012; 12:2652-62. [PMID: 22900715 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2012.04178.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Preclinical testing of human therapeutic monoclonal antibodies has been limited in murine models due to species differences in pharmacokinetics and biologic responses. To overcome these constraints we developed a murine skin transplant model in humanized mice and used it to test human monoclonal antibody therapy. Neonatal NOD/SCID/IL2Rγc(null) mice (NSG) were reconstituted with human CD34(+) hematopoietic stem cells (hNSG). When adult, these mice rejected MHC mismatched murine C57BL/6J skin grafts. Rejection required adequate reconstitution with human cells. There was diffuse infiltration of the epidermis and dermis with hCD8 and hCD4 cells in rejected grafts by immunohistochemistry. Studies with B6/MHC class I and II knockout mice donors indicated that neither is required for rejection. Graft rejection was associated with the development of effector and central memory T cells and an increase in serum immunoglobulins. We also tested the effects of teplizumab (anti-CD3 mAb) and found it could delay skin graft rejection, whereas ipilimumab (anti-CTLA-4 [cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4] mAb) treatment accelerated rejection. These findings demonstrate that hNSG mice reliably and predictably reject a xenogenic mouse skin graft by a human T cell mediated mechanism. The model can be utilized to investigate the ability of human immunotherapies to enhance or suppress functional human immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Waldron-Lynch
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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Long-term effects of alemtuzumab on regulatory and memory T-cell subsets in kidney transplantation. Transplantation 2012; 93:813-21. [PMID: 22343334 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0b013e318247a717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Induction with lymphocyte-depleting antibodies is routinely used to prevent rejection but often skews T cells toward memory. It is not fully understood which memory and regulatory T-cell subsets are most affected and how they relate to clinical outcomes. METHODS We analyzed T cells from 57 living-donor renal transplant recipients (12 reactive and 45 quiescent) 2.8±1.4 years after alemtuzumab induction. Thirty-four healthy subjects and nine patients with acute cellular rejection (ACR) were also studied. RESULTS We found that alemtuzumab caused protracted CD4 more than CD8 T-lymphocyte deficiency, increased proportion of CD4 memory T cells, and decreased proportion of CD4 regulatory T cells. Reactive patients exhibited higher proportions of CD4 effector memory T cells (TEM) and CD8 terminally differentiated TEM (TEMRA), with greater CD4 TEM and CD8 TEMRA to regulatory T cell ratios, than quiescent patients or healthy controls. Patients with ongoing ACR had profound reduction in circulating CD8 TEMRA. Mixed lymphocyte assays showed significantly lower T-cell proliferation to donor than third-party antigens in the quiescent group, while reactive and ACR patients exhibited increased effector molecules in CD8 T cells. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide evidence that T-cell skewing toward TEM may be associated with antigraft reactivity long after lymphodepletion. Further testing of TEM and TEMRA subsets as rejection predictors is warranted.
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Zitzner JR, Tambur AR. Role of ELISPOT Assays in Risk Assessment Pre- and Post-Kidney Transplantation. Cells 2012; 1:100-10. [PMID: 24710417 PMCID: PMC3901086 DOI: 10.3390/cells1020100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2012] [Revised: 04/30/2012] [Accepted: 05/07/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunologic risk in kidney transplantation is typically minimized by avoiding, or at least limiting, the potential of donor specific humoral responses by testing for the presence of donor-specific antibodies (DSA). Additionally, selecting donor and recipient pairs with the least number of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) mismatches has been shown to play a role in transplant outcome. However, numerous other factors may play a role in the success of transplant outcome and patient health. Specifically, the use of T-cell allospecific ELISPOT assays have helped elucidate the role of pre-formed cellular responses as additional factors in post-transplant outcome. In this review, we will evaluate numerous uses of ELISPOT assays to assess the pre- and post-transplant immunologic risk of rejection episodes, graft survival and even viral susceptibility as well as the utility of ELISPOT assays in monitoring tolerance and withdrawal of immunosuppressive medications following kidney transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer R Zitzner
- Comprehensive Transplant Center Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E Chicago Ave., Tarry Building Suite 11-703, Chicago, IL 60611-3008, USA.
| | - Anat R Tambur
- Comprehensive Transplant Center Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E Chicago Ave., Tarry Building Suite 11-703, Chicago, IL 60611-3008, USA.
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Gallon L, Chhabra D, Skaro AI. T-cell-depleting agents in kidney transplantation: is there a place for alemtuzumab? Am J Kidney Dis 2011; 59:15-8. [PMID: 21983588 DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2011.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2011] [Accepted: 09/15/2011] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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