A Phase Two Randomised Controlled Trial of Belimumab in Kidney Transplant Recipients Demonstrates Comparable Safety, a Reduction in De Novo Antibody Production and an Increase in Regulatory B Cells.
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ABSTRACT: There is an urgent unmet need in solid organ transplantation for immunotherapeutic strategies that target B cells and plasma cells, ideally without increasing infectious complications. We conducted a phase 2 double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial to assess the safety and potential efficacy of an anti-BLyS antibody, belimumab, in addition to standard of care immunosuppression post-kidney transplantation.
Project description:We previously observed reduced graft survival for kidney transplants having interstitial fibrosis with subclinical inflammation, but not fibrosis alone, on 1-year protocol biopsy. The current study aimed to determine whether fibrosis with inflammation at 1 year is associated with renal functional decline in a low-risk transplant cohort and to characterize the nature of the inflammation. Subjects were living-donor, tacrolimus/mycophenolate-treated transplant recipients without overt risk factors for reduced graft survival (n=151). Transplants with normal histology (n=86) or fibrosis alone (n=45) on 1-year protocol biopsy had stable renal function between 1 and 5 years, while those having fibrosis with inflammation (n=20) had declining glomerular filtration rate and reduced graft survival. Immunohistochemistry confirmed increased interstitial T-cells and macrophages/dendritic cells in the fibrosis with inflammation group. Gene expression was performed on a subset of biopsies in each group and demonstrated increased expression of transcripts related to innate and cognate immunity in transplants having fibrosis with inflammation. Pathway- and pathological process-specific analyses of microarray profiles revealed that, in fibrosis with inflammation, over-expressed transcripts were enriched for potentially damaging immunological activities including Toll-like receptor signaling, antigen presentation/dendritic cell maturation, interferon gamma-inducible response, cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated and acute rejection-associated genes. Thus, fibrosis with inflammation in 1-year protocol biopsies is associated with reduced graft survival and function and with a rejection-like gene expression signature even in recipients with no clinical risk for inferior outcome. Early interventions aimed at altering rejection-like inflammation may favor improved long-term KTx survival. We analyzed gene expression from a group of 65 renal transplant recipients. Patient groups were carefully selected to include patients on the same immunosuppression (Prograf-MMF-Pred), transplant type (LD), absence of over post-transplant complications (AR, BK, DGF). For each patient a 1 year protocol biopsy was examined by conventional histology and gene expression. By histology the patients were categorized as histologically normal (n=25, i/cg/ci=0), IF/TA (n=24, i/cg=0, ci>0) and IFTA+i (n=16, cg=0, i/ci>0). This dataset is part of the TransQST collection.
Project description:In this study, we used Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 Beadchips to compare DNA methylation profiles in blood from 10 pairs of MZ twins and 8 individuals recruited at 0, 3, 6, and 9 months. MZ Group (Group A) contained 10 pairs of MZ twins ranging from 23 to 74 years old, including 8 female and 12 male subjects.Longitudinal study group (Group B) included a pair of MZ (male) twins and 6 unrelated individuals (3 male, 3 female), aged from 24 to 39. Except subject H, all participants in Longitudinal study group (Group B) were recalled every 3 months for 9 months (0, 3, 6, and 9 m). Subject H was studied only at 0, 6, and 9 months. Bisulphite converted DNA from the 60 samples were hybridised to the Illumina Infinium 450k Human Methylation Beadchip
Project description:Background: Remote ischaemic conditioning (RIC) is currently being explored as a non-invasive method to attenuate ischaemia/reperfusion injuries in organs. A randomised clinical study (CONTEXT) evaluated the effects of RIC compared to non-RIC controls in human kidney transplants. Methods: RIC was induced prior to kidney reperfusion by episodes of obstruction to arterial flow in the l eg opposite the transplant using a tourniquet (4 x 5min). Although RIC did not lead to clinical improvement of transplant outcomes, we explored whether RIC induced molecular changes through precision analysis of CONTEXT recipient plasma and kidney tissue samples by high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Results: We observed an accumulation of muscle derived proteins in kidney tissue proteomes and altered mitochondrial proteins, likely provoked by RIC, which was not reflected in plasma. In addition, MS/MS analysis demonstrated transient upregulation of several acute phase response proteins (SAA1, SAA2, CRP) in plasma, 1 and 5 days post-transplant. RIC showed a lower magnitude change when compared to non-RIC. However, RIC did not have a consistent effect on the magnitude of acute inflammation following clinical intervention. Conclusions: Together, our results indicate sub-clinical systemic and organ-localised effects of RIC.
Project description:Background: Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) is a new causative agent of chronic hepatitis in solid organ transplant recipients in Europe. Factors associated with the occurrence and persistence of chronic HEV infection remain largely unknown but chronic evolution seems to be the consequence of hostM-bM-^@M-^Ys immunological factors rather than of viral factors. Method: In a prospective case-control study, we have determined in whole blood of chronically HEV-infected kidney-transplant recipients the host response using microarray technology. Results: Chronically HEV-infected kidney-transplant recipients exhibited a specific transcriptional program, in which interferon effectors were prominent. The intensity of expression of each signatureM-bM-^@M-^Ys gene was significantly lower in patients who were subsequently cleared of HEV than in patients who were not. Furthermore, in patients who were cleared of HEV, a higher expression of these genes was associated with a longer delay until HEV clearance. Conclusions: The specific transcriptional program determined in chronically HEV-infected kidney-transplant recipients suggests an activation of type I interferon response. Intensity of interferon-stimulated genes expression could be useful to forecast the outcome of infection. High expression of interferon-stimulated genes could signify a dysregulation in the interferon response that might favour the persistence of the HEV infection. TrialM-bM-^@M-^Ys registration number: NCT01090232; RegistryM-bM-^@M-^Ys URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT01090232?term=kidney+transplant+recipients&cntry1=EU%3AFR&rank=2 Total RNA was extracted from whole-blood sample or monocytes of kidney-transplant patients with or without chronic hepatitis E (CHE) infection. Control patients were matched up with CHE patients for age, sex, time since kidney transplant and immunosuppressive treatment.
Project description:We describe a proteomics analysis to determine the molecular differences between normothermically perfused (normothermic machine perfusion, NMP) human kidneys with urine recirculation (URC) and urine replacement (UR). Proteins were extracted from 16 kidney biopsies with URC (n=8 donors after brain death (DBD), n=8 donors after circulatory death (DCD)) and three with UR (n=2 DBD, n=1 DCD), followed by quantitative analysis by mass spectrometry. Damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) were decreased in kidney tissue after six hours NMP with URC, suggesting reduced inflammation. Vasoconstriction was also attenuated in kidneys with URC as angiotensinogen levels were reduced. Strikingly, kidneys became metabolically active during NMP, which could be enhanced and prolonged by URC. For instance, mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase enzyme levels as well as carbonic anhydrase were enhanced with URC, contributing to pH stabilisation. Levels of cytosolic and the mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase were elevated after 24 hours of NMP, more prevalent in DCD than DBD tissue. Key enzymes involved in glucose metabolism were also increased after twelve and 24 hours of NMP with URC, including mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, predominantly in DCD tissue. We conclude that NMP with URC permits prolonged preservation and revitalises metabolism to possibly minimize better cope with ischemia reperfusion injury in discarded kidneys.
Project description:Intragraft transcriptional profiles were investigated in patients with tubular dysfunction to disclose subclinical mechanisms underlying graft deterioration. Moreover, we analyzed whether individualization of immunosuppression could modify this profile while improving renal function after 12 months of regimen modification. 33 renal transplant patients were enrolled in the study considering their high urinary levels of retinol binding protein, a biomarker of proximal tubular dysfunction (PTD). They were divided in two groups regarding immunosuppressive therapy. At time zero (t0), 33 patients were biopsied and 18 patients had their immunosuppression regimen modified, namely, reduction of cyclosporine dosage and introduction of mycophenolate mofetil (MYF), while 15 patients remained under azathioprine (AZA) schema. All patients were followed-up for 12 months (t12) and then re-biopsied. Microarray experiments were performed using biopsies from 17 patients. Molecular changes due to elevated uRBP levels and immunosuppressive therapies were interpreted via transcriptional network analysis. This dataset is part of the TransQST collection.
Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE20425: Hepatic gene expression during liver regeneration in response to partial hepatectomy: early time points (0.5h,1h,2h,4h) GSE20426: Hepatic gene expression during liver regeneration in response to partial hepatectomy: late time points (24h, 38h, 48h) Refer to individual Series
Project description:Cigarette smoking is a major cause of preventable morbidity and mortality. While quitting smoking is the best option, switching from cigarettes to non-combustible alternatives (NCAs) such as e-vapor products is a viable harm reduction approach for smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke. A key challenge for the clinical assessment of NCAs is that self-reported product use can be unreliable, compromising the proper evaluation of their risk reduction potential. In this cross-sectional study with 205 healthy volunteers, we combined comprehensive exposure characterization with in-depth multi-omics profiling to compare effects across four study groups: cigarette smokers (CS), e-vapor users (EV), former smokers (FS) and never smokers (NS). Multi-omics analyses included metabolomics, transcriptomics, DNA methylomics, proteomics, and lipidomics. Comparison of the molecular effects between CS and NS recapitulated several previous observations, such as increases in inflammatory markers in CS. Generally, FS and EV demonstrated intermediate molecular effects between the NS and CS groups. Stratification of the FS and EV by combustion exposure markers suggested that this positioning on the scale between CS and NS was partially driven by non-compliance / dual use. Overall, this study highlights the importance of in-depth exposure characterization before biological effect characterization for any NCA assessment study.
Project description:Chronic injury in kidney transplants remains a major cause of graft loss. The aim of this study was to identify a predictive gene set capable of classifying renal grafts at risk for progressive injury due to fibrosis.The Genomics of Chronic Allograft Rejection (GoCAR) study is a prospective, multicenter study. Biopsies obtained prospectively 3 months after transplantation from renal allograft recipients (n=159) with stable renal function were analyzed for gene expression by microarray. Genes were sought which correlated with subsequent 12-month Chronic Allograft Damage Index (CADI) but neither CADI in the 3 month biopsy nor other histological or clinical parameters. We identified a set of 13 genes that was independently predictive for the development of fi brosis at 1 year (ie, CADI-12 >=2). The gene set had high predictive capacity (area under the curve [AUC] 0·967), which was superior to that of baseline clinical variables (AUC 0·706) and clinical and pathological variables (AUC 0·806). Furthermore routine pathological variables were unable to identify which histologically normal allografts would progress to fi brosis (AUC 0·754), whereas the predictive gene set accurately discriminated between transplants at high and low risk of progression (AUC 0·916). The 13 genes also accurately predicted early allograft loss (AUC 0·842 at 2 years and 0·844 at 3 years). We validated the predictive value of this gene set in an independent cohort from the GoCAR study (n=45, AUC 0·866) and two independent, publically available expression datasets (n=282, AUC 0·831 and n=24, AUC 0·972). Biopsies obtained prospectively 3 months after transplantation from renal allograft recipients (n=159) with stable renal function were analyzed for gene expression by Affymetrix exon arrays. Genes that were specifically correlated with 12-month Chronic Allograft Damage Index (CADI) but neither CADI in the 3 month biopsy nor other histological or clinical parameters were identified by correlation analysis. The minimal geneset was further identified to predict the progressors/non progressors and validated by qPCR in an independent cohort and two public datasets. This dataset is part of the TransQST collection.
Project description:We study the global gene expression profiles of BKV viremia and nephropathy patients using microarrays in order to better understand the immunologic response to polyomavirus BK (BKV). BKV has become increasingly prevalent since the introduction of more potent immunosuppressive agents. It has been shown that as many as 30% of renal transplant recipients develop asymptomatic viral shedding in the urine shortly after transplant, 10-20% have viremia, and as many as 1-10% can go on to develop overt nephropathy (BKVN) that might lead to graft loss. To date, the genomics of BKV viremia and BKVN have not been investigated thoroughly by microarray. Patients who were enrolled in the IRB-approved Immune Monitoring Study had blood PAXGene samples taken at post-transplant visits and had clinically indicated biopsy samples were used for analysis. A total of 17 biopsy samples were used for gene expression profiling microarrays, three with histopathologic diagnosis of BKVN, 3 patients with evidence of BK viral replication in peripheral blood, but normal biopsy and 11 patients with normal biopsies or mild IFTA, and stable graft function. Blood PAXGene samples from 40 patients were used for gene expression profiling by microarrays, 14 patients with stable graft function and without BK viremia, 19 patients' blood samples at the time of BKV viremia, and 7 patients blood samples taken 1-2 months prior to development of BK viremia.