Project description:Kidney transplant injury processes are associated with molecular changes in renal tissue, primarily related to immune cell activation and infiltration. How these processes are reflected by molecular alterations in circulating immune cells is poorly understood. We performed RNA-sequencing on 384 biobanked blood samples from four transplant centers, taken at time of a kidney allograft biopsy, selected for their phenotype (acute T cell- and antibody-mediated rejection, polyomavirus-associated nephropathy, and control). We performed differential expression analysis and pathway analysis per phenotype. In peripheral blood, differentially expressed genes in rejection vs. no rejection samples demonstrated upregulation of glucocorticoid receptor and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways. Pathways enriched in antibody-mediated rejection were strongly immune-specific, whereas pathways enriched in T cell-mediated rejection were less immune related. Differentially expressed genes in polyoma viremia and polyomavirus-associated nephropathy were similar and demonstrated upregulation of mitochondrial dysfunction and interferon signaling pathways. Our results highlight the immune activation pathways in peripheral blood leukocytes at time of antibody-mediated rejection and polyomavirus nephropathy and provide a framework for future therapeutic interventions.
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.
Project description:Donor-derived, metastatic urothelial cancer after kidney transplantation associated with BK polyomavirus bearing a critical deletion in the viral NCCR
Project description:Treatment with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects such as decreased growth factors and cytokines in animal models, this effect however, has not been investigated in kidney transplant recipients. We aimed to study the effect of ACEI or ARB treatment on intragraft gene expression profiles of transplant kidney biopsies using microarrays. Both groups had similar demographic characteristics in terms of age, race, sex, type of transplant, previous history of transplantation or acute rejection, panel reactive antibody levels, and immunosuppressive treatment. There were no differences in acute and chronic Banff allograft injury scores between the 2 Groups. Intragraft gene expression profiles of ACEI or ARB treated Group 2 biopsies showed decreased gene transcripts of interferon-gamma and rejection-associated transcripts (GRIT) and constitutive macrophage-associated transcripts (CMAT) compared to Group 1 biopsies. There were no statistically significant differences in expression of cytotoxic T cell (CAT), regulatory T cell (TREG), B-cell (BAT), natural killer cell (NKAT), or endothelial cell-associated transcripts (ENDAT) between the 2 Groups. Our data suggest that exposure to ACEI or ARB was associated with down-regulation of GRIT and CMAT. This anti-inflammatory effect of ACEI or ARB treatment could be an additional benefit in kidney transplant recipients. We identified 29 near normal biopsies with chronic sum allograft injury score (ct+ci+cv) ⤠3 for gene expression profiling comparing 2 groups; Group 1 (n=16), patients with no exposure of ACEI or ARB treatment and Group 2 patients (n=13) with exposure to ACEI or ARB at least 6 months prior to kidney biopsy. Biopsies with a diagnosis of acute or chronic rejection, recurrent or de novo glomerular disease, or polyoma nephropathy were excluded.
Project description:Overall, this work describes the largest cohort of patients with RAG mutations and an associated phenotype consisting of combined immunodeficiency and granulomatous lesions and/or autoimmunity (CID-G/AI). By using multiple methods (microarray, ELISA and multiplex bead technology), we have consistently identified a distinctive signature of anti-cytokine antibodies in patients with RAG-dependent immunodeficiencies, especially in those with CID-G/AI and a history of severe viral infections. These autoantibodies were not detected in a large panel of patients with other forms of primary immunodeficiency, and may therefore represent a novel biomarker panel of this condition. Known autoantigens, cytokines, chemokines, growth factors and receptors were printed onto microarrays. All targets were printed in triplicate. Arrays were probed with diluted plasma and autoantibodies were detected with a AF647 conjugated anti-human IgG secondary.
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.