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Nankivell BRIANJ, Taverniti ANNE, Viswanathan SEETHALAKSHMI, Ronquillo JOHN, Carroll ROBERT, Sharma ANKIT. THE RELATIONSHIP OF MICROVASCULAR INFLAMMATION WITH ANTIBODY MEDIATED REJECTION IN KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION. Am J Transplant 2024:S1600-6135(24)00447-7. [PMID: 39084463 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2024.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Microvascular inflammation (MVI) is a key diagnostic feature of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR), however recipients without donor specific antibodies (DSA) defy etiological classification using C4dptc and conventional DSA assignment. We evaluated MVI≥2 (Banff g+ptc≥2) using Banff 2019 AMR (independent of MVI≥2 but including C4dptc) with unconventional glomerular capillary (C4dglom) and arterial/endothelial (C4dart) immunoperoxidase detection, shared-eplet and subthreshold DSA (MFI 100-499), and capillary ultrastructure from 3398 kidney transplant samples for evidence of AMR. MVI≥2 (n=202 biopsies) from 149 kidneys (12.4% prevalence) correlated with DSA+, C4dptc+, C4dglom+, Banff cg, i, t, ti scores, serum creatinine, proteinuria, and graft failure compared with 202 propensity score matched normal controls. Laboratory reported DSA- MVI≥2 (MFI≥500) occurred in 34.7%, however subthreshold (28.6%), eplet-directed (51.4%), and/or misclassified anti-HLA DSA (12.9%) were identified in 67.1% by forensic reanalysis, with vascular C4d+ staining in 67.1%, and endothelial abnormalities in 57.1%, totalling 87.1%. Etiological analysis attributed 62.9% to AMR (77.8% for DSA- MVI≥2 with glomerulitis) and pure T cellular rejection is 37.1%. C4dptc-DSA- MVI≥2 was unrecognized AMR in 48.0%. Functional outcomes and graft survival were comparable to normal controls. We concluded that DSA- MVI≥2 frequently signified a mild "borderline" phenotype of AMR which was recognizable using novel serological and pathological techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - A N N E Taverniti
- NSW Transplantation and Immunogenetics, Australian Red Cross, LifeBlood.
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Diebold M, Farkash EA, Barnes J, Regele H, Kozakowski N, Schatzl M, Mayer KA, Haindl S, Vietzen H, Hidalgo LG, Halloran PF, Eskandary F, Böhmig GA. Natural Killer Cell Presence in Antibody-Mediated Rejection. Transpl Int 2024; 37:13209. [PMID: 38979120 PMCID: PMC11228143 DOI: 10.3389/ti.2024.13209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Transcript analyses highlight an important contribution of natural killer (NK) cells to microvascular inflammation (MVI) in antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR), but only few immunohistologic studies have quantified their spatial distribution within graft tissue. This study included 86 kidney transplant recipients who underwent allograft biopsies for a positive donor-specific antibody (DSA) result. NK cells were visualized and quantified within glomeruli and peritubular capillaries (PTC), using immunohistochemistry for CD34 alongside CD16/T-bet double-staining. Staining results were analyzed in relation to histomorphology, microarray analysis utilizing the Molecular Microscope Diagnostic System, functional NK cell genetics, and clinical outcomes. The number of NK cells in glomeruli per mm2 glomerular area (NKglom) and PTC per mm2 cortical area (NKPTC) was substantially higher in biopsies with ABMR compared to those without rejection, and correlated with MVI scores (NKglom Spearman's correlation coefficient [SCC] = 0.55, p < 0.001, NKPTC 0.69, p < 0.001). In parallel, NK cell counts correlated with molecular classifiers reflecting ABMR activity (ABMRprob: NKglom 0.59, NKPTC 0.75) and showed a trend towards higher levels in association with high functional FCGR3A and KLRC2 gene variants. Only NKPTC showed a marginally significant association with allograft function and survival. Our immunohistochemical results support the abundance of NK cells in DSA-positive ABMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Diebold
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Clinic for Transplantation Immunology and Nephrology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Evan A Farkash
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Jenna Barnes
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Heinz Regele
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Martina Schatzl
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Katharina A Mayer
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Susanne Haindl
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hannes Vietzen
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Luis G Hidalgo
- Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Philip F Halloran
- Alberta Transplant Applied Genomics Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Farsad Eskandary
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg A Böhmig
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Diebold M, Vietzen H, Heinzel A, Haindl S, Herz CT, Mayer K, Doberer K, Kainz A, Faé I, Wenda S, Kühner LM, Berger SM, Puchhammer-Stöckl E, Kozakowski N, Schaub S, Halloran PF, Böhmig GA. Natural killer cell functional genetics and donor-specific antibody-triggered microvascular inflammation. Am J Transplant 2024; 24:743-754. [PMID: 38097018 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2023.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/31/2023]
Abstract
Antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) is a leading cause of graft failure. Emerging evidence suggests a significant contribution of natural killer (NK) cells to microvascular inflammation (MVI). We investigated the influence of genetically determined NK cell functionality on ABMR development and activity. The study included 86 kidney transplant recipients subjected to systematic biopsies triggered by donor-specific antibody detection. We performed killer immunoglobulin-like receptor typing to predict missing self and genotyped polymorphisms determining NK cell functionality (FCGR3AV/F158 [rs396991], KLRC2wt/del, KLRK1HNK/LNK [rs1049174], rs9916629-C/T). Fifty patients had ABMR with considerable MVI and elevated NK cell transcripts. Missing self was not related to MVI. Only KLRC2wt/wt showed an association (MVI score: 2 [median; interquartile range: 0-3] vs 0 [0-1] in KLRC2wt/del recipients; P = .001) and remained significant in a proportional odds multivariable model (odds ratio, 7.84; 95% confidence interval, 2.37-30.47; P = .001). A sum score incorporating all polymorphisms and missing self did not outperform a score including only KLRC2 and FCGR3A variants, which were predictive in univariable analysis. NK cell genetics did not affect graft functional decline and survival. In conclusion, a functional KLRC2 polymorphism emerged as an independent determinant of ABMR activity, without a considerable contribution of missing self and other NK cell gene polymorphisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Diebold
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Clinic for Transplantation Immunology and Nephrology, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Hannes Vietzen
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Heinzel
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Susanne Haindl
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Carsten T Herz
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Katharina Mayer
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Konstantin Doberer
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander Kainz
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ingrid Faé
- Department of Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sabine Wenda
- Department of Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Laura M Kühner
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sarah M Berger
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Stefan Schaub
- Clinic for Transplantation Immunology and Nephrology, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Philip F Halloran
- Alberta Transplant Applied Genomics Centre, ATAGC, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Georg A Böhmig
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Agrawal A, Balakrishnan S, Gandhi MJ, Alexander MP, Cornell L, Bentall AJ, Kukla A, Stegall M, Schinstock CA. Highly Sensitized Candidates Remain at Risk for Microvascular Inflammation Even When Donor-specific Antibody Is Avoided: A Matched Cohort Study. Transplantation 2024:00007890-990000000-00718. [PMID: 38578704 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000005011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microvascular inflammation (MVI) is a key feature of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) among patients with HLA donor-specific antibody (DSA), but MVI at AMR thresholds (Banff glomerulitis [g] + peritubular capillaritis [ptc] score ≥ 2) without DSA has been increasingly recognized. We aimed to determine the incidence of MVI among highly sensitized kidney transplant recipients without DSA. METHODS We performed a single-center, retrospective, matched cohort study comparing outcomes of kidney transplant recipients with cPRA ≥90% with preexisting DSA (n = 49), cPRA ≥90% without preexisting DSA (n = 47), and matched controls with cPRA = 0 without preexisting DSA (n = 49). Controls were matched by age, donor type, and transplant date. Indication and surveillance biopsies combined with annual de novo DSA screening were obtained. RESULTS Kidney transplant recipients with a cPRA ≥90% and no evidence of preexisting or de novo DSA had a higher incidence of MVI (glomerulitis + peritubular capillaritis ≥ 2) than patients with cPRA = 0 [35% (17/49) versus 12% (6/49), P = 0.0003] over a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 5 (4-6) y posttransplant. Among this cPRA ≥90% group without DSA, MVI persisted in 54% of cases on follow-up biopsy (7/13), and 24% (4/13) of cases developed transplant glomerulopathy (Banff cg score > 0). CONCLUSIONS Highly sensitized transplant recipients have a high incidence of persistent and progressive MVI, even without DSA. The mechanisms underlying these histologic features needs to be elucidated, but this information is important to consider when making decisions about transplantation among highly sensitized individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amogh Agrawal
- Department of Transplant Surgery, William J. von Liebig Transplant Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | | | - Manish J Gandhi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Mariam P Alexander
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Lynn Cornell
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Andrew J Bentall
- Department of Transplant Surgery, William J. von Liebig Transplant Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
- Division of Hypertension and Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Aleksandra Kukla
- Department of Transplant Surgery, William J. von Liebig Transplant Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
- Division of Hypertension and Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Mark Stegall
- Department of Transplant Surgery, William J. von Liebig Transplant Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Carrie A Schinstock
- Department of Transplant Surgery, William J. von Liebig Transplant Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
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Mengel M, Adam BA. Emerging phenotypes in kidney transplant rejection. Curr Opin Organ Transplant 2024; 29:97-103. [PMID: 38032262 DOI: 10.1097/mot.0000000000001130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review focuses on more recently emerging rejection phenotypes in the context of time post transplantation and the resulting differential diagnostic challenges. It also discusses how novel ancillary diagnostic tools can potentially increase the accuracy of biopsy-based rejection diagnosis. RECENT FINDINGS With advances in reducing immunological risk at transplantation and improved immunosuppression treatment renal allograft survival improved. However, allograft rejection remains a major challenge and represent a frequent course for allograft failure. With prolonged allograft survival, novel phenotypes of rejection are emerging, which can show complex overlap and transition between cellular and antibody-mediated rejection mechanisms as well as mixtures of acute/active and chronic diseases. With the emerging complexity in rejection phenotypes, it is crucial to achieve diagnostic accuracy in the individual patient. SUMMARY The prospective validation and adoption of novel molecular and computational diagnostic tools into well defined and appropriate clinical context of uses will improve our ability to accurately diagnose, stage, and grade allograft rejection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Mengel
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Alexander MP, Zaidi M, Larson N, Mullan A, Pavelko KD, Stegall MD, Bentall A, Wouters BG, McKee T, Taner T. Exploring the single-cell immune landscape of kidney allograft inflammation using imaging mass cytometry. Am J Transplant 2024; 24:549-563. [PMID: 37979921 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2023.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Kidney allograft inflammation, mostly attributed to rejection and infection, is an important cause of graft injury and loss. Standard histopathological assessment of allograft inflammation provides limited insights into biological processes and the immune landscape. Here, using imaging mass cytometry with a panel of 28 validated biomarkers, we explored the single-cell landscape of kidney allograft inflammation in 32 kidney transplant biopsies and 247 high-dimensional histopathology images of various phenotypes of allograft inflammation (antibody-mediated rejection, T cell-mediated rejection, BK nephropathy, and chronic pyelonephritis). Using novel analytical tools, for cell segmentation, we segmented over 900 000 cells and developed a tissue-based classifier using over 3000 manually annotated kidney microstructures (glomeruli, tubules, interstitium, and arteries). Using PhenoGraph, we identified 11 immune and 9 nonimmune clusters and found a high prevalence of memory T cell and macrophage-enriched immune populations across phenotypes. Additionally, we trained a machine learning classifier to identify spatial biomarkers that could discriminate between the different allograft inflammatory phenotypes. Further validation of imaging mass cytometry in larger cohorts and with more biomarkers will likely help interrogate kidney allograft inflammation in more depth than has been possible to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariam P Alexander
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
| | - Mark Zaidi
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Nicholas Larson
- Division of Clinical Trials and Biostatistics, Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Aidan Mullan
- Division of Clinical Trials and Biostatistics, Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Kevin D Pavelko
- Immune Monitoring Core Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Mark D Stegall
- Departments of Surgery and Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Andrew Bentall
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Bradly G Wouters
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Canada; Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Trevor McKee
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Pathomics Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Timucin Taner
- Departments of Surgery and Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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Shah Y, Yang H, Mueller FB, Li C, Gul Rahim SE, Varma E, Salinas T, Dadhania DM, Salvatore SP, Seshan SV, Sharma VK, Elemento O, Suthanthiran M, Muthukumar T. Transcriptomic signatures of chronic active antibody-mediated rejection deciphered by RNA sequencing of human kidney allografts. Kidney Int 2024; 105:347-363. [PMID: 38040290 PMCID: PMC10841597 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2023.11.012] [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: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells mediate spontaneous cell-mediated cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. This dual functionality could enable their participation in chronic active antibody-mediated rejection (CA-ABMR). Earlier microarray profiling studies have not subcategorized antibody-mediated rejection into CA-ABMR and active-ABMR, and the gene expression pattern of CA-ABMR has not been compared with that of T cell-mediated rejection (TCMR). To fill these gaps, we RNA sequenced human kidney allograft biopsies categorized as CA-ABMR, active-ABMR, TCMR, or No Rejection (NR). Among the 15,910 genes identified in the biopsies, 60, 114, and 231 genes were uniquely overexpressed in CA-ABMR, TCMR, and active-ABMR, respectively; compared to NR, 50 genes were shared between CA-ABMR and active-ABMR, and 164 genes between CA-ABMR and TCMR. The overexpressed genes were annotated to NK cells and T cells in CA-ABMR and TCMR, and to neutrophils and monocytes in active-ABMR. The NK cell cytotoxicity and allograft rejection pathways were enriched in CA-ABMR. Genes encoding perforin, granzymes, and death receptor were overexpressed in CA-ABMR versus active-ABMR but not compared to TCMR. NK cell cytotoxicity pathway gene set variation analysis score was higher in CA-ABMR compared to active-ABMR but not in TCMR. Principal component analysis of the deconvolved immune cellular transcriptomes separated CA-ABMR and TCMR from active-ABMR and NR. Immunohistochemistry of kidney allograft biopsies validated a higher proportion of CD56+ NK cells in CA-ABMR than in active-ABMR. Thus, CA-ABMR was exemplified by the overexpression of the NK cell cytotoxicity pathway gene set and, surprisingly, molecularly more like TCMR than active-ABMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajas Shah
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA; Graduate Program in Biophysics and Systems Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Hua Yang
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Franco B Mueller
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Carol Li
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Shab E Gul Rahim
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Elly Varma
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Thalia Salinas
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA; Department of Transplantation Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Darshana M Dadhania
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA; Department of Transplantation Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Steven P Salvatore
- Division of Renal Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Surya V Seshan
- Division of Renal Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Vijay K Sharma
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Olivier Elemento
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA; Graduate Program in Biophysics and Systems Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
| | - Manikkam Suthanthiran
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA; Department of Transplantation Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Thangamani Muthukumar
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA; Department of Transplantation Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
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