1
|
Tiller G, Lammerts RGM, Karijosemito JJ, Alkaff FF, Diepstra A, Pol RA, Meter-Arkema AH, Seelen MA, van den Heuvel MC, Hepkema BG, Daha MR, van den Born J, Berger SP. Weak Expression of Terminal Complement in Active Antibody-Mediated Rejection of the Kidney. Front Immunol 2022; 13:845301. [PMID: 35493506 PMCID: PMC9044906 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.845301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundThe role of the complement system in antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) is insufficiently understood. We aimed to investigate the role of local and systemic complement activation in active (aABMR). We quantified complement activation markers, C3, C3d, and C5b-9 in plasma of aABMR, and acute T-cell mediated rejection (aTCMR), and non-rejection kidney transplant recipients. Intra-renal complement markers were analyzed as C4d, C3d, C5b-9, and CD59 deposition. We examined in vitro complement activation and CD59 expression on renal endothelial cells upon incubation with human leukocyte antigen antibodies.MethodsWe included 50 kidney transplant recipients, who we histopathologically classified as aABMR (n=17), aTCMR (n=18), and non-rejection patients (n=15).ResultsComplement activation in plasma did not differ across groups. C3d and C4d deposition were discriminative for aABMR diagnosis. Particularly, C3d deposition was stronger in glomerular (P<0,01), and peritubular capillaries (P<0,05) comparing aABMR to aTCMR rejection and non-rejection biopsies. In contrast to C3d, C5b-9 was only mildly expressed across all groups. For C5b-9, no significant difference between aABMR and non-rejection biopsies regarding peritubular and glomerular C5b-9 deposition was evident. We replicated these findings in vitro using renal endothelial cells and found complement pathway activation with C4d and C3d, but without terminal C5b-9 deposition. Complement regulator CD59 was variably present in biopsies and constitutively expressed on renal endothelial cells in vitro.ConclusionOur results indicate that terminal complement might only play a minor role in late aABMR, possibly indicating the need to re-evaluate the applicability of terminal complement inhibitors as treatment for aABMR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gesa Tiller
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Rosa G. M. Lammerts
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Jessy J. Karijosemito
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Firas F. Alkaff
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
- Division of Pharmacology and Therapy, Department of Anatomy, Histology, and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Arjan Diepstra
- Division of Pathology, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Robert A. Pol
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Anita H. Meter-Arkema
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Marc. A. Seelen
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Marius C. van den Heuvel
- Division of Pathology, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Bouke G. Hepkema
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Mohamed R. Daha
- Department of Nephrology, University of Leiden, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Jacob van den Born
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Stefan P. Berger
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Stefan P. Berger,
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Vietzen H, Döhler B, Tran TH, Süsal C, Halloran PF, Eskandary F, Herz CT, Mayer KA, Kozakowski N, Wahrmann M, Ely S, Haindl S, Puchhammer-Stöckl E, Böhmig GA. Deletion of the Natural Killer Cell Receptor NKG2C Encoding KLR2C Gene and Kidney Transplant Outcome. Front Immunol 2022; 13:829228. [PMID: 35401541 PMCID: PMC8987017 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.829228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells may contribute to antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) of renal allografts. The role of distinct NK cell subsets in this specific context, such as NK cells expressing the activating receptor NKG2C, is unknown. Our aim was to investigate whether KLRC2 gene deletion variants which determine NKG2C expression affect the pathogenicity of donor-specific antibodies (DSA) and, if so, influence long-term graft survival. We genotyped the KLRC2wt/del variants for two distinct kidney transplant cohorts, (i) a cross-sectional cohort of 86 recipients who, on the basis of a positive post-transplant DSA result, all underwent allograft biopsies, and (ii) 1,860 recipients of a deceased donor renal allograft randomly selected from the Collaborative Transplant Study (CTS) database. In the DSA+ patient cohort, KLRC2wt/wt (80%) was associated with antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR; 65% versus 29% among KLRC2wt/del subjects; P=0.012), microvascular inflammation [MVI; median g+ptc score: 2 (interquartile range: 0-4) versus 0 (0-1), P=0.002], a molecular classifier of ABMR [0.41 (0.14-0.72) versus 0.10 (0.07-0.27), P=0.001], and elevated NK cell-related transcripts (P=0.017). In combined analyses of KLRC2 variants and a functional polymorphism in the Fc gamma receptor IIIA gene (FCGR3A-V/F158), ABMR rates and activity gradually increased with the number of risk genotypes. In DSA+ and CTS cohorts, however, the KLRC2wt/wt variant did not impact long-term death-censored graft survival, also when combined with the FCGR3A-V158 risk variant. KLRC2wt/wt may be associated with DSA-triggered MVI and ABMR-associated gene expression patterns, but the findings observed in a highly selected cohort of DSA+ patients did not translate into meaningful graft survival differences in a large multicenter kidney transplant cohort not selected for HLA sensitization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hannes Vietzen
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernd Döhler
- Institute of Immunology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thuong Hien Tran
- Institute of Immunology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Caner Süsal
- Institute of Immunology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Transplant Immunology Research Center of Excellence, Koç Üniversitesi, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Philip F. Halloran
- Alberta Transplant Applied Genomics Centre (ATAGC), University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Farsad Eskandary
- 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 A. Mayer
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Markus Wahrmann
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sarah Ely
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Susanne Haindl
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elisabeth Puchhammer-Stöckl
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- *Correspondence: Georg A. Böhmig, ; Elisabeth Puchhammer-Stöckl,
| | - Georg A. Böhmig
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- *Correspondence: Georg A. Böhmig, ; Elisabeth Puchhammer-Stöckl,
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Noppakun K, Kittipanyaworakun T, Ruengorn C, Vongsanim S, Saikam A, Khamlueang N. Plasma volume treated with double filtration plasmapheresis and outcomes of acute antibody-mediated rejection in kidney transplant recipients: A retrospective cohort study. Ther Apher Dial 2020; 25:341-349. [PMID: 32666667 DOI: 10.1111/1744-9987.13560] [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: 04/25/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the association between the plasma volume treated by double filtration plasmapheresis and allograft outcomes for the treatment of acute antibody-mediated rejection in kidney transplant recipients. Patients were divided into two groups: group 1, plasma volume treated between 1 and <1.3 total plasma volume and group 2, plasma volume treated ≥1.3 total plasma volume. Primary outcome was ≥50% reduction of serum creatinine rising from baseline value at 1 month. A total of 32 courses (146 sessions) of double filtration plasmapheresis were performed; 17 and 15 courses in group 1 and group 2, respectively. Primary outcome occurred in 41% of group 1 and 40% of group 2 (adjusted risk ratio 1.15 [95%CI, 0.48-2.76]). Graft loss at 1 year did not differ between the two groups (adjusted hazard ratio 0.65 [95%CI, 0.23-1.87]). Infection tendency seemed to be higher in group 2 (40% vs 18%, P = .243).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kajohnsak Noppakun
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.,Kidney Transplant and Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.,Pharmacoepidemiology and Statistics Research Center (PESRC), Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Thanapat Kittipanyaworakun
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Chidchanok Ruengorn
- Pharmacoepidemiology and Statistics Research Center (PESRC), Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.,Department of Pharmaceutical Care, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Surachet Vongsanim
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.,Kidney Transplant and Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Anchalee Saikam
- Kidney Transplant and Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Nikhom Khamlueang
- Kidney Transplant and Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
High-activity Classical and Alternative Complement Pathway Genotypes-Association With Donor-specific Antibody-triggered Injury and Renal Allograft Survival. Transplant Direct 2020; 6:e534. [PMID: 32195325 PMCID: PMC7056277 DOI: 10.1097/txd.0000000000000978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Complement may contribute to donor-specific antibody (DSA)-triggered transplant injury. Here, we investigated whether the intrinsic strength of classical pathway and alternative pathway (AP) relates to the pathogenicity of DSA. Methods Classical pathway and AP high-activity genotypes were defined according to C4 gene copy number and the presence of functional polymorphisms in C3 (C3102G), factor B (fB32R), and factor H (fH62V) genes. Associations of these genotypes with blood complement profiles and morphologic/molecular rejection features were evaluated in a cohort of 83 DSA-positive patients (antibody-mediated rejection [AMR], n = 47) identified upon cross-sectional screening of 741 kidney allograft recipients ≥180 days posttransplantation. Associations with long-term graft survival were evaluated in a larger kidney transplant cohort (n = 660) not enriched for a specific type of rejection. Results In the cohort of DSA-positive subjects, the number of C4 gene copies was related to C4 protein levels in serum and capillary C4d staining, but not AMR activity. Patients with a high-activity AP complotype, which was associated with complement consumption in serum, showed enhanced microcirculation inflammation (median glomerulitis plus peritubular capillaritis score, 2 [interquartile range, 0-4 versus 1 0-2]; P = 0.037). In the larger transplant cohort, this complotype was associated with a slightly increased risk of graft loss (hazard ratio, 1.52; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-2.25; P = 0.038 and multivariable Cox model, 1.55; 1.04-2.32; P = 0.031). Conclusions Our study suggests a contribution of complement genetics to the phenotypic presentation of AMR. Future studies will have to clarify whether a possible association of AP strength with graft survival relates to enhanced antibody-triggered injury.
Collapse
|