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Korutla L, Hoffman JR, Rostami S, Hu R, Korutla V, Markmann C, Mullan C, Sotolongo A, Habertheuer A, Romano C, Acker M, Sen S, Agarwal D, Jayaraman A, Li B, Davis ME, Naji A, Vallabhajosyula P. Circulating T cell specific extracellular vesicle profiles in cardiac allograft acute cellular rejection. Am J Transplant 2024; 24:419-435. [PMID: 38295008 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2023.10.021] [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: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
There is a critical need for biomarkers of acute cellular rejection (ACR) in organ transplantation. We hypothesized that ACR leads to changes in donor-reactive T cell small extracellular vesicle (sEV) profiles in transplant recipient circulation that match the kinetics of alloreactive T cell activation. In rodent heart transplantation, circulating T cell sEV quantities (P < .0001) and their protein and mRNA cargoes showed time-specific expression of alloreactive and regulatory markers heralding early ACR in allogeneic transplant recipients but not in syngeneic transplant recipients. Next generation sequencing of their microRNA cargoes identified novel candidate biomarkers of ACR, which were validated by stem loop quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (n = 10). Circulating T cell sEVs enriched from allogeneic transplant recipients mediated targeted cytotoxicity of donor cardiomyocytes by apoptosis assay (P < .0001). Translation of the concept and EV methodologies to clinical heart transplantation demonstrated similar upregulation of circulating T cell sEV profiles at time points of grade 2 ACR (n = 3 patients). Furthermore, T cell receptor sequencing of T cell sEV mRNA cargo demonstrated expression of T cell clones with intact complementarity determining region 3 signals. These data support the diagnostic potential of T cell sEVs as noninvasive biomarker of ACR and suggest their potential functional roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laxminarayana Korutla
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jessica R Hoffman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Susan Rostami
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Robert Hu
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Surgery, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Varun Korutla
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Caroline Markmann
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Clancy Mullan
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Alex Sotolongo
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Andreas Habertheuer
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Division of Cardiac Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Connie Romano
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Michael Acker
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sounok Sen
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Divyansh Agarwal
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Arun Jayaraman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Bo Li
- Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Michael E Davis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Ali Naji
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Prashanth Vallabhajosyula
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
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Martini L, Mandoli GE, Pastore MC, Pagliaro A, Bernazzali S, Maccherini M, Henein M, Cameli M. Heart transplantation and biomarkers: a review about their usefulness in clinical practice. Front Cardiovasc Med 2024; 11:1336011. [PMID: 38327491 PMCID: PMC10847311 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1336011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Advanced heart failure (AdvHF) can only be treated definitively by heart transplantation (HTx), yet problems such right ventricle dysfunction (RVD), rejection, cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), and primary graft dysfunction (PGD) are linked to a poor prognosis. As a result, numerous biomarkers have been investigated in an effort to identify and prevent certain diseases sooner. We looked at both established biomarkers, such as NT-proBNP, hs-troponins, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, and newer ones, such as extracellular vesicles (EVs), donor specific antibodies (DSA), gene expression profile (GEP), donor-derived cell free DNA (dd-cfDNA), microRNA (miRNA), and soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2). These biomarkers are typically linked to complications from HTX. We also highlight the relationships between each biomarker and one or more problems, as well as their applicability in routine clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Martini
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - G. E. Mandoli
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - M. C. Pastore
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - A. Pagliaro
- Cardio-Thoracic-Vascular Department, Siena University Hospital, Siena, Italy
| | - S. Bernazzali
- Cardio-Thoracic-Vascular Department, Siena University Hospital, Siena, Italy
| | - M. Maccherini
- Cardio-Thoracic-Vascular Department, Siena University Hospital, Siena, Italy
| | - M. Henein
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - M. Cameli
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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Franco-Acevedo A, Comes J, Mack JJ, Valenzuela NM. New insights into maladaptive vascular responses to donor specific HLA antibodies in organ transplantation. FRONTIERS IN TRANSPLANTATION 2023; 2:1146040. [PMID: 38993843 PMCID: PMC11235244 DOI: 10.3389/frtra.2023.1146040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Transplant vasculopathy (TV) causes thickening of donor blood vessels in transplanted organs, and is a significant cause of graft loss and mortality in allograft recipients. It is known that patients with repeated acute rejection and/or donor specific antibodies are predisposed to TV. Nevertheless, the exact molecular mechanisms by which alloimmune injury culminates in this disease have not been fully delineated. As a result of this incomplete knowledge, there is currently a lack of effective therapies for this disease. The immediate intracellular signaling and the acute effects elicited by anti-donor HLA antibodies are well-described and continuing to be revealed in deeper detail. Further, advances in rejection diagnostics, including intragraft gene expression, provide clues to the inflammatory changes within allografts. However, mechanisms linking these events with long-term outcomes, particularly the maladaptive vascular remodeling seen in transplant vasculopathy, are still being delineated. New evidence demonstrates alterations in non-coding RNA profiles and the occurrence of endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT) during acute antibody-mediated graft injury. EndMT is also readily apparent in numerous settings of non-transplant intimal hyperplasia, and lessons can be learned from advances in those fields. This review will provide an update on these recent developments and remaining questions in our understanding of HLA antibody-induced vascular damage, framed within a broader consideration of manifestations and implications across transplanted organ types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Franco-Acevedo
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Johanna Comes
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Julia J Mack
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Nicole M Valenzuela
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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4
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Shah P, Agbor-Enoh S, Bagchi P, deFilippi CR, Mercado A, Diao G, Morales DJ, Shah KB, Najjar SS, Feller E, Hsu S, Rodrigo ME, Lewsey SC, Jang MK, Marboe C, Berry GJ, Khush KK, Valantine HA. Circulating microRNAs in cellular and antibody-mediated heart transplant rejection. J Heart Lung Transplant 2022; 41:1401-1413. [PMID: 35872109 PMCID: PMC9529890 DOI: 10.1016/j.healun.2022.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Noninvasive monitoring of heart allograft health is important to improve clinical outcomes. MicroRNAs (miRs) are promising biomarkers of cardiovascular disease and limited studies suggest they can be used to noninvasively diagnose acute heart transplant rejection. METHODS The Genomic Research Alliance for Transplantation (GRAfT) is a multicenter prospective cohort study that phenotyped heart transplant patients from 5 mid-Atlantic centers. Patients who had no history of rejection after transplant were compared to patients with acute cellular rejection (ACR) or antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). Small RNA sequencing was performed on plasma samples collected at the time of an endomyocardial biopsy. Differential miR expression was performed with adjustment for clinical covariates. Regression was used to develop miR panels with high diagnostic accuracy for ACR and AMR. These panels were then validated in independent samples from GRAfT and Stanford University. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated and area under the curve (AUC) statistics calculated. Distinct ACR and AMR clinical scores were developed to translate miR expression data for clinical use. RESULTS The GRAfT cohort had a median age of 52 years, with 35% females and 45% Black patients. Between GRAfT and Stanford, we included 157 heart transplant patients: 108 controls and 49 with rejection (50 ACR and 38 AMR episodes). After differential miR expression and regression analysis, we identified 12 miRs that accurately discriminate ACR and 17 miRs in AMR. Independent validation of the miR panels within GRAfT led to an ACR AUC 0.92 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.86-0.98) and AMR AUC 0.82 (95% CI: 0.74-0.90). The externally validated ACR AUC was 0.72 (95% CI: 0.59-0.82). We developed distinct ACR and AMR miR clinical scores (range 0-100), a score ≥ 65, identified ACR with 86% sensitivity, 76% specificity, and 98% negative predictive value, for AMR score performance was 82%, 84% and 97%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS We identified novel miRs that had excellent performance to noninvasively diagnose acute rejection after heart transplantation. Once rigorously validated, the unique clinical ACR and AMR scores usher in an era whereby genomic biomarkers can be used to screen and diagnose the subtype of rejection. These novel biomarkers may potentially alleviate the need for an endomyocardial biopsy while facilitating the initiation of targeted therapy based on the noninvasive diagnosis of ACR or AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Palak Shah
- Heart Failure, Mechanical Circulatory Support & Transplant, Inova Heart and Vascular Institute, Falls Church, Virginia; Genomic Research Alliance for Transplantation (GRAfT), Bethesda, Maryland.
| | - Sean Agbor-Enoh
- Genomic Research Alliance for Transplantation (GRAfT), Bethesda, Maryland; Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Applied Precision Genomics, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Pramita Bagchi
- Volgenau School of Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia
| | | | - Angela Mercado
- Heart Failure, Mechanical Circulatory Support & Transplant, Inova Heart and Vascular Institute, Falls Church, Virginia
| | - Gouqing Diao
- Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Dave Jp Morales
- Heart Failure & Transplantation, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
| | - Keyur B Shah
- The Pauley Heart Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Samer S Najjar
- Advanced Heart Failure Program, Medstar Heart and Vascular Institute, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Erika Feller
- Heart Failure & Transplantation, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Steven Hsu
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Maria E Rodrigo
- The Pauley Heart Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Sabra C Lewsey
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Moon Kyoo Jang
- Genomic Research Alliance for Transplantation (GRAfT), Bethesda, Maryland; Applied Precision Genomics, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Charles Marboe
- Department of Pathology, New York Presbyterian University Hospital of Cornell and Columbia, New York, New York, New York
| | - Gerald J Berry
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California
| | - Kiran K Khush
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California
| | - Hannah A Valantine
- Genomic Research Alliance for Transplantation (GRAfT), Bethesda, Maryland; Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California
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Ravichandran R, Itabashi Y, Fleming T, Bansal S, Bowen S, Poulson C, Bharat A, Bremner R, Smith M, Mohanakumar T. Low-dose IL-2 prevents murine chronic cardiac allograft rejection: Role for IL-2-induced T regulatory cells and exosomes with PD-L1 and CD73. Am J Transplant 2022; 22:2180-2194. [PMID: 35603986 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.17101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
To determine the effects and immunological mechanisms of low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) in a murine model of chronic cardiac allograft rejection (BALB/c to C57BL/6) after costimulatory blockade consisting of MR1 (250 μg/ip day 0) and CTLA4-Ig (200 μg/ip day 2), we administered low-dose IL-2 (2000 IU/day) starting on posttransplant day 14 for 3 weeks. T regulatory (Treg) cell infiltration of the grafts was determined by immunohistochemistry; circulating exosomes by western blot and aldehyde bead flow cytometry; antibodies to donor MHC by immunofluorescent staining of donor cells; and antibodies to cardiac self-antigens (myosin, vimentin) by ELISA. We demonstrated that costimulation blockade after allogeneic heart transplantation induced circulating exosomes containing cardiac self-antigens and antibodies to both donor MHC and self-antigens, leading to chronic rejection by day 45. Treatment with low-dose IL-2 prolonged allograft survival (>100 days), prevented chronic rejection, and induced splenic and graft-infiltrating CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3 Treg cells by day 45 and circulating exosomes (Foxp3+) with PD-L1 and CD73. MicroRNA 142, associated with the TGFβ pathway, was significantly downregulated in exosomes from IL-2-treated mice. In conclusion, low-dose IL-2 delays rejection in a murine model of chronic cardiac allograft rejection and also induces graft-infiltrating Tregs and circulating exosomes with immunoregulatory molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yoshihiro Itabashi
- Norton Thoracic Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Timothy Fleming
- Norton Thoracic Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Sandhya Bansal
- Norton Thoracic Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Sara Bowen
- Norton Thoracic Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Christin Poulson
- Norton Thoracic Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Ankit Bharat
- Department of surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Ross Bremner
- Norton Thoracic Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Michael Smith
- Norton Thoracic Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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Qian X, Shah P, Agbor-Enoh S. Noninvasive biomarkers in heart transplant: 2020-2021 year in review. Curr Opin Organ Transplant 2022; 27:7-14. [PMID: 34939959 PMCID: PMC8711631 DOI: 10.1097/mot.0000000000000945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Endomyocardial biopsy (EMB), the current gold standard for cardiac allograft monitoring is invasive, may have a low sensitivity and is associated with significant variability in histopathologic interpretation. Fortunately, on-going research is identifying noninvasive biomarkers that address some of these limitations. This review provides an update on noninvasive blood-based methods for rejection surveillance and diagnosis in heart transplantation. RECENT FINDINGS Recent studies highlight good test performance to detect acute rejection for donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) and microRNAs (miR). dd-cfDNA is sensitive, nonspecific, and has a high negative predictive value for acute cellular and antibody-mediated rejection. Clinical utility trials are being planned to test its role as a rule-out test for acute rejection as compared to the EMB. miRs may have an added advantage as it may phenotype the subtypes of rejection alleviating the need for an EMB or permitting the initiation of targeted therapy while awaiting the results of the EMB. SUMMARY In this review, we discuss recent advances in the field of noninvasive biomarkers to detect allograft rejection after heart transplant. We provide a perspective of additional studies needed to prove their clinical utility and bring these biomarkers to widescale clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Qian
- Cardiovascular Medicine, Inova Heart and Vascular Institute, Falls Church VA
| | - Palak Shah
- Heart Failure, MCS and Transplant, Inova Heart and Vascular Institute, Falls Church VA
- Genomic Research Alliance for Transplantation (GRAfT), Bethesda, MD
| | - Sean Agbor-Enoh
- Genomic Research Alliance for Transplantation (GRAfT), Bethesda, MD
- Laboratory of Applied Precision Omics, Division of Intramural Research, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
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Gołębiewska JE, Wardowska A, Pietrowska M, Wojakowska A, Dębska-Ślizień A. Small Extracellular Vesicles in Transplant Rejection. Cells 2021; 10:cells10112989. [PMID: 34831212 PMCID: PMC8616261 DOI: 10.3390/cells10112989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Revised: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Small extracellular vesicles (sEV), which are released to body fluids (e.g., serum, urine) by all types of human cells, may stimulate or inhibit the innate and adaptive immune response through multiple mechanisms. Exosomes or sEV have on their surface many key receptors of immune response, including major histocompatibility complex (MHC) components, identical to their cellular origin. They also exhibit an ability to carry antigen and target leukocytes either via interaction with cell surface receptors or intracellular delivery of inflammatory mediators, receptors, enzymes, mRNAs, and noncoding RNAs. By the transfer of donor MHC antigens to recipient antigen presenting cells sEV may also contribute to T cell allorecognition and alloresponse. Here, we review the influence of sEV on the development of rejection or tolerance in the setting of solid organ and tissue allotransplantation. We also summarize and discuss potential applications of plasma and urinary sEV as biomarkers in the context of transplantation. We focus on the attempts to use sEV as a noninvasive approach to detecting allograft rejection. Preliminary studies show that both sEV total levels and a set of specific molecules included in their cargo may be an evidence of ongoing allograft rejection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justyna E. Gołębiewska
- Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland;
- Correspondence:
| | - Anna Wardowska
- Department of Physiopathology, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland;
| | - Monika Pietrowska
- Centre for Translational Research and Molecular Biology of Cancer, Maria Skłodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, 44-102 Gliwice, Poland;
| | - Anna Wojakowska
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences, 61-704 Poznań, Poland;
| | - Alicja Dębska-Ślizień
- Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland;
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Abstract
Despite the overall success of heart transplantation as a definitive treatment for endstage heart failure, cardiac allograft rejection remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Endomyocardial biopsy has been the standard of care for rejection monitoring, but is associated with several diagnostic limitations and serious procedural complications. The use of molecular diagnostics has emerged over the past decade as a tool to potentially circumvent some of these limitations. We present an update on novel molecular approaches to detecting transplant rejection, focusing on 4 categories: microarray technology, gene expression profiling, cell-free DNA and microRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lillian Benck
- Department of Cardiology, Cedars-Sinai Smidt Heart Institute
| | - Takuma Sato
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine
| | - Jon Kobashigawa
- Department of Cardiology, Cedars-Sinai Smidt Heart Institute
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Evaluation of Colon-Specific Plasma Nanovesicles as New Markers of Colorectal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13153905. [PMID: 34359806 PMCID: PMC8345452 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13153905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Developing new and efficient approaches for the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) is an important issue. Circulating extracellular nanovesicles (ENVs) present a promising class of cancer markers. Cells of well-differentiated adenocarcinomas retain the molecular characteristics of colon epithelial cells, and the ENVs secreted by these cells may have colon-specific surface markers. We hypothesize that an increase in the number of ENVs carrying colon-specific markers could serve as a diagnostic criterion for colorectal cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Potential colon-specific markers were selected based on tissue-specific expression profile and cell surface membrane localization data. Plasma was collected from CRC patients (n = 48) and healthy donors (n = 50). The total population of ENVs was isolated with a two-phase polymer system. ENVs derived from colon epithelium cells were isolated using immune-beads with antibodies to colon-specific markers prior to labelling with antibodies against exosomal tetraspanins (CD63 and CD9) and quantification by flow cytometry. RESULTS The number of ENVs positive for single colon cancer markers was found to be significantly higher in the plasma of CRC patients compared with healthy donors. The efficacy of detection depends on the method of ENV labelling. The diagnostic efficacy was estimated by ROC analysis (the AUC varied between 0.71 and 0.79). The multiplexed isolation of colon-derived ENVs using immune-beads decorated with antibodies against five markers allowed for a further increase in the diagnostic potency of the method (AUC = 0.82). CONCLUSIONS ENVs derived from colon epithelium may serve as markers of differentiated CRC (adenocarcinomas). The composition of ligands used for capturing colon-derived ENVs and their method of labelling are critical for the efficacy of this proposed diagnostic approach.
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