1
|
McIntosh CM, Allocco JB, Wang P, McKeague ML, Cassano A, Wang Y, Xie SZ, Hynes G, Mora-Cartín R, Abbondanza D, Chen L, Sattar H, Yin D, Zhang ZJ, Chong AS, Alegre ML. Heterogeneity in allospecific T cell function in transplant-tolerant hosts determines susceptibility to rejection following infection. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e168465. [PMID: 37676735 PMCID: PMC10617766 DOI: 10.1172/jci168465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Even when successfully induced, immunological tolerance to solid organs remains vulnerable to inflammatory insults, which can trigger rejection. In a mouse model of cardiac allograft tolerance in which infection with Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) precipitates rejection of previously accepted grafts, we showed that recipient CD4+ TCR75 cells reactive to a donor MHC class I-derived peptide become hypofunctional if the allograft is accepted for more than 3 weeks. Paradoxically, infection-induced transplant rejection was not associated with transcriptional or functional reinvigoration of TCR75 cells. We hypothesized that there is heterogeneity in the level of dysfunction of different allospecific T cells, depending on duration of their cognate antigen expression. Unlike CD4+ TCR75 cells, CD4+ TEa cells specific for a peptide derived from donor MHC class II, an alloantigen whose expression declines after transplantation but remains inducible in settings of inflammation, retained function in tolerant mice and expanded during Lm-induced rejection. Repeated injections of alloantigens drove hypofunction in TEa cells and rendered grafts resistant to Lm-dependent rejection. Our results uncover a functional heterogeneity in allospecific T cells of distinct specificities after tolerance induction and reveal a strategy to defunctionalize a greater repertoire of allospecific T cells, thereby mitigating a critical vulnerability of tolerance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Peter Wang
- Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology
| | | | | | - Ying Wang
- Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology
| | | | - Grace Hynes
- Department of Surgery, Section of Transplantation, and
| | | | | | - Luqiu Chen
- Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology
| | - Husain Sattar
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Dengping Yin
- Department of Surgery, Section of Transplantation, and
| | - Zheng J. Zhang
- Comprehensive Transplant Center and
- Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Cassano A, Chong AS, Alegre ML. Tregs in transplantation tolerance: role and therapeutic potential. FRONTIERS IN TRANSPLANTATION 2023; 2:1217065. [PMID: 38993904 PMCID: PMC11235334 DOI: 10.3389/frtra.2023.1217065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
CD4+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are indispensable for preventing autoimmunity, and they play a role in cancer and transplantation settings by restraining immune responses. In this review, we describe evidence for the importance of Tregs in the induction versus maintenance of transplantation tolerance, discussing insights into mechanisms of Treg control of the alloimmune response. Further, we address the therapeutic potential of Tregs as a clinical intervention after transplantation, highlighting engineered CAR-Tregs as well as expansion of donor and host Tregs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Cassano
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Anita S. Chong
- Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Maria-Luisa Alegre
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Muacevic A, Adler JR. Classic and Current Opinions in Human Organ and Tissue Transplantation. Cureus 2022; 14:e30982. [PMID: 36337306 PMCID: PMC9624478 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.30982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Graft tolerance is a pathophysiological condition heavily reliant on the dynamic interaction of the innate and adaptive immune systems. Genetic polymorphism determines immune responses to tissue/organ transplantation, and intricate humoral and cell-mediated mechanisms control these responses. In transplantation, the clinician's goal is to achieve a delicate equilibrium between the allogeneic immune response, undesired effects of the immunosuppressive drugs, and the existing morbidities that are potentially life-threatening. Transplant immunopathology involves sensitization, effector, and apoptosis phases which recruit and engages immunological cells like natural killer cells, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes. Similarly, these cells are involved in the transfer of normal or genetically engineered T cells. Advances in tissue transplantation would involve a profound knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that underpin the respective immunopathology involved and the design of precision medicines that are safe and effective.
Collapse
|
4
|
Wang P, Chen L, McIntosh CM, Lane JI, Li R, Xie SZ, Sattar H, Esterhazy D, Chong AS, Alegre M. Oral alloantigen exposure promotes donor-specific tolerance in a mouse model of minor-mismatched skin transplantation. Am J Transplant 2022; 22:2348-2359. [PMID: 35633180 PMCID: PMC9547964 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.17107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Oral antigen exposure is a powerful, non-invasive route to induce immune tolerance to dietary antigens, and has been modestly successful at prolonging graft survival in rodent models of transplantation. To harness the mechanisms of oral tolerance for promoting long-term graft acceptance, we developed a mouse model where the antigen ovalbumin (OVA) was introduced orally prior to transplantation with skin grafts expressing OVA. Oral OVA treatment pre-transplantation promoted permanent graft acceptance and linked tolerance to skin grafts expressing OVA fused to the additional antigen 2W. Tolerance was donor-specific, as secondary donor-matched, but not third-party allografts were spontaneously accepted. Oral OVA treatment promoted an anergic phenotype in OVA-reactive CD4+ and CD8+ conventional T cells (Tconvs) and expanded OVA-reactive Tregs pre-transplantation. However, skin graft acceptance following oral OVA resisted partial depletion of Tregs and blockade of PD-L1. Mechanistically, we revealed a role for the proximal gut draining lymph nodes (gdLNs) in mediating this effect, as an intestinal infection that drains to the proximal gdLNs prevented tolerance induction. Our study extends previous work applying oral antigen exposure to transplantation and serves as proof of concept that the systemic immune mechanisms supporting oral tolerance are sufficient to promote long-term graft acceptance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Wang
- Department of Medicine, Section of RheumatologyUniversity of ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
- The CollegeUniversity of ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Luqiu Chen
- Department of Medicine, Section of RheumatologyUniversity of ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Christine M. McIntosh
- Department of Medicine, Section of RheumatologyUniversity of ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
- Pritzker School of MedicineUniversity of ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Jorden I. Lane
- Department of PathologyUniversity of ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Rena Li
- Department of Medicine, Section of RheumatologyUniversity of ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
- The CollegeUniversity of ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Stephen Z. Xie
- Department of Medicine, Section of RheumatologyUniversity of ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
- The CollegeUniversity of ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Husain Sattar
- Department of PathologyUniversity of ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Daria Esterhazy
- Department of PathologyUniversity of ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Anita S. Chong
- Department of Surgery, Section of TransplantationUniversity of ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Maria‐Luisa Alegre
- Department of Medicine, Section of RheumatologyUniversity of ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Andrade MS, Young JS, Pollard JM, Yin D, Alegre ML, Chong AS. Linked sensitization by memory CD4+ T cells prevents costimulation blockade–induced transplantation tolerance. JCI Insight 2022; 7:159205. [PMID: 35674134 PMCID: PMC9220839 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.159205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Dominant infectious tolerance explains how brief tolerance-inducing therapies result in lifelong tolerance to donor antigens and “linked” third-party antigens, while recipient sensitization and ensuing immunological memory prevent the successful induction of transplant tolerance. In this study, we juxtapose these 2 concepts to test whether mechanisms of dominant infectious tolerance can control a limited repertoire of memory T and B cells. We show that sensitization to a single donor antigen is sufficient to prevent stable transplant tolerance, rendering it unstable. Mechanistic studies revealed that recall antibody responses and memory CD8+ T cell expansion were initially controlled, but memory CD4+Foxp3– T cell (Tconv) responses were not. Remarkably, naive donor-specific Tconvs at tolerance induction also acquired a resistance to tolerance, proliferating and acquiring a phenotype similar to memory Tconvs. This phenomenon of “linked sensitization” underscores the challenges of reprogramming a primed immune response toward tolerance and identifies a potential therapeutic checkpoint for synergizing with costimulation blockade to achieve transplant tolerance in the clinic.
Collapse
|
6
|
Mittal SK, Cho W, Elbasiony E, Guan Y, Foulsham W, Chauhan SK. Mesenchymal stem cells augment regulatory T cell function via CD80-mediated interactions and promote allograft survival. Am J Transplant 2022; 22:1564-1577. [PMID: 35170213 PMCID: PMC11261724 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.17001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs) both have been shown to modulate the alloimmune response and promote transplant survival. Mounting evidence suggests that MSCs augment Treg function, but the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon have not been fully deciphered. Here, we identified that MSCs express substantial levels of CD80 and evaluated its immunoregulatory function using in vivo and in vitro experiments. Our in vitro culture assays demonstrated that MSCs induce expression of FoxP3 in Tregs in a contact-dependent manner, and the blockade of CD80 abrogates this FoxP3 induction and Treg-mediated suppression of T cell proliferation. Moreover, supplementation of soluble CD80 significantly upregulated FoxP3 expression. Using a well-characterized murine model of corneal transplantation, we show that silencing CD80 in MSCs diminishes the capacity of MSCs to promote selective graft infiltration of Tregs, promote FoxP3 expression and upregulate suppressive function of Tregs. Consequently, MSCs, following CD80 knockdown, failed to promote corneal allograft survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sharad K Mittal
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - WonKyung Cho
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Elsayed Elbasiony
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Yilin Guan
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - William Foulsham
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sunil K Chauhan
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Hu M, Rogers NM, Li J, Zhang GY, Wang YM, Shaw K, O'Connell PJ, Alexander SI. Antigen Specific Regulatory T Cells in Kidney Transplantation and Other Tolerance Settings. Front Immunol 2021; 12:717594. [PMID: 34512640 PMCID: PMC8428972 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.717594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Kidney transplantation is the most common solid organ transplant and the best current therapy for end-stage kidney failure. However, with standard immunosuppression, most transplants develop chronic dysfunction or fail, much of which is due to chronic immune injury. Tregs are a subset of T cells involved in limiting immune activation and preventing autoimmune disease. These cells offer the potential to provide tolerance or to allow reduction in immunosuppression in kidney transplants. The importance of Tregs in kidney transplantation has been shown in a number of seminal mouse and animal studies, including those with T cell receptors (TCRs) transgenic Tregs (TCR-Tregs) or Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) Tregs (CAR-Tregs) showing that specificity increases the potency of Treg function. Here we outline the animal and human studies and clinical trials directed at using Tregs in kidney transplantation and other tolerance settings and the various modifications to enhance allo-specific Treg function in vivo and in vitro.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min Hu
- Centre for Transplant and Renal Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Natasha M Rogers
- Centre for Transplant and Renal Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jennifer Li
- Centre for Transplant and Renal Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Geoff Y Zhang
- Centre for Kidney Research, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Yuan Min Wang
- Centre for Kidney Research, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Karli Shaw
- Centre for Kidney Research, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Philip J O'Connell
- Centre for Transplant and Renal Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Stephen I Alexander
- Centre for Kidney Research, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Miyamoto E, Takahagi A, Ohsumi A, Martinu T, Hwang D, Boonstra KM, Joe B, Umana JM, Bei KF, Vosoughi D, Liu M, Cypel M, Keshavjee S, Juvet SC. Ex vivo delivery of regulatory T cells for control of alloimmune priming in the donor lung. Eur Respir J 2021; 59:13993003.00798-2021. [PMID: 34475226 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00798-2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Survival after lung transplantation (LTx) is hampered by uncontrolled inflammation and alloimmunity. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are being studied as a cellular therapy in solid organ transplantation. Whether these systemically administered Tregs can function at the appropriate location and time is an important concern. We hypothesized that in vitro expanded, recipient-derived Tregs can be delivered to donor lungs prior to LTx via ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP), maintaining their immunomodulatory ability.In a rat model, Wistar Kyoto (WKy) CD4+CD25high Tregs were expanded in vitro prior to EVLP. Expanded Tregs were administered to Fisher 344 (F344) donor lungs during EVLP; left lungs were transplanted into WKy recipients. Treg localisation and function post-transplant were assessed. In a proof-of-concept experiment, cryopreserved expanded human CD4+CD25+CD127low Tregs were thawed and injected into discarded human lungs during EVLP.Rat Tregs entered the lung parenchyma and retained suppressive function. Expanded Tregs had no adverse effect on donor lung physiology during EVLP; lung water as measured by wet-to-dry weight ratio was reduced by Treg therapy. The administered cells remained in the graft at 3 days post-transplant where they reduced activation of intragraft effector CD4+ T cells; these effects were diminished by day 7. Human Tregs entered the lung parenchyma during EVLP where they expressed key immunoregulatory molecules (CTLA4+, 4-1BB+, CD39+, and CD15s+).Pre-transplant Treg administration can inhibit alloimmunity within the lung allograft at early time points post- transplant. Our organ-directed approach has potential for clinical translation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ei Miyamoto
- Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Akihiro Takahagi
- Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Akihiro Ohsumi
- Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tereza Martinu
- Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - David Hwang
- Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kristen M Boonstra
- Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Betty Joe
- Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Juan Mauricio Umana
- Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ke F Bei
- Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniel Vosoughi
- Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mingyao Liu
- Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marcelo Cypel
- Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shaf Keshavjee
- Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephen C Juvet
- Latner Thoracic Surgery Research Laboratories, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Treg-Cell-Derived IL-35-Coated Extracellular Vesicles Promote Infectious Tolerance. Cell Rep 2020; 30:1039-1051.e5. [PMID: 31995748 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.12.081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Revised: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-35 (IL-35) is an immunosuppressive cytokine composed of Epstein-Barr-virus-induced protein 3 (Ebi3) and IL-12α chain (p35) subunits, yet the forms that IL-35 assume and its role in peripheral tolerance remain elusive. We induce CBA-specific, IL-35-producing T regulatory (Treg) cells in TregEbi3WT C57BL/6 reporter mice and identify IL-35 producers by expression of Ebi3TdTom gene reporter plus Ebi3 and p35 proteins. Curiously, both subunits of IL-35 are displayed on the surface of tolerogen-specific Foxp3+ and Foxp3neg (iTr35) T cells. Furthermore, IL-35 producers, although rare, secrete Ebi3 and p35 on extracellular vesicles (EVs) targeting a 25- to 100-fold higher number of T and B lymphocytes, causing them to acquire surface IL-35. This surface IL-35 is absent when EV production is inhibited or if Ebi3 is genetically deleted in Treg cells. The unique ability of EVs to coat bystander lymphocytes with IL-35, promoting exhaustion in, and secondary suppression by, non-Treg cells identifies a novel mechanism of infectious tolerance.
Collapse
|
10
|
Resilience of T cell-intrinsic dysfunction in transplantation tolerance. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:23682-23690. [PMID: 31685610 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1910298116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Following antigen stimulation, naïve T cells differentiate into memory cells that mediate antigen clearance more efficiently upon repeat encounter. Donor-specific tolerance can be achieved in a subset of transplant recipients, but some of these grafts are rejected after years of stability, often following infections. Whether T cell memory can develop from a tolerant state and whether these formerly tolerant patients develop antidonor memory is not known. Using a mouse model of cardiac transplantation in which donor-specific tolerance is induced with costimulation blockade (CoB) plus donor-specific transfusion (DST), we have previously shown that systemic infection with Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) months after transplantation can erode or transiently abrogate established tolerance. In this study, we tracked donor-reactive T cells to investigate whether memory can be induced when alloreactive T cells are activated in the setting of tolerance. We show alloreactive T cells persist after induction of cardiac transplantation tolerance, but fail to acquire a memory phenotype despite becoming antigen experienced. Instead, donor-reactive T cells develop T cell-intrinsic dysfunction evidenced when removed from the tolerant environment. Notably, Lm infection after tolerance did not rescue alloreactive T cell memory differentiation or functionality. CoB and antigen persistence were sufficient together but not separately to achieve alloreactive T cell dysfunction, and conventional immunosuppression could substitute for CoB. Antigen persistence was required, as early but not late surgical allograft removal precluded the acquisition of T cell dysfunction. Our results demonstrate transplant tolerance-associated T cell-intrinsic dysfunction that is resistant to memory development even after Lm-mediated disruption of tolerance.
Collapse
|
11
|
Chong AS, Rothstein D, Safa K, Riella LV. Outstanding questions in transplantation: B cells, alloantibodies, and humoral rejection. Am J Transplant 2019; 19:2155-2163. [PMID: 30803121 PMCID: PMC6691724 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.15323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Over the past three decades, improved immunosuppression has significantly reduced T cell-mediated acute rejection rates, but long-term graft survival rates have seen only marginal improvement. The cause of late graft loss has been under intense investigation, and chronic antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) has been identified as one of the leading causes, thus providing a strong rationale for basic science investigation into donor-specific B cells and antibodies in transplantation and ways to mitigate their pathogenicity. In 2018, the American Society of Transplantation launched a community-wide online discussion of Outstanding Questions in Transplantation, and the topic of B cell biology and donor-specific antibody prevention emerged as a major area of interest to the community, leading to a highly engaged dialogue, with comments from basic and translational scientists as well as physicians (http://community.myast.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer). We have summarized this discussion from a bedside to bench perspective and have organized this review into outstanding questions within the paradigm that AMR is a leading cause of graft loss in the clinic, and points of view that challenge aspects of this paradigm. We also highlight opportunities for basic and translational scientists to contribute to the resolution of these questions, mapping important future directions for the transplant research field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anita S. Chong
- Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago,Corresponding author: Anita S. Chong, PhD, 5841 S. Maryland Ave, Chicago, IL 60637, Ofc: 773-702-5521; Fax: 773-702-5517;
| | - David Rothstein
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh
| | - Kassem Safa
- Transplant Center and Division of Nephrology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
| | - Leonardo V. Riella
- Schuster Transplantation Research Center, Renal Division, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Gupta PK, McIntosh CM, Chong AS, Alegre ML. The pursuit of transplantation tolerance: new mechanistic insights. Cell Mol Immunol 2019; 16:324-333. [PMID: 30760917 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-019-0203-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Donor-specific transplantation tolerance that enables weaning from immunosuppressive drugs but retains immune competence to non-graft antigens has been a lasting pursuit since the discovery of neonatal tolerance. More recently, efforts have been devoted not only to understanding how transplantation tolerance can be induced but also the mechanisms necessary to maintain it as well as how inflammatory exposure challenges its durability. This review focuses on recent advances regarding key peripheral mechanisms of T cell tolerance, with the underlying hypothesis that a combination of several of these mechanisms may afford a more robust and durable tolerance and that a better understanding of these individual pathways may permit longitudinal tracking of tolerance following clinical transplantation to serve as biomarkers. This review may enable a personalized assessment of the degree of tolerance in individual patients and the opportunity to strengthen the robustness of peripheral tolerance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pawan K Gupta
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | | | - Anita S Chong
- Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Maria-Luisa Alegre
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Miller ML, McIntosh CM, Williams JB, Wang Y, Hollinger MK, Isaad NJ, Moon JJ, Gajewski TF, Chong AS, Alegre ML. Distinct Graft-Specific TCR Avidity Profiles during Acute Rejection and Tolerance. Cell Rep 2018; 24:2112-2126. [PMID: 30134172 PMCID: PMC6142813 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.07.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2018] [Revised: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanisms implicated in robust transplantation tolerance at the cellular level can be broadly categorized into those that inhibit alloreactive T cells intrinsically (clonal deletion and dysfunction) or extrinsically through regulation. Here, we investigated whether additional population-level mechanisms control T cells by examining whether therapeutically induced peripheral transplantation tolerance could influence T cell populations' avidity for alloantigens. Whereas T cells with high avidity preferentially accumulated during acute rejection of allografts, the alloreactive T cells in tolerant recipients retained a low-avidity profile, comparable to naive mice despite evidence of activation. These contrasting avidity profiles upon productive versus tolerogenic stimulation were durable and persisted upon alloantigen re-encounter in the absence of any immunosuppression. Thus, peripheral transplantation tolerance involves control of alloreactive T cells at the population level, in addition to the individual cell level. Controlling expansion or eliminating high-affinity, donor-specific T cells long term may be desirable to achieve robust transplantation tolerance in the clinic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L Miller
- Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Christine M McIntosh
- Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Jason B Williams
- Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Maile K Hollinger
- Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Noel J Isaad
- Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - James J Moon
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases and Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Thomas F Gajewski
- Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Anita S Chong
- Department of Surgery, Section of Transplantation, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Maria-Luisa Alegre
- Department of Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
| |
Collapse
|