1
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Huang HJ, Schechtman K, Askar M, Bernadt C, Mittler B, Dore P, Witt C, Byers D, Vazquez-Guillamet R, Halverson L, Nava R, Puri V, Gelman A, Kreisel D, Hachem RR. A pilot randomized controlled trial of de novo belatacept-based immunosuppression following anti-thymocyte globulin induction in lung transplantation. Am J Transplant 2022; 22:1884-1892. [PMID: 35286760 PMCID: PMC9262777 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.17028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The development of donor-specific antibodies (DSA) after lung transplantation is common and results in adverse outcomes. In kidney transplantation, Belatacept has been associated with a lower incidence of DSA, but experience with Belatacept in lung transplantation is limited. We conducted a two-center pilot randomized controlled trial of de novo immunosuppression with Belatacept after lung transplantation to assess the feasibility of conducting a pivotal trial. Twenty-seven participants were randomized to Control (Tacrolimus, Mycophenolate Mofetil, and prednisone, n = 14) or Belatacept-based immunosuppression (Tacrolimus, Belatacept, and prednisone until day 89 followed by Belatacept, Mycophenolate Mofetil, and prednisone, n = 13). All participants were treated with rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin for induction immunosuppression. We permanently stopped randomization and treatment with Belatacept after three participants in the Belatacept arm died compared to none in the Control arm. Subsequently, two additional participants in the Belatacept arm died for a total of five deaths compared to none in the Control arm (log rank p = .016). We did not detect a significant difference in DSA development, acute cellular rejection, or infection between the two groups. We conclude that the investigational regimen used in this study is associated with increased mortality after lung transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Medhat Askar
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Texas A & M College of Medicine
| | - Cory Bernadt
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Brigitte Mittler
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Peter Dore
- Division of Biostatistics, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Chad Witt
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Derek Byers
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Washington University in St. Louis
| | | | - Laura Halverson
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Ruben Nava
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Varun Puri
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Andrew Gelman
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Daniel Kreisel
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Ramsey R. Hachem
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Washington University in St. Louis
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2
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Shimozawa K, Contreras-Ruiz L, Sousa S, Zhang R, Bhatia U, Crisalli KC, Brennan LL, Turka LA, Markmann JF, Guinan EC. Ex vivo generation of regulatory T cells from liver transplant recipients using costimulation blockade. Am J Transplant 2022; 22:504-518. [PMID: 34528383 PMCID: PMC9078620 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The potential of adoptive cell therapy with regulatory T cells (Tregs) to promote transplant tolerance is under active exploration. However, the impact of specific transplant settings and protocols on Treg manufacturing is not well-delineated. Here, we compared the use of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients before or after liver transplantation to the use of healthy control PBMCs to determine their suitability for Treg manufacture using ex vivo costimulatory blockade with belatacept. Despite liver failure or immunosuppressive therapy, the capacity for Treg expansion during the manufacturing process was preserved. These experiments did not identify performance or quality issues that disqualified the use of posttransplant PBMCs-the currently favored protocol design. However, as Treg input correlated with output, significant CD4-lymphopenia in both pre- and posttransplant patients limited Treg yield. We therefore turned to leukapheresis posttransplant to improve absolute yield. To make deceased donor use feasible, we also developed protocols to substitute splenocytes for PBMCs as allostimulators. In addition to demonstrating that this Treg expansion strategy works in a liver transplant context, this preclinical study illustrates how characterizing cellular input populations and their performance can both inform and respond to clinical trial design and Treg manufacturing requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsuyoshi Shimozawa
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA,Nihon University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Sofia Sousa
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Ruan Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Urvashi Bhatia
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Kerry C Crisalli
- Department of Surgery and Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA
| | - Lisa L. Brennan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Laurence A. Turka
- Department of Surgery and Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA
| | - James F. Markmann
- Department of Surgery and Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA,Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA
| | - Eva C. Guinan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA,Department of Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA
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3
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Badell IR, Parsons RF, Karadkhele G, Cristea O, Mead S, Thomas S, Robertson JM, Kim GS, Hanfelt JJ, Pastan SO, Larsen CP. Every 2-month belatacept maintenance therapy in kidney transplant recipients greater than 1-year posttransplant: A randomized, noninferiority trial. Am J Transplant 2021; 21:3066-3076. [PMID: 33583120 PMCID: PMC8363674 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Belatacept results in improved kidney transplant outcomes, but utilization has been limited by logistical barriers related to monthly (q1m) intravenous infusions. Every 2-month (q2m) belatacept has potential to increase utilization, therefore we conducted a randomized noninferiority trial in low immunologic risk renal transplant recipients greater than 1-year posttransplant. Patients on belatacept were randomly assigned to q1m or q2m therapy. The primary objective was a noninferiority comparison of renal function (eGFR) at 12 months with a noninferiority margin (NIM) of 6.0 ml/min/1.73 m2 . One hundred and sixty-six participants were randomized to q1m (n = 82) or q2m (n = 84) belatacept, 163 patients received treatment, and 76 q1m and 77 q2m subjects completed the 12-month study period. Every 2-month belatacept was noninferior to q1m, as the difference in mean eGFR adjusted for baseline renal function did not exceed the NIM. Two-month dosing was safe and well tolerated, with no patient deaths or graft losses. Four rejection episodes and three cases of donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) occurred among q2m subjects; however, only one rejection and one instance of DSA were observed in subjects adherent to the study protocol. Every 2-month belatacept therapy may facilitate long-term utilization of costimulation blockade, but future multicenter studies with long-term follow-up will further elucidate immunologic risk. (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02560558).
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Affiliation(s)
- I. Raul Badell
- Emory Transplant Center, Atlanta, Georgia,Corresponding author: I. Raul Badell, MD,
| | | | | | | | - Sue Mead
- Emory Transplant Center, Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | | | - Grace S. Kim
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - John J. Hanfelt
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
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4
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Xu H, Lee HJ, Schmitz R, Shaw BI, Li S, Kirk AD. Age-related effects on thymic output and homeostatic T cell expansion following depletional induction in renal transplant recipients. Am J Transplant 2021; 21:3163-3174. [PMID: 33942491 PMCID: PMC8429231 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Thymic output and homeostatic mature cell proliferation both influence T cell repopulation following depletional induction, though the relative contribution of each and their association with recipient age have not been well studied. We investigated the repopulating T cell kinetics in kidney transplant recipients who underwent alemtuzumab induction followed by belatacept/rapamycin-based immunosuppression over 36-month posttransplantation. We focused specifically on the correlation between repopulating T cell subsets and the age of patients. Substantial homeostatic Ki67-expressing T cell proliferation was seen posttransplantation. A repertoire enriched for naïve T (TNaïve ) cells emerged posttransplantation. Analysis by generalized estimating equation linear models revealed a strong negative linear association between reconstituting TNaïve cells and advancing age. A relationship between age and persistence of effector memory cells was shown. We assessed thymic output and found an increase in the frequency of recent thymic emigrants (RTEs, CD4+ CD31+ ) at 12-month posttransplantation. Patients under 30 years of age showed significantly higher levels of CD4+ CD31+ cells than patients over 55 years of age pre- and posttransplantation. IL-7 and autologous mature dendritic cells (mDCs) induced CD57- cell proliferation. In contrast, mDCs, but not IL-7, induced CD57+ cell proliferation. This study establishes the relationship between age and thymic output during T cell homeostatic repopulation after alemtuzumab induction. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov - NCT00565773.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Xu
- Duke Transplant Center, Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA,To whom correspondence should be addressed: He Xu, MD, Allan D. Kirk, MD, PhD, Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Edwin Jones Building Room 368, Durham, NC 27710, Phone: (919)684-4371, ,
| | - Hui-Jie Lee
- Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Robin Schmitz
- Duke Transplant Center, Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Brian I Shaw
- Duke Transplant Center, Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Shu Li
- Duke Transplant Center, Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Allan D Kirk
- Duke Transplant Center, Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA,To whom correspondence should be addressed: He Xu, MD, Allan D. Kirk, MD, PhD, Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Edwin Jones Building Room 368, Durham, NC 27710, Phone: (919)684-4371, ,
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5
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Iglesias M, Khalifian S, Oh BC, Zhang Y, Miller D, Beck S, Brandacher G, Raimondi G. A short course of tofacitinib sustains the immunoregulatory effect of CTLA4-Ig in the presence of inflammatory cytokines and promotes long-term survival of murine cardiac allografts. Am J Transplant 2021; 21:2675-2687. [PMID: 33331121 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Costimulation blockade-based regimens are a promising strategy for management of transplant recipients. However, maintenance immunosuppression via CTLA4-Ig monotherapy is characterized by high frequency of rejection episodes. Recent evidence suggests that inflammatory cytokines contribute to alloreactive T cell activation in a CD28-independent manner, a reasonable contributor to the limited efficacy of CTLA4-Ig. In this study, we investigated the possible synergism of a combined short-term inhibition of cytokine signaling and CD28 engagement on the modulation of rejection. Our results demonstrate that the JAK/STAT inhibitor tofacitinib restored the immunomodulatory effect of CTLA4-Ig on mouse alloreactive T cells in the presence of inflammatory cytokines. Tofacitinib exposure conferred dendritic cells with a tolerogenic phenotype reducing their cytokine secretion and costimulatory molecules expression. JAK inhibition also directly affected T cell activation. In vivo, the combination of CTLA4-Ig and tofacitinib induced long-term survival of heart allografts and, importantly, it was equally effective when using grafts subjected to prolonged ischemia. Transplant survival correlated with a reduction in effector T cells and intragraft accumulation of regulatory T cells. Collectively, our studies demonstrate a powerful synergism between CTLA4-Ig and tofacitinib and suggest their combined use is a promising strategy for improved management of transplanted patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Iglesias
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation (VCA) Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Saami Khalifian
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation (VCA) Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Byoung C Oh
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation (VCA) Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Yichuan Zhang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation (VCA) Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Devin Miller
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation (VCA) Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sarah Beck
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Gerald Brandacher
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation (VCA) Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Giorgio Raimondi
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation (VCA) Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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6
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Heinbokel T, Quante M, Iske J, Nian Y, Maenosono R, Minami K, Liu Y, Azuma H, Elkhal A, Tullius SG. CTLA4-Ig prolongs graft survival specifically in young but not old mice. Am J Transplant 2021; 21:488-502. [PMID: 32717114 PMCID: PMC7855762 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Elderly organ transplant recipients have remained underrepresented in clinical trials, despite representing a rapidly growing population. Here, we assessed age-specific effects of CTLA4-Ig (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4-Ig), a fusion protein blocking costimulatory signaling between antigen-presenting cells and T cells through CD28. Cardiac allografts in young mice (2-3 months) treated with CTLA4-Ig survived indefinitely, whereas 80% of old recipients (18 months) had lost their graft after 100 days. CTLA4-Ig was also significantly less effective in older recipients of skin transplants. CTLA4-Ig reduced CD4+ central memory and effector memory T cells and diminished systemic interferon-gamma levels only in young recipients. These differences corresponded to a reduced expression of CD28 on antigen-experienced CD4+ T cells in old mice. In support, adoptive transfer of old CD4+ T cells that were transfected with a lentiviral vector inducing constant expression of CD28 accelerated the rejection of allogeneic skin grafts in young RAG2-/- recipient mice. Regulatory T cells (Tregs), in contrast, demonstrated an increased expression of CD28 with aging and CTLA4-Ig treatment in old recipients resulted in reduced frequencies, compromised proliferation, and diminished suppressive capacity of Tregs. These findings may prove to have unique clinical consequences for immunosuppression in the growing population of elderly transplant recipients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timm Heinbokel
- Transplant Surgery Research Laboratory and Division of Transplant Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA,Department of Nephrology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Markus Quante
- Transplant Surgery Research Laboratory and Division of Transplant Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA,Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, Tuebingen University Hospital, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Jasper Iske
- Transplant Surgery Research Laboratory and Division of Transplant Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA,Institute of Transplant Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Yeqi Nian
- Transplant Surgery Research Laboratory and Division of Transplant Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Ryoichi Maenosono
- Transplant Surgery Research Laboratory and Division of Transplant Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA,Department of Urology, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan
| | - Koichiro Minami
- Transplant Surgery Research Laboratory and Division of Transplant Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA,Department of Urology, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yang Liu
- Transplant Surgery Research Laboratory and Division of Transplant Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Haruhito Azuma
- Department of Urology, Osaka Medical College, Osaka, Japan
| | - Abdallah Elkhal
- Transplant Surgery Research Laboratory and Division of Transplant Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Stefan G. Tullius
- Transplant Surgery Research Laboratory and Division of Transplant Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
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7
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Karadkhele G, Hogan J, Magua W, Zhang W, Badell IR, Mehta A, Lyon M, Pastan S, Pearson TC, Larsen CP. CMV high-risk status and posttransplant outcomes in kidney transplant recipients treated with belatacept. Am J Transplant 2021; 21:208-221. [PMID: 32519434 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains associated with poor outcomes after kidney transplantation (kTx). The impact of belatacept on CMV infection remains understudied. In this study, we assessed the impact of belatacept on patient and graft survivals. METHODS CMV seronegative kTx recipients were included. Patient and graft survival were studied using Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test. Cox models were used to compare outcomes by CMV risk and immunosuppressive regimen. Incidence and persistence of CMV viremia under belatacept vs tacrolimus were compared. RESULTS Among 308 CMV seronegative recipients, 168 CMV high-risk and 203 belatacept-treated patients were included. High-risk CMV status was associated with lower patient survival and graft survival. Among the CMV high-risk group, patients treated with belatacept presented a higher incidence of CMV viremia, a higher rate of first-line treatment failure and a longer time to virus clearance. They had a nonsignificant trend toward a lower graft survival. CONCLUSION Belatacept-based maintenance immunosuppression is associated with an increased risk of CMV primary-infection and a prolonged course of viral replication in CMV high-risk patients. Further studies are needed to confirm the nonsignificant trend towards a lower graft survival in CMV high-risk patients treated with belatacept and whether it is explained by the higher risk of CMV reactivation and infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geeta Karadkhele
- Department of Surgery, Emory Transplant Center, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Julien Hogan
- Department of Surgery, Emory Transplant Center, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Wairimu Magua
- Department of Surgery, Emory Transplant Center, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Weiwen Zhang
- Department of Surgery, Emory Transplant Center, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Idelberto Raul Badell
- Department of Surgery, Emory Transplant Center, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Aneesh Mehta
- Infectious Diseases Department, Department of Medicine, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Marshall Lyon
- Infectious Diseases Department, Department of Medicine, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Stephen Pastan
- Department of Surgery, Emory Transplant Center, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Thomas C Pearson
- Department of Surgery, Emory Transplant Center, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Christian P Larsen
- Department of Surgery, Emory Transplant Center, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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8
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Mannon RB, Armstrong B, Stock PG, Mehta AK, Farris AB, Watson N, Morrison Y, Sarwal M, Sigdel T, Bridges N, Robien M, Newell KA, Larsen CP. Avoidance of CNI and steroids using belatacept-Results of the Clinical Trials in Organ Transplantation 16 trial. Am J Transplant 2020; 20:3599-3608. [PMID: 32558199 PMCID: PMC7710570 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Immunosuppression devoid of corticosteroids has been investigated to avoid long-term comorbidities. Likewise, alternatives to calcineurin inhibitors have been investigated as a strategy to improve long-term kidney function following transplanion. Costimulatory blockade strategies that include corticosteroids have recently shown promise, despite their higher rates of early acute rejection. We designed a randomized clinical trial utilizing depletional induction therapy to mitigate early rejection risk while limiting calcineurin inhibitors and corticosteroids. This trial, Clinical Trials in Organ Transplantation 16 (CTOT-16), sought to evaluate novel belatacept-based strategies employing tacrolimus and corticosteroid avoidance. Sixty-nine kidney transplant recipients were randomized from 4 US transplant centers comparing a control group of with rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) induction, rapid steroid taper, and maintenance mycophenolate and tacrolimus, to 2 arms using maintenance belatacept. There were no graft losses but there were 2 deaths in the control group. However, the trial was halted early because of rejection in the belatacept treatment groups. Serious adverse events were similar across groups. Although rejection was not uniform in the belatacept maintenance therapy groups, the frequency of rejection limits the practical implementation of this strategy to avoid both calcineurin inhibitors and corticosteroids at this time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roslyn B. Mannon
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | | | - Peter G. Stock
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Aneesh K. Mehta
- Emory Transplant Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA,Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA
| | - Alton B. Farris
- Emory Transplant Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA
| | - Natasha Watson
- Transplantation Branch, National Institute Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Yvonne Morrison
- Transplantation Branch, National Institute Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Minnie Sarwal
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Tara Sigdel
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Nancy Bridges
- Transplantation Branch, National Institute Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Mark Robien
- Transplantation Branch, National Institute Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Kenneth A. Newell
- Emory Transplant Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA
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9
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Schweizer R, Taddeo A, Waldner M, Klein HJ, Fuchs N, Kamat P, Targosinski S, Barth AA, Drach MC, Gorantla VS, Cinelli P, Plock JA. Adipose-derived stromal cell therapy combined with a short course nonmyeloablative conditioning promotes long-term graft tolerance in vascularized composite allotransplantation. Am J Transplant 2020; 20:1272-1284. [PMID: 31774619 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.15726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The risks of chronic immunosuppression limit the utility of vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) as a reconstructive option in complex tissue defects. We evaluated a novel, clinically translatable, radiation-free conditioning protocol that combines anti-lymphocyte serum (ALS), tacrolimus, and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 immunoglobulin (CTLA4-Ig) with adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs) to allow VCA survival without long-term systemic immunosuppression. Full-mismatched rat hind-limb-transplant recipients received tacrolimus (0.5 mg/kg) for 14 days and were assigned to 4 groups: controls (CTRL) received no conditioning; ASC-group received CTLA4-Ig (10 mg/kg body weight i.p. postoperative day [POD] 2, 4, 7) and donor ASCs (1 × 106 iv, POD 2, 4, 7, 15, 28); the ASC-cyclophosphamide (CYP)-group received CTLA4-Ig, ASC plus cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg ip, POD 3); the ASC-ALS-group received CTLA4-Ig, ASCs plus ALS (500 µL ip, POD 1, 5). Banff grade III or 120 days were endpoints. ASCs suppressed alloresponse in vitro. Median rejection-free VCA survival was 28 days in CTRL (n = 7), 34 in ASC (n = 6), and 27.5 in ASC-CYP (n = 4). In contrast, ASC-ALS achieved significantly longer, rejection-free VCA survival in 6/7 animals (86%), with persistent mixed donor-cell chimerism, and elevated systemic and allograft skin Tregs , with no signs of acute cellular rejection. Taken together, a regimen comprised of short-course tacrolimus, repeated CTLA4-Ig and ASC administration, combined with ALS, promotes long-term VCA survival without chronic immunosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Schweizer
- Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, Regenerative and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Laboratory, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Adriano Taddeo
- Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Waldner
- Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, Regenerative and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Laboratory, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Holger J Klein
- Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, Regenerative and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Laboratory, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nina Fuchs
- Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, Regenerative and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Laboratory, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Pranitha Kamat
- Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, Regenerative and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Laboratory, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Targosinski
- Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, Regenerative and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Laboratory, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - André A Barth
- Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, Regenerative and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Laboratory, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mathias C Drach
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Vijay S Gorantla
- Department of Surgery, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Paolo Cinelli
- Department of Traumatology, Division of Surgical Research, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jan A Plock
- Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, Regenerative and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Laboratory, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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10
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Woodle ES, Kaufman DB, Shields AR, Leone J, Matas A, Wiseman A, West-Thielke P, Sa T, King EC, Alloway RR. Belatacept-based immunosuppression with simultaneous calcineurin inhibitor avoidance and early corticosteroid withdrawal: A prospective, randomized multicenter trial. Am J Transplant 2020; 20:1039-1055. [PMID: 31680394 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.15688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Simultaneous calcineurin inhibitor avoidance (CNIA) and early corticosteroid withdrawal (ESW) have not been achieved primarily due to excessive acute rejection. This trial compared 2 belatacept-based CNIA/ESW regimens with a tacrolimus-based ESW regimen. Kidney transplant recipients were randomized to receive alemtuzumab/belatacept, rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (rATG)/belatacept, or rATG/tacrolimus. The combinatorial primary endpoint consisted of patient death, renal allograft loss, or a Modification of Diet in Renal Disease-calculated eGFR of <45 mL/min/1.73 m2 at 12 months. Results are reported by treatment group (alemtuzumab/belatacept, rATG/belatacept, and rATG/tacrolimus). Superiority was not observed at 1 year for the primary endpoint (9/107 [8.4%], 15/104 [14.4%], and 14/105 [13.3%], respectively; P = NS) for either belatacept-based regimen. Differences were not observed for secondary endpoints (death, death-censored graft loss, or estimated glomerular filtration rates < 45 mL/min/1.73 m2 ). Differences were observed in biopsy-proved acute cellular rejection (10.3%, 18.3%, and 1.9%, respectively) (P < .001), but not in antibody-mediated rejection, mixed acute rejection, or de novo donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies. Neurologic and electrolyte abnormality adverse events were less frequent under belatacept. Belatacept-based CNIA/ESW regimens did not prove to be superior for the primary or secondary endpoints. Belatacept-treated patients demonstrated an increase in biopsy-proved acute cellular rejection and reduced neurologic and metabolic adverse events. These results demonstrate that simultaneous CNIA/ESW is feasible without excessive acute rejection.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Steve Woodle
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | | | - Adele R Shields
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | | | | | | | | | - Ting Sa
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Eileen C King
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio.,Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Rita R Alloway
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
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11
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Launay M, Guitard J, Dorent R, Prevot Y, Prion F, Beaumont L, Kably B, Lecuyer L, Billaud EM, Guillemain R. Belatacept-based immunosuppression: A calcineurin inhibitor-sparing regimen in heart transplant recipients. Am J Transplant 2020; 20:553-563. [PMID: 31452337 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.15584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Belatacept (BTC) is indicated for prophylaxis of graft rejection in adults receiving a renal transplant (Tx). This retrospective observational study (three centers) included all heart transplant recipients receiving BTC between January 2014 and October 2018. Forty EBV+ patients mean GFR 35 ± 20 mL/min/m2 were identified, among whom belatacept was initiated during the first 3 months after transplantation in 12 patients, and later in 28 patients. Several patients were multiorgan transplant recipients. Study outcomes were GFR, safety, and changes in immunosuppressive therapy. The main reason for switching to BTC was to preserve renal function, resulting in discontinuation of CNI and changes in immunosuppressive therapy in 76% of cases. At study closeout, 24/40 patients were still on BTC therapy. GFR was improved (+59%, P = .0002*) within 1 month, particularly in the early group. More episodes of rejection were observed among "late" patients (1 death). Sixteen treatment discontinuations were recorded: GFR recovery (n = 4), DSA no longer detectable (n = 1), compliance issues (n = 3), poor venous access (n = 2), multiple infections (n = 1), 1 death (fungal lung infection), and treatment failure (n = 4). Median follow-up was 24 months. Four patients developed de novo DSA (MFI<1500). BTC is an effective alternative immunosuppressive for postoperative transient kidney failure, stabilizing delayed renal function, with acceptable safety profile under careful monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Launay
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Laboratory, Georges Pompidou European Hospital - APHP, Paris, France.,Paris-Descartes University, Paris, France
| | - Joelle Guitard
- Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Organ Transplantation, CHU Rangueil, Toulouse, France
| | - Richard Dorent
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, AP-HP, Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Yoann Prevot
- Heart and Lung Transplantation, Georges Pompidou European Hospital - APHP, Paris, France
| | - Florent Prion
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, AP-HP, Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Laurence Beaumont
- Pulmonology, Adult Cystic Fibrosis Center and Lung Transplantation Department, Foch Hospital, Suresnes, France
| | - Benjamin Kably
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Laboratory, Georges Pompidou European Hospital - APHP, Paris, France
| | - Lucien Lecuyer
- Heart and Lung Transplantation, Georges Pompidou European Hospital - APHP, Paris, France
| | - Eliane M Billaud
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Laboratory, Georges Pompidou European Hospital - APHP, Paris, France.,Paris-Descartes University, Paris, France
| | - Romain Guillemain
- Heart and Lung Transplantation, Georges Pompidou European Hospital - APHP, Paris, France
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12
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Parsons RF, Zahid A, Bumb S, Decker H, Sullivan HC, Lee FEH, Badell IR, Ford ML, Larsen CP, Pearson TC, Jackson AM, Chen DF, Levine M, Kamoun M, Bray RA, Gebel HM. The impact of belatacept on third-party HLA alloantibodies in highly sensitized kidney transplant recipients. Am J Transplant 2020; 20:573-581. [PMID: 31452332 PMCID: PMC6984982 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.15585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Recent evidence suggests that belatacept reduces the durability of preexisting antibodies to class I and class II human leukocyte antigens (HLAs). In this case series of 163 highly sensitized kidney transplant candidates whose calculated panel-reactive antibody (cPRA) activity was ≥98% to 100%, the impact of belatacept on preexisting HLA antibodies was assessed. Of the 163 candidates, 72 underwent transplantation between December 4, 2014 and April 15, 2017; 60 of these transplanted patients remained on belatacept consecutively for at least 6 months. We observed a decrease in the breadth and/or strength of HLA class I antibodies as assessed by FlowPRA in belatacept-treated patients compared to controls who did not receive belatacept. Specifically, significant HLA antibody reduction was evident for class I (P < .0009). Posttransplant belatacept-treated patients also had a clinically significant reduction in their cPRA compared to controls (P < .01). Collectively, these findings suggest belatacept can reduce HLA class I antibodies in a significant proportion of highly sensitized recipients and could be an option to improve pretransplant compatibility with organ donors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald F. Parsons
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | - Arslan Zahid
- Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | - Shalini Bumb
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
| | | | | | - F. Eun-Hyung Lee
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | - I. Raul Badell
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | - Mandy L. Ford
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | - Christian P. Larsen
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | - Thomas C. Pearson
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | | | - Dong-Feng Chen
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
| | - Matthew Levine
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Malek Kamoun
- Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Robert A. Bray
- Department of Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | - Howard M. Gebel
- Department of Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
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13
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Mulvihill MS, Samy KP, Gao QA, Schmitz R, Davis RP, Ezekian B, Leopardi F, Song M, How T, Williams K, Barbas A, Collins B, Kirk AD. Secondary lymphoid tissue and costimulation-blockade resistant rejection: A nonhuman primate renal transplant study. Am J Transplant 2019; 19:2350-2357. [PMID: 30891931 PMCID: PMC6658331 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.15365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Revised: 03/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Naïve T cell activation requires antigen presentation combined with costimulation through CD28, both of which optimally occur in secondary lymphoid tissues such as lymph nodes and the spleen. Belatacept impairs CD28 costimulation by binding its ligands, CD80 and CD86, and in doing so, impairs de novo alloimmune responses. However, in most patients belatacept is ineffective in preventing allograft rejection when used as a monotherapy, and adjuvant therapy is required for control of costimulation-blockade resistant rejection (CoBRR). In rodent models, impaired access to secondary lymphoid tissues has been demonstrated to reduce alloimmune responses to vascularized allografts. Here we show that surgical maneuvers, lymphatic ligation, and splenectomy, designed to anatomically limit access to secondary lymphoid tissues, control CoBRR and facilitate belatacept monotherapy in a nonhuman primate model of kidney transplantation without adjuvant immunotherapy. We further demonstrate that animals sustained on belatacept monotherapy progressively develop an increasingly naïve T and B cell repertoire, an effect that is accelerated by splenectomy and lost at the time of belatacept withdrawal and rejection. These pilot data inform the role of secondary lymphoid tissues on the development of CoBRR and the use of costimulation molecule-focused therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Mulvihill
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Kannan P Samy
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Qimeng A Gao
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Robin Schmitz
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Robert P Davis
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Brian Ezekian
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Francis Leopardi
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Mingqing Song
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Tam How
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Kyha Williams
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Andrew Barbas
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Bradley Collins
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Allan D Kirk
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
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14
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Viana LA, Cristelli MP, Santos DW, Tavares MG, Dantas MTC, Felipe CR, Silva HT, Pestana JM. Influence of epidemiology, immunosuppressive regimens, clinical presentation, and treatment on kidney transplant outcomes of patients diagnosed with tuberculosis: A retrospective cohort analysis. Am J Transplant 2019; 19:1421-1431. [PMID: 30556285 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.15220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Revised: 12/02/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) mortality is high among kidney transplant (KT) recipients. Although local epidemiology is an important factor, diagnostic/therapeutic challenges and immunosuppressive therapy (ISS) may influence outcomes. We analyzed the cumulative incidence (CumI) of TB in KT recipients receiving a variety of ISS with long-term follow-up. Our retrospective single-center cohort study included all KT procedures performed between January 1, 1998, and August 31, 2014, with follow-up until August 31, 2014. Induction therapy was based on perceived immunological risk; maintenance ISS included prednisone and calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) plus azathioprine (AZA), and mycophenolic acid (MPA) or mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibitor (mTORi). Thirty-four patients received belatacept/MPA. KT was performed on 11 453 patients and followed for 1989 (IQR 932 to 3632) days. Among these, 152 patients were diagnosed with TB (CumI 1.32%). Median time from KT to TB was 18.8 (IQR 7.2 to 60) months, with 59% of patients diagnosed after the first year. Unadjusted analysis revealed an increasing confidence interval (CI) of TB (0.94% CNI/AZA vs 1.6% CNI/MPA [HR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.13 to 2.34, P = .009] vs 2.85% CNI/mTORi [HR = 2.45, 95% CI = 1.49 to 4.32, P < .001] vs 14.7% belatacept/MPA [HR = 13.14, 95% CI = 5.27 to 32.79, P < .001]). Thirty-seven (24%) patients died, and 39 (25.6%) patients experienced graft loss. Cytomegalovirus infection (P = .02) and definitive ISS discontinuation (P < .001) were associated with death. Rejection (P = .018) and ISS discontinuation (P = .005) occurred with graft loss. TB occurred at any time after KT and was influenced by ISS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laila Almeida Viana
- Hospital do Rim, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marina P Cristelli
- Hospital do Rim, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Melissa G Tavares
- Hospital do Rim, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Helio Tedesco Silva
- Hospital do Rim, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jose Medina Pestana
- Hospital do Rim, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
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15
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Kumar D, Yakubu I, Cooke RH, Halloran PF, Gupta G. Belatacept rescue for delayed kidney allograft function in a patient with previous combined heart-liver transplant. Am J Transplant 2018; 18:2613-2614. [PMID: 29981184 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.15003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Dhiren Kumar
- Division of Nephrology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Idris Yakubu
- Department of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Richard H Cooke
- Division of Cardiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | | | - Gaurav Gupta
- Division of Nephrology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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16
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Combs J, Kagan A, Boelkins M, Coscia L, Moritz M, Hofmann RM. Belatacept during pregnancy in renal transplant recipients: Two case reports. Am J Transplant 2018; 18:2079-2082. [PMID: 29719109 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.14911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Revised: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Impaired fertility is common among patients with chronic organ failure, including end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Women of childbearing age undergoing transplantation may experience rapid return of fertility. Pregnancy posttransplant presents numerous risks for the patient, fetus, and allograft. Maternal risks include hypertension and preeclampsia. Allograft risks include acute rejection and failure of the organ, and fetal risks include miscarriage, birth defects from immunosuppressants, premature delivery, and low birth weight. Belatacept, a selective T cell costimulation blocker, was approved for use in kidney transplant recipients in the United States in 2011. Little is known about the safety of belatacept during pregnancy in humans. We describe 2 cases of successful pregnancy and delivery with the use of belatacept-based immunosuppression. The Transplant Pregnancy Registry International (TPR) is a voluntary registry for transplant recipients who have had pregnancies or fathered a pregnancy posttransplant. To date, these 2 cases are the only known exposures to belatacept that have been reported to the TPR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna Combs
- Department of Pharmacy Services, Mercy Health St. Mary's, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Anna Kagan
- Houston Kidney Consultants, Houston, Texas
| | - Mark Boelkins
- Department of Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan.,Department of Transplant, Mercy Health St. Mary's, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Lisa Coscia
- Transplant Pregnancy Registry International, Gift of Life Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Michael Moritz
- Transplant Pregnancy Registry International, Gift of Life Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Surgery, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, Pennsylvania.,Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - R Michael Hofmann
- Department of Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan.,Department of Transplant, Mercy Health St. Mary's, Grand Rapids, Michigan
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17
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Bray RA, Gebel HM, Townsend R, Roberts ME, Polinsky M, Yang L, Meier‐Kriesche H, Larsen CP. Posttransplant reduction in preexisting donor-specific antibody levels after belatacept- versus cyclosporine-based immunosuppression: Post hoc analyses of BENEFIT and BENEFIT-EXT. Am J Transplant 2018; 18:1774-1782. [PMID: 29573335 PMCID: PMC6055813 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.14738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2017] [Revised: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BENEFIT and BENEFIT-EXT were phase III studies of cytotoxic T-cell crossmatch-negative kidney transplant recipients randomized to belatacept more intense (MI)-based, belatacept less intense (LI)-based, or cyclosporine-based immunosuppression. Following study completion, presence/absence of HLA-specific antibodies was determined centrally via solid-phase flow cytometry screening. Stored sera from anti-HLA-positive patients were further tested with a single-antigen bead assay to determine antibody specificities, presence/absence of donor-specific antibodies (DSAs), and mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) of any DSAs present. The effect of belatacept-based and cyclosporine-based immunosuppression on MFI was explored post hoc in patients with preexisting DSAs enrolled to BENEFIT and BENEFIT-EXT. In BENEFIT, preexisting DSAs were detected in 4.6%, 4.9%, and 6.3% of belatacept MI-treated, belatacept LI-treated, and cyclosporine-treated patients, respectively. The corresponding values in BENEFIT-EXT were 6.0%, 5.7%, and 9.2%. In both studies, most preexisting DSAs were of class I specificity. Over the first 24 months posttransplant, a greater proportion of preexisting DSAs in belatacept-treated versus cyclosporine-treated patients exhibited decreases or no change in MFI. MFI decline was more apparent with belatacept MI-based versus belatacept LI-based immunosuppression in both studies and more pronounced in BENEFIT-EXT versus BENEFIT. Although derived post hoc, these data suggest that belatacept-based immunosuppression decreases preexisting DSAs more effectively than cyclosporine-based immunosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - L. Yang
- Bristol‐Myers SquibbLawrencevilleNJUSA
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18
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Cendales LC, Ruch DS, Cardones AR, Potter G, Dooley J, Dore D, Orr J, Ruskin G, Song M, Chen DF, Selim MA, Kirk AD. De novo belatacept in clinical vascularized composite allotransplantation. Am J Transplant 2018; 18:1804-1809. [PMID: 29723921 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.14910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Revised: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Most immunosuppressive regimens used in clinical vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) have been calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based. As such, most recipients have experienced CNI-related side effects. Costimulation blockade, specifically CD28/B7 inhibition with belatacept, has emerged as a clinical replacement for CNI-based immunosuppression in kidney transplantation. We have previously shown that belatacept can be used as a centerpiece immunosuppressant for VCA in nonhuman primates, and subsequently reported successful conversion from a CNI-based regimen to a belatacept-based regimen after clinical hand transplantation. We now report on the case of a hand transplant recipient, whom we have successfully treated with a de novo belatacept-based regimen, transitioned to a CNI-free regimen. This case demonstrates that belatacept can provide sufficient prophylaxis from rejection without chronic CNI-associated side effects, a particularly important goal in nonlifesaving solid organ transplants such as VCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda C Cendales
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - David S Ruch
- Department of Orthopaedics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Adela R Cardones
- Department of Dermatology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Guy Potter
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Joshua Dooley
- Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Daniel Dore
- Department of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jonah Orr
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Gregory Ruskin
- Department of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Mingqing Song
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Dong-Feng Chen
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Maria A Selim
- Department of Dermatology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.,Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Allan D Kirk
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
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19
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Xu H, Bendersky VA, Brennan TV, Espinosa JR, Kirk AD. IL-7 receptor heterogeneity as a mechanism for repertoire change during postdepletional homeostatic proliferation and its relation to costimulation blockade-resistant rejection. Am J Transplant 2018; 18:720-730. [PMID: 29136317 PMCID: PMC6035390 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.14589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Revised: 10/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Kidney transplant patients treated with belatacept without depletional induction experience higher rates of acute rejection compared to patients treated with conventional immunosuppression. Costimulation blockade-resistant rejection (CoBRR) is associated with terminally differentiated T cells. Alemtuzumab induction and belatacept/sirolimus immunotherapy effectively prevent CoBRR. We hypothesized that cells in late phases of differentiation would be selectively less capable than more naive phenotypes of repopulating postdepletion, providing a potential mechanism by which lymphocyte depletion and repopulation could reduce the risk of CoBRR. Lymphocytes from 20 recipients undergoing alemtuzumab-induced depletion and belatacept/sirolimus immunosuppression were studied longitudinally for markers of maturation (CCR7, CD45RA, CD57, PD1), recent thymic emigration (CD31), and the IL-7 receptor-α (IL-7Rα). Serum was analyzed for IL-7. Alemtuzumab induction produced profound lymphopenia followed by repopulation, during which naive IL-7Rα+ CD57- PD1- cells progressively became the predominant subset. This did not occur in a comparator group of 10 patients treated with conventional immunosuppression. Serum from depleted patients showed markedly elevated IL-7 levels posttransplantation. Sorted CD57- PD1- cells demonstrated robust proliferation in response to IL-7, whereas more differentiated cells proliferated poorly. These data suggest that differences in IL-7-dependent proliferation is one exploitable mechanism that distinguishes CoB-sensitive and CoB-resistant T cell populations to reduce the risk of CoBRR. (ClinicalTrials.gov - NCT00565773.).
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Affiliation(s)
- He Xu
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Todd V Brennan
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jaclyn R Espinosa
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Allan D Kirk
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
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20
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Vincenti F, Blancho G, Durrbach A, Grannas G, Grinyó J, Meier‐Kriesche H, Polinsky M, Yang L, Larsen CP. Ten-year outcomes in a randomized phase II study of kidney transplant recipients administered belatacept 4-weekly or 8-weekly. Am J Transplant 2017; 17:3219-3227. [PMID: 28758341 PMCID: PMC5724691 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.14452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Revised: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
In the phase II IM103-100 study, kidney transplant recipients were first randomized to belatacept more-intensive-based (n = 74), belatacept less-intensive-based (n = 71), or cyclosporine-based (n = 73) immunosuppression. At 3-6 months posttransplant, belatacept-treated patients were re-randomized to receive belatacept every 4 weeks (4-weekly, n = 62) or every 8 weeks (8-weekly, n = 60). Patients initially randomized to cyclosporine continued to receive cyclosporine-based immunosuppression. Cumulative rates of biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR) from first randomization to year 10 were 22.8%, 37.0%, and 25.8% for belatacept more-intensive, belatacept less-intensive, and cyclosporine, respectively (belatacept more-intensive vs cyclosporine: hazard ratio [HR] = 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.47-1.92; P = .89; belatacept less-intensive vs cyclosporine: HR = 1.61; 95% CI 0.85-3.05; P = .15). Cumulative BPAR rates from second randomization to year 10 for belatacept 4-weekly, belatacept 8-weekly, and cyclosporine were 11.1%, 21.9%, and 13.9%, respectively (belatacept 4-weekly vs cyclosporine: HR = 1.06, 95% CI 0.35-3.17, P = .92; belatacept 8-weekly vs cyclosporine: HR = 2.00, 95% CI 0.75-5.35, P = .17). Renal function trends were estimated using a repeated-measures model. Estimated mean GFR values at year 10 for belatacept 4-weekly, belatacept 8-weekly, and cyclosporine were 67.0, 68.7, and 42.7 mL/min per 1.73 m2 , respectively (P<.001 for overall treatment effect). Although not statistically significant, rates of BPAR were 2-fold higher in patients administered belatacept every 8 weeks vs every 4 weeks.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. Vincenti
- University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCAUSA
| | - G. Blancho
- University Hospital of NantesNantesFrance
| | - A. Durrbach
- University Hôpital of BicêtreLe Kremlin‐BicêtreFrance
| | - G. Grannas
- Medizinische Hochschule HannoverHannoverGermany
| | - J. Grinyó
- University Hospital of BellvitgeBarcelonaSpain
| | | | | | - L. Yang
- Bristol‐Myers SquibbLawrencevilleNJUSA
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Grahammer J, Weissenbacher A, Zelger BG, Zelger B, Boesmueller C, Ninkovic M, Mühlbacher A, Peschel I, Brandacher G, Öfner D, Schneeberger S. Benefits and limitations of belatacept in 4 hand-transplanted patients. Am J Transplant 2017; 17:3228-3235. [PMID: 28742936 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.14440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2017] [Revised: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Belatacept (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 Ig) is an emerging treatment in kidney transplantation. Lack of nephrotoxicity and possibly an inhibitory effect on the development of donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) make it an interesting agent in hand transplantation. To reduce calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppression and preserve kidney function, we have added belatacept to the therapeutic regimen of 4 hand-transplanted patients at month 4 and at 6, 9, and 13 years after hand-forearm transplantation. Patients received 5 mg/kg belatacept every 2 weeks, and the dosing interval was extended to 4 weeks after 5 applications. Belatacept was initially well tolerated in all cases. Two patients were weaned to a low-dose tacrolimus monotherapy together with monthly belatacept applications. One patient is taking belatacept with lowered tacrolimus and sirolimus trough levels. A fourth patient had significant levels of DSAs at time of conversion and progressed to a severe necrotizing rejection early despite an unaltered baseline immunosuppression. Finger skin necrosis and histologic signs of severe chronic allograft vasculopathy eventually led to amputation of the graft. Implementation of belatacept can be beneficial in hand transplantation. However, our findings indicated both potential and caution and reflection of the immunologic state at the time of conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Grahammer
- Department for Visceral, Thoracic and Transplant Surgery, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - A Weissenbacher
- Department for Visceral, Thoracic and Transplant Surgery, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.,Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford Transplant Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - B G Zelger
- Department for Pathology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - B Zelger
- Department for Dermatology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - C Boesmueller
- Department for Visceral, Thoracic and Transplant Surgery, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - M Ninkovic
- Institute for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - A Mühlbacher
- Institute for Transfusion and Immunology, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - I Peschel
- Division of Medical Biochemistry, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - G Brandacher
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation (VCA) Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - D Öfner
- Department for Visceral, Thoracic and Transplant Surgery, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - S Schneeberger
- Department for Visceral, Thoracic and Transplant Surgery, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
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