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Manzia TM, Gazia C, Baiocchi L, Lenci I, Milana M, Santopaolo F, Angelico R, Tisone G. Clinical Operational Tolerance and Immunosuppression Minimization in Kidney Transplantation: Where Do We Stand? Rev Recent Clin Trials 2019; 14:189-202. [PMID: 30868959 DOI: 10.2174/1574887114666190313170205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The 20th century represents a breakthrough in the transplantation era, since the first kidney transplantation between identical twins was performed. This was the first case of tolerance, since the recipient did not need immunosuppression. However, as transplantation became possible, an immunosuppression-free status became the ultimate goal, since the first tolerance case was a clear exception from the hard reality nowadays represented by rejection. METHODS A plethora of studies was described over the past decades to understand the molecular mechanisms responsible for rejection. This review focuses on the most relevant studies found in the literature where renal tolerance cases are claimed. Contrasting, and at the same time, encouraging outcomes are herein discussed and a glimpse on the main renal biomarkers analyzed in this field is provided. RESULTS The activation of the immune system has been shown to play a central role in organ failure, but also it seems to induce a tolerance status when an allograft is performed, despite tolerance is still rare to register. Although there are still overwhelming challenges to overcome and various immune pathways remain arcane; the immunosuppression minimization might be more attainable than previously believed. CONCLUSION . Multiple biomarkers and tolerance mechanisms suspected to be involved in renal transplantation have been investigated to understand their real role, with still no clear answers on the topic. Thus, the actual knowledge provided necessarily leads to more in-depth investigations, although many questions in the past have been answered, there are still many issues on renal tolerance that need to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso Maria Manzia
- Transplant and Hepatobiliary Unit, Department of Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Gazia
- Transplant and Hepatobiliary Unit, Department of Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
- Department of Surgery, Abdominal Organ Transplant Program, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston Salem, NC, United States
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Surgery, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Leonardo Baiocchi
- Hepatology and Liver Transplant Unit, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Lenci
- Hepatology and Liver Transplant Unit, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Milana
- Hepatology and Liver Transplant Unit, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Angelico
- Division of Abdominal Transplantation and Hepatobiliopancreatic Surgery, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Tisone
- Transplant and Hepatobiliary Unit, Department of Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
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Figueiredo C, Carvalho Oliveira M, Chen-Wacker C, Jansson K, Höffler K, Yuzefovych Y, Pogozhykh O, Jin Z, Kühnel M, Jonigk D, Wiegmann B, Sommer W, Haverich A, Warnecke G, Blasczyk R. Immunoengineering of the Vascular Endothelium to Silence MHC Expression During Normothermic Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion. Hum Gene Ther 2018; 30:485-496. [PMID: 30261752 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2018.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Disparities at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens and associated minor antigens trigger harmful immune responses, leading to graft rejection after transplantation. We showed that MHC-silenced cells and tissues are efficiently protected against rejection. In complex vascularized organs, the endothelium is the major interface between donor and recipient. This study therefore aimed to reduce the immunogenicity of the lung by silencing MHC expression on the endothelium. In porcine lungs, short-hairpin RNAs targeting beta-2-microglobulin and class II-transactivator transcripts were delivered by lentiviral vectors during normothermic ex vivo perfusion to silence swine leukocyte antigen (SLA) I and II expression permanently. The results demonstrated the feasibility of genetically engineering all lung regions, achieving a targeted silencing effect for SLA I and II of 67% and 52%, respectively, without affecting cell viability or tissue integrity. This decrease in immunogenicity carries the potential to generate immunologically invisible organs to counteract the burden of rejection and immunosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constanca Figueiredo
- 1 Institute of Transfusion Medicine , Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,2 Excellence Cluster From Regenerative Biology to Reconstructive Therapy-REBIRTH , Hanover, Germany.,3 Transregional Collaborative Research Centre 127 , Hanover, Germany
| | - Marco Carvalho Oliveira
- 1 Institute of Transfusion Medicine , Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,3 Transregional Collaborative Research Centre 127 , Hanover, Germany
| | - Chen Chen-Wacker
- 1 Institute of Transfusion Medicine , Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,2 Excellence Cluster From Regenerative Biology to Reconstructive Therapy-REBIRTH , Hanover, Germany
| | - Katharina Jansson
- 4 Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation, and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,5 German Center for Lung Research , BREATH site, Hanover, Germany
| | - Klaus Höffler
- 4 Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation, and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Yuliia Yuzefovych
- 1 Institute of Transfusion Medicine , Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,2 Excellence Cluster From Regenerative Biology to Reconstructive Therapy-REBIRTH , Hanover, Germany
| | - Olena Pogozhykh
- 1 Institute of Transfusion Medicine , Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,2 Excellence Cluster From Regenerative Biology to Reconstructive Therapy-REBIRTH , Hanover, Germany
| | - Zhu Jin
- 1 Institute of Transfusion Medicine , Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,2 Excellence Cluster From Regenerative Biology to Reconstructive Therapy-REBIRTH , Hanover, Germany
| | - Mark Kühnel
- 5 German Center for Lung Research , BREATH site, Hanover, Germany .,6 Institute for Pathology , Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Danny Jonigk
- 5 German Center for Lung Research , BREATH site, Hanover, Germany .,6 Institute for Pathology , Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Bettina Wiegmann
- 4 Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation, and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,5 German Center for Lung Research , BREATH site, Hanover, Germany
| | - Wiebke Sommer
- 4 Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation, and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,5 German Center for Lung Research , BREATH site, Hanover, Germany
| | - Axel Haverich
- 2 Excellence Cluster From Regenerative Biology to Reconstructive Therapy-REBIRTH , Hanover, Germany.,3 Transregional Collaborative Research Centre 127 , Hanover, Germany.,4 Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation, and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,5 German Center for Lung Research , BREATH site, Hanover, Germany
| | - Gregor Warnecke
- 4 Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation, and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,5 German Center for Lung Research , BREATH site, Hanover, Germany
| | - Rainer Blasczyk
- 1 Institute of Transfusion Medicine , Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,2 Excellence Cluster From Regenerative Biology to Reconstructive Therapy-REBIRTH , Hanover, Germany.,3 Transregional Collaborative Research Centre 127 , Hanover, Germany
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3
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Taubert R, Danger R, Londoño MC, Christakoudi S, Martinez-Picola M, Rimola A, Manns MP, Sánchez-Fueyo A, Jaeckel E. Hepatic Infiltrates in Operational Tolerant Patients After Liver Transplantation Show Enrichment of Regulatory T Cells Before Proinflammatory Genes Are Downregulated. Am J Transplant 2016; 16:1285-93. [PMID: 26603835 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.13617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2015] [Revised: 09/02/2015] [Accepted: 09/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Immunosuppression can be discontinued from selected and stable patients after liver transplantation resulting in spontaneous operational tolerance (SOT), although the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Thus, we analyzed serial liver biopsy specimens from adult liver recipients enrolled in a prospective multicenter immunosuppression withdrawal trial that used immunophenotyping and transcriptional profiling. Liver specimens were collected before the initiation of weaning, at the time of rejection, or at 1 and 3 years after complete drug discontinuation. Unexpectedly, the tolerated grafts developed portal tract expansion with increased T cell infiltration after immunosuppression withdrawal. This was associated with transient and preferential accumulation of CD4(+) FOXP3(+) cells and a trend toward upregulation of immune activation and regulatory genes, without signs of rejection. At the same time, no markers of endothelial damage or activation were noted. Portal infiltrates persisted at 3 years but were characterized by decreased expression of genes associated with chronic immunological damage. Further, SOT was not associated with a progressive liver fibrosis up to 5 years. These data suggest that SOT involves several mechanisms: a long-lasting local immune cell persistence with a transient regulatory T cells accumulation followed by a downregulation of immune-activated genes over years. These results have important implications for designs and follow-up of weaning trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Taubert
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Integrated Research and Treatment Center Transplantation (IFB-Tx), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - R Danger
- Institute of Liver Studies, Liver Sciences Department, MRC Centre for Transplantation, School of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London University, King's College Hospital, London, UK
| | - M-C Londoño
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBEREHD, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - S Christakoudi
- Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience King's College London, London, UK.,Department of Experimental Immunobiology, MRC Centre for Transplantation, King's College London, London, UK
| | - M Martinez-Picola
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBEREHD, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Rimola
- Institute of Liver Studies, Liver Sciences Department, MRC Centre for Transplantation, School of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London University, King's College Hospital, London, UK
| | - M P Manns
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - A Sánchez-Fueyo
- Institute of Liver Studies, Liver Sciences Department, MRC Centre for Transplantation, School of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London University, King's College Hospital, London, UK.,Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBEREHD, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - E Jaeckel
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Integrated Research and Treatment Center Transplantation (IFB-Tx), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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Gracon ASA, Wilkes DS. Lung transplantation: chronic allograft dysfunction and establishing immune tolerance. Hum Immunol 2014; 75:887-94. [PMID: 24979671 PMCID: PMC4357397 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2014.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2014] [Revised: 06/19/2014] [Accepted: 06/19/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Despite significant medical advances since the advent of lung transplantation, improvements in long-term survival have been largely unrealized. Chronic lung allograft dysfunction, in particular obliterative bronchiolitis, is the primary limiting factor. The predominant etiology of obliterative bronchiolitis involves the recipient's innate and adaptive immune response to the transplanted allograft. Current therapeutic strategies have failed to provide a definitive treatment paradigm to improve long-term outcomes. Inducing immune tolerance is an emerging therapeutic strategy that abrogates allograft rejection, avoids immunosuppression, and improves long-term graft function. The aim of this review is to discuss the key immunologic components of obliterative bronchiolitis, describe the state of establishing immune tolerance in transplantation, and highlight those strategies being evaluated in lung transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam S A Gracon
- Department of Surgery and Center for Immunobiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - David S Wilkes
- Departments of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Immunobiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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Abstract
We are entering an exciting time in the study of immunologic tolerance. Several cellular and molecular strategies have been developed that show promise in nonhuman transplant models and these approaches are just now appearing in clinical trials. Tolerance strategies that prevent immune rejection and obviate the need for immunosuppressive medications (with inherent risk of cancer, infection, and organ toxicity) would improve both graft and patient survival. Each tolerance protocol brings its own set of associated risks. As the results of these trials become available, we must continue to evaluate their successes and failures. The balance of these outcomes will help us answer the question: "Tolerance-Is it worth it?"
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik B Finger
- Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
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The pits and pearls in translating operational tolerance biomarkers into clinical practice. Curr Opin Organ Transplant 2013; 17:655-62. [PMID: 23080065 DOI: 10.1097/mot.0b013e32835a6f62] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review highlights the importance and the role of key biomarker studies in liver and kidney transplant tolerance, discusses the most recent findings with respect to organ-type and cell-type specificity in blood and tissue, and points out the novel research directions in the field of immunological tolerance that involve both adult and pediatric recipients. RECENT FINDINGS Recent studies indicate that biomarkers for solid organ transplant tolerance are distinct with respect to organ type and cell type, suggesting distinct tolerogenic mechanisms for different organs. In both liver and kidney transplant tolerant recipients, novel cellular mechanisms have been proposed for natural killer cells, B cells, and dendritic cells in the maintenance of stable operational tolerance. SUMMARY Major advances have been made with respect to the understanding of mechanisms and the process of discovery and early validation of peripheral blood biomarkers for operational transplant tolerance both in kidney and liver transplantation. These studies have shed light on the findings that these tolerance mechanisms may be organ specific, as the peripheral blood transcriptional profiling attempts by microarrays and PCR reveal distinct differences and suggest roles for specific cell types. Although these studies are mostly in adults and limited in children, the first tolerance gene signature for pediatric liver transplant tolerance suggests that there are common mechanisms, yet distinct peripheral biomarkers across age. Prospective trials and organ integrative studies are now needed to further develop these biomarkers for future clinical application in addition to expanding novel approaches such as the investigation of miRNAs to better understand the tolerance mechanisms.
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What can we learn from the transcriptional characterization of spontaneously tolerant transplant recipients? Curr Opin Organ Transplant 2010; 15:435-40. [DOI: 10.1097/mot.0b013e32833bfac9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Abstract
The growing numbers of potential transplant recipients on waiting lists is increasingly disproportionate to the supply of cadaveric donor organs. The hope for the next 20 years is that supply will satisfy demand. This requires both a reduction in indications for the procedure and an increase in the transplants performed. A multi-pronged approach is needed to increase cadaveric organ donation, generating enthusiasm for donation among both the general public and hospital staff. Accurate assessment of marginal grafts with stringent criteria known to predict graft function will diminish wastage of organs. Methods of rehabilitating marginal grafts during extracorporeal perfusion will increase organ availability. Supply of non-heart beating donors can be greatly expanded and protocols developed with ethical consent to optimize their initial function despite warm ischemia. Splitting livers that fulfill selection criteria, thus providing for two recipients, should be universally applied with acceptable incentives to those units who do not directly benefit. A proportion of recipients, though not those transplanted for autoimmune disease, will be spared the side-effects of immunosuppression thanks to immune tolerance. Protocols for close monitoring of those patients for rejection during treatment withdrawal must be carefully observed. In addition to gene therapy, it is highly likely that hepatocyte transplantation will replace orthotopic grafting in patients without cirrhosis, especially for inherited metabolic diseases. It is much more difficult to envisage that heterologous stem cell transplantation or xenotransplantation will have clinical impact in the next 20 years, although research in those areas has obvious long-term potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Thamara P R Perera
- The Liver Unit, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK
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