1
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Bender M, Reichart B, Figueiredo C, Burgmann JM, Leuschen M, Wall F, Radan J, Neumann E, Mokelke M, Buttgereit I, Michel S, Ellgass R, Egerer S, Lange A, Baehr A, Kessler B, Kemter E, Klymiuk N, Denner J, Godehardt AW, Tönjes RR, Hagl C, Gebauer M, Binder U, Skerra A, Ayares D, Wolf E, Schmoeckel M, Brenner P, Längin M, Abicht JM. An Approach to Controlling Inflammation and Coagulation in Pig-to-Baboon Cardiac Xenotransplantation. Xenotransplantation 2024; 31:e12877. [PMID: 39077824 DOI: 10.1111/xen.12877] [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: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Inflammatory responses and coagulation disorders are a relevant challenge for successful cardiac xenotransplantation on its way to the clinic. To cope with this, an effective and clinically practicable anti-inflammatory and anti-coagulatory regimen is needed. The inflammatory and coagulatory response can be reduced by genetic engineering of the organ-source pigs. Furthermore, there are several therapeutic strategies to prevent or reduce inflammatory responses and coagulation disorders following xenotransplantation. However, it is still unclear, which combination of drugs should be used in the clinical setting. To elucidate this, we present data from pig-to-baboon orthotopic cardiac xenotransplantation experiments using a combination of several anti-inflammatory drugs. METHODS Genetically modified piglets (GGTA1-KO, hCD46/hTBM transgenic) were used for orthotopic cardiac xenotransplantation into captive-bred baboons (n = 14). All animals received an anti-inflammatory drug therapy including a C1 esterase inhibitor, an IL-6 receptor antagonist, a TNF-α inhibitor, and an IL-1 receptor antagonist. As an additive medication, acetylsalicylic acid and unfractionated heparin were administered. The immunosuppressive regimen was based on CD40/CD40L co-stimulation blockade. During the experiments, leukocyte counts, levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) as well as systemic cytokine and chemokine levels and coagulation parameters were assessed at multiple timepoints. Four animals were excluded from further data analyses due to porcine cytomegalovirus/porcine roseolovirus (PCMV/PRV) infections (n = 2) or technical failures (n = 2). RESULTS Leukocyte counts showed a relevant perioperative decrease, CRP levels an increase. In the postoperative period, leukocyte counts remained consistently within normal ranges, CRP levels showed three further peaks after about 35, 50, and 80 postoperative days. Analyses of cytokines and chemokines revealed different patterns. Some cytokines, like IL-8, increased about 2-fold in the perioperative period, but then decreased to levels comparable to the preoperative values or even lower. Other cytokines, such as IL-12/IL-23, decreased in the perioperative period and stayed at these levels. Besides perioperative decreases, there were no relevant alterations observed in coagulation parameters. In summary, all parameters showed an unremarkable course with regard to inflammatory responses and coagulation disorders following cardiac xenotransplantation and thus showed the effectiveness of our approach. CONCLUSION Our preclinical experience with the anti-inflammatory drug therapy proved that controlling of inflammation and coagulation disorders in xenotransplantation is possible and well-practicable under the condition that transmission of pathogens, especially of PCMV/PRV to the recipient is prevented because PCMV/PRV also induces inflammation and coagulation disorders. Our anti-inflammatory regimen should also be applicable and effective in the clinical setting of cardiac xenotransplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Bender
- Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Bruno Reichart
- Transregional Collaborative Research Center 127, Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Constanca Figueiredo
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Engineering, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jonathan M Burgmann
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Engineering, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Maria Leuschen
- Transregional Collaborative Research Center 127, Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Felicia Wall
- Transregional Collaborative Research Center 127, Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Julia Radan
- Transregional Collaborative Research Center 127, Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Neumann
- Transregional Collaborative Research Center 127, Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Maren Mokelke
- Transregional Collaborative Research Center 127, Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ines Buttgereit
- Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Michel
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Reinhard Ellgass
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefanie Egerer
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Lange
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Andrea Baehr
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Barbara Kessler
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Kemter
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Nikolai Klymiuk
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Joachim Denner
- Institute of Virology, Free University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Antonia W Godehardt
- Division of Haematology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
| | - Ralf R Tönjes
- Division of Haematology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
| | - Christian Hagl
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | | | - Arne Skerra
- Chair of Biological Chemistry, School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | | | - Eckhard Wolf
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center and Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Interfaculty Center for Endocrine and Cardiovascular Disease Network Modelling and Clinical Transfer (ICONLMU), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Schmoeckel
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Paolo Brenner
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Matthias Längin
- Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jan-Michael Abicht
- Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
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Schmauch E, Piening B, Mohebnasab M, Xia B, Zhu C, Stern J, Zhang W, Dowdell AK, Kim JI, Andrijevic D, Khalil K, Jaffe IS, Loza BL, Gragert L, Camellato BR, Oliveira MF, O'Brien DP, Chen HM, Weldon E, Gao H, Gandla D, Chang A, Bhatt R, Gao S, Lin X, Reddy KP, Kagermazova L, Habara AH, Widawsky S, Liang FX, Sall J, Loupy A, Heguy A, Taylor SEB, Zhu Y, Michael B, Jiang L, Jian R, Chong AS, Fairchild RL, Linna-Kuosmanen S, Kaikkonen MU, Tatapudi V, Lorber M, Ayares D, Mangiola M, Narula N, Moazami N, Pass H, Herati RS, Griesemer A, Kellis M, Snyder MP, Montgomery RA, Boeke JD, Keating BJ. Integrative multi-omics profiling in human decedents receiving pig heart xenografts. Nat Med 2024; 30:1448-1460. [PMID: 38760586 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-02972-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
In a previous study, heart xenografts from 10-gene-edited pigs transplanted into two human decedents did not show evidence of acute-onset cellular- or antibody-mediated rejection. Here, to better understand the detailed molecular landscape following xenotransplantation, we carried out bulk and single-cell transcriptomics, lipidomics, proteomics and metabolomics on blood samples obtained from the transplanted decedents every 6 h, as well as histological and transcriptomic tissue profiling. We observed substantial early immune responses in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and xenograft tissue obtained from decedent 1 (male), associated with downstream T cell and natural killer cell activity. Longitudinal analyses indicated the presence of ischemia reperfusion injury, exacerbated by inadequate immunosuppression of T cells, consistent with previous findings of perioperative cardiac xenograft dysfunction in pig-to-nonhuman primate studies. Moreover, at 42 h after transplantation, substantial alterations in cellular metabolism and liver-damage pathways occurred, correlating with profound organ-wide physiological dysfunction. By contrast, relatively minor changes in RNA, protein, lipid and metabolism profiles were observed in decedent 2 (female) as compared to decedent 1. Overall, these multi-omics analyses delineate distinct responses to cardiac xenotransplantation in the two human decedents and reveal new insights into early molecular and immune responses after xenotransplantation. These findings may aid in the development of targeted therapeutic approaches to limit ischemia reperfusion injury-related phenotypes and improve outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloi Schmauch
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Brian Piening
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Center, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Maedeh Mohebnasab
- Division of Molecular Genetics Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Bo Xia
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Institute for Systems Genetics, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Society of Fellows, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Chenchen Zhu
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey Stern
- NYU Langone Transplant Institute, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Weimin Zhang
- Institute for Systems Genetics, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexa K Dowdell
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Center, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Jacqueline I Kim
- NYU Langone Transplant Institute, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - David Andrijevic
- Department of Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Karen Khalil
- NYU Langone Transplant Institute, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ian S Jaffe
- NYU Langone Transplant Institute, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bao-Li Loza
- Penn Transplant Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Loren Gragert
- Division of Biomedical Informatics and Genomics, Deming Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Han M Chen
- Department of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elaina Weldon
- NYU Langone Transplant Institute, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hui Gao
- Penn Transplant Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Divya Gandla
- Penn Transplant Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Andrew Chang
- Penn Transplant Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Riyana Bhatt
- Penn Transplant Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sarah Gao
- Penn Transplant Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Xiangping Lin
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kriyana P Reddy
- Penn Transplant Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Alawi H Habara
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sophie Widawsky
- NYU Langone Transplant Institute, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Feng-Xia Liang
- DART Microscopy Laboratory, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joseph Sall
- DART Microscopy Laboratory, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexandre Loupy
- Université Paris Cité, Paris Institute for Transplantation and Organ Regeneration, Paris, France
| | - Adriana Heguy
- Genome Technology Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Yinan Zhu
- Division of Molecular Genetics Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Basil Michael
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Lihua Jiang
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ruiqi Jian
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Anita S Chong
- Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Robert L Fairchild
- Department of Inflammation and Immunology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Suvi Linna-Kuosmanen
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Minna U Kaikkonen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Vasishta Tatapudi
- NYU Langone Transplant Institute, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Massimo Mangiola
- NYU Langone Transplant Institute, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Navneet Narula
- NYU Langone Transplant Institute, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pathology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nader Moazami
- NYU Langone Transplant Institute, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Harvey Pass
- NYU Langone Transplant Institute, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ramin S Herati
- Department of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Adam Griesemer
- NYU Langone Transplant Institute, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Manolis Kellis
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Robert A Montgomery
- NYU Langone Transplant Institute, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jef D Boeke
- Institute for Systems Genetics, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Brendan J Keating
- Institute for Systems Genetics, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA.
- NYU Langone Transplant Institute, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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3
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Bender M, Panelli A, Reichart B, Radan J, Mokelke M, Neumann E, Buttgereit I, Michel S, Bauer A, Fresch AK, Mayr T, Werner F, Egerer S, Bähr A, Kessler B, Klymiuk N, Ayares D, Wolf E, Hagl C, Brenner P, Längin M, Abicht J. Hemodynamics in pig-to-baboon heterotopic thoracic cardiac xenotransplantation: Recovery from perioperative cardiac xenograft dysfunction and impairment by cardiac overgrowth. Xenotransplantation 2024; 31:e12841. [PMID: 38864375 PMCID: PMC11167678 DOI: 10.1111/xen.12841] [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: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Orthotopic cardiac xenotransplantation has seen notable improvement, leading to the first compassionate use in 2022. However, it remains challenging to define the clinical application of cardiac xenotransplantation, including the back-up strategy in case of xenograft failure. In this regard, the heterotopic thoracic technique could be an alternative to the orthotopic procedure. We present hemodynamic data of heterotopic thoracic pig-to-baboon transplantation experiments, focusing on perioperative xenograft dysfunction and xenograft overgrowth. METHODS We used 17 genetically modified piglets as donors for heterotopic thoracic xenogeneic cardiac transplantation into captive-bred baboons. In all animals, pressure probes were implanted in the graft's left ventricle and the recipient's ascending aorta and hemodynamic data (graft pressure, aortic pressure and recipient's heart rate) were recorded continuously. RESULTS Aortic pressures and heart rates of the recipients' hearts were postoperatively stable in all experiments. After reperfusion, three grafts presented with low left ventricular pressure indicating perioperative cardiac dysfunction (PCXD). These animals recovered from PCXD within 48 h under support of the recipient's heart and there was no difference in survival compared to the other 14 ones. After 48 h, graft pressure increased up to 200 mmHg in all 17 animals with two different time-patterns. This led to a progressive gradient between graft and aortic pressure. With increasing gradient, the grafts stopped contributing to cardiac output. Grafts showed a marked weight increase from implantation to explantation. CONCLUSION The heterotopic thoracic cardiac xenotransplantation technique is a possible method to overcome PCXD in early clinical trials and an experimental tool to get a better understanding of PCXD. The peculiar hemodynamic situation of increasing graft pressure but missing graft's output indicates outflow tract obstruction due to cardiac overgrowth. The heterotopic thoracic technique should be successful when using current strategies of immunosuppression, organ preservation and donor pigs with smaller body and organ size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Bender
- Department of AnaesthesiologyUniversity Hospital, LMU MunichMunichGermany
| | - Alessandro Panelli
- Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medicine (CVK, CCM)Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlincorporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt‐Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Bruno Reichart
- Transregional Collaborative Research Center 127Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental MedicineLMU MunichMunichGermany
| | - Julia Radan
- Transregional Collaborative Research Center 127Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental MedicineLMU MunichMunichGermany
| | - Maren Mokelke
- Transregional Collaborative Research Center 127Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental MedicineLMU MunichMunichGermany
| | - Elisabeth Neumann
- Transregional Collaborative Research Center 127Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental MedicineLMU MunichMunichGermany
| | - Ines Buttgereit
- Department of AnaesthesiologyUniversity Hospital, LMU MunichMunichGermany
| | - Sebastian Michel
- Department of Cardiac SurgeryUniversity HospitalLMU MunichMunichGermany
| | - Andreas Bauer
- Department of AnaesthesiologyUniversity Hospital, LMU MunichMunichGermany
| | - Ann Kathrin Fresch
- Transregional Collaborative Research Center 127Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental MedicineLMU MunichMunichGermany
| | - Tanja Mayr
- Department of AnaesthesiologyUniversity Hospital, LMU MunichMunichGermany
| | - Fabian Werner
- Transregional Collaborative Research Center 127Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental MedicineLMU MunichMunichGermany
| | - Stefanie Egerer
- Gene Center and Department of Veterinary SciencesInstitute of Molecular Animal Breeding and BiotechnologyLMU MunichMunichGermany
| | - Andrea Bähr
- Gene Center and Department of Veterinary SciencesInstitute of Molecular Animal Breeding and BiotechnologyLMU MunichMunichGermany
| | - Barbara Kessler
- Gene Center and Department of Veterinary SciencesInstitute of Molecular Animal Breeding and BiotechnologyLMU MunichMunichGermany
| | - Nikolai Klymiuk
- Gene Center and Department of Veterinary SciencesInstitute of Molecular Animal Breeding and BiotechnologyLMU MunichMunichGermany
| | | | - Eckhard Wolf
- Gene Center and Department of Veterinary SciencesInstitute of Molecular Animal Breeding and BiotechnologyLMU MunichMunichGermany
- Center for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM)LMU MunichMunichGermany
- Interfaculty Center for Endocrine and Cardiovascular Disease Network Modelling and Clinical Transfer (ICONLMU)LMU MunichMunichGermany
| | - Christian Hagl
- Department of Cardiac SurgeryUniversity HospitalLMU MunichMunichGermany
| | - Paolo Brenner
- Department of Cardiac SurgeryUniversity HospitalLMU MunichMunichGermany
| | - Matthias Längin
- Department of AnaesthesiologyUniversity Hospital, LMU MunichMunichGermany
| | - Jan‐Michael Abicht
- Department of AnaesthesiologyUniversity Hospital, LMU MunichMunichGermany
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Harris AG, Iacobazzi D, Caputo M, Bartoli-Leonard F. Graft rejection in paediatric congenital heart disease. Transl Pediatr 2023; 12:1572-1591. [PMID: 37692547 PMCID: PMC10485650 DOI: 10.21037/tp-23-80] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Congenital heart disease (CHD) affects around 1.35 million neonates worldwide per annum, and surgical repair is necessary in approximately 25% of cases. Xenografts, usually of bovine or porcine origin, are often used for the surgical reconstruction. These xenografts elicit an immune response due to significant immunological incompatibilities between host and donor. Current techniques to dampen the initial hyperacute rejection response involve aldehyde fixation to crosslink xenoantigens, such as galactose-α1,3-galactose and N-glycolylneuraminic acid. While this temporarily masks the epitopes, aldehyde fixation is a suboptimal solution, degrading over time, resulting in cytotoxicity and rejection. The immune response to foreign tissue eventually leads to chronic inflammation and subsequent graft failure, necessitating reintervention to replace the defective bioprosthetic. Decellularisation to remove immunoincompatible material has been suggested as an alternative to fixation and may prove a superior solution. However, incomplete decellularisation poses a significant challenge, causing a substantial immune rejection response and subsequent graft rejection. This review discusses commercially available grafts used in surgical paediatric CHD intervention, looking specifically at bovine jugular vein conduits as a substitute to cryopreserved homografts, as well as decellularised alternatives to the aldehyde-fixed graft. Mechanisms of biological prosthesis rejection are explored, including the signalling cascades of the innate and adaptive immune response. Lastly, emerging strategies of intervention are examined, including the use of tissue from genetically modified pigs, enhanced crosslinking and decellularisation techniques, and augmentation of grafts through in vitro recellularisation or functionalisation with human surface proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy G. Harris
- Bristol Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Dominga Iacobazzi
- Bristol Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Massimo Caputo
- Bristol Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Bristol Heart Institute, University Hospital Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Francesca Bartoli-Leonard
- Bristol Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Bristol Heart Institute, University Hospital Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
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Zhang ZJ, Ding LY, Zuo XL, Feng H, Xia Q. A new paradigm in transplant immunology: At the crossroad of synthetic biology and biomaterials. MED 2023:S2666-6340(23)00142-3. [PMID: 37244257 DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2023.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients require meticulously tailored immunosuppressive regimens to minimize graft loss and mortality. Traditional approaches focus on inhibiting effector T cells, while the intricate and dynamic immune responses mediated by other components remain unsolved. Emerging advances in synthetic biology and material science have provided novel treatment modalities with increased diversity and precision to the transplantation community. This review investigates the active interface between these two fields, highlights how living and non-living structures can be engineered and integrated for immunomodulation, and discusses their potential application in addressing the challenges in SOT clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Jie Zhang
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Centre of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Lu-Yue Ding
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Xiao-Lei Zuo
- Shanghai Engineering Research Centre of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai 200127, China; School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules and National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Hao Feng
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Centre of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai 200127, China; Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai 200127, China; Punan Branch (Shanghai Punan Hospital), Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China.
| | - Qiang Xia
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Centre of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai 200127, China; Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai 200127, China.
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6
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Reichart B, Cooper DKC, Längin M, Tönjes RR, Pierson RN, Wolf E. Cardiac xenotransplantation: from concept to clinic. Cardiovasc Res 2023; 118:3499-3516. [PMID: 36461918 PMCID: PMC9897693 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvac180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
For many patients with terminal/advanced cardiac failure, heart transplantation is the most effective, durable treatment option, and offers the best prospects for a high quality of life. The number of potentially life-saving donated human organs is far fewer than the population who could benefit from a new heart, resulting in increasing numbers of patients awaiting replacement of their failing heart, high waitlist mortality, and frequent reliance on interim mechanical support for many of those deemed among the best candidates but who are deteriorating as they wait. Currently, mechanical assist devices supporting left ventricular or biventricular heart function are the only alternative to heart transplant that is in clinical use. Unfortunately, the complication rate with mechanical assistance remains high despite advances in device design and patient selection and management, and the quality of life of the patients even with good outcomes is only moderately improved. Cardiac xenotransplantation from genetically multi-modified (GM) organ-source pigs is an emerging new option as demonstrated by the consistent long-term success of heterotopic (non-life-supporting) abdominal and life-supporting orthotopic porcine heart transplantation in baboons, and by a recent 'compassionate use' transplant of the heart from a GM pig with 10 modifications into a terminally ill patient who survived for 2 months. In this review, we discuss pig heart xenotransplantation as a concept, including pathobiological aspects related to immune rejection, coagulation dysregulation, and detrimental overgrowth of the heart, as well as GM strategies in pigs to prevent or minimize these problems. Additional topics discussed include relevant results of heterotopic and orthotopic heart transplantation experiments in the pig-to-baboon model, microbiological and virologic safety concepts, and efficacy requirements for initiating formal clinical trials. An adequate regulatory and ethical framework as well as stringent criteria for the selection of patients will be critical for the safe clinical development of cardiac xenotransplantation, which we expect will be clinically tested during the next few years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Reichart
- Walter Brendel Centre for Experimental Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - David K C Cooper
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Matthias Längin
- Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Ralf R Tönjes
- Division of Medical Biotechnology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen 63225, Germany
| | - Richard N Pierson
- Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Eckhard Wolf
- Gene Centre and Centre for Innovative Medical Models (CiMM), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich 81377, Germany
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7
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Mohiuddin MM, Singh AK, Goerlich CE. Preclinical rationale and current pathways to support the first human clinical trials in cardiac xenotransplantation. Hum Immunol 2023; 84:34-42. [PMID: 35851182 PMCID: PMC10154071 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2022.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Recent initiation of the first FDA-approved cardiac xenotransplantation suggests xenotransplantation could soon become a therapeutic option for patients unable to undergo allotransplantation. Until xenotransplantation is widely applied in clinical practice, consideration of benefit versus risk and approaches to management of clinical xenografts will based at least in part on observations made in experimental xenotransplantation in non-human primates. Indeed, the decision to proceed with clinical trials reflects significant progress in last few years in experimental solid organ and cellular xenotransplantation. Our laboratory at the NIH and now at University of Maryland contributed to this progress, with heterotopic cardiac xenografts surviving more than two years and life-supporting cardiac xenografts survival up to 9 months. Here we describe our contributions to the understanding of the mechanism of cardiac xenograft rejection and development of methods to overcome past hurdles, and finally we share our opinion on the remaining barriers to clinical translation. We also discuss how the first in human xenotransplants might be performed, recipients managed, and graft function monitored.
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8
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Niemann H. Xenotransplantate vom Schwein – ist das Ende des Organmangels
in Sicht? TRANSFUSIONSMEDIZIN 2022. [DOI: 10.1055/a-1814-8440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
ZusammenfassungUnter „Xenotransplantation“ wird die Übertragung von
funktionsfähigen Zellen, Geweben oder Organen zwischen verschiedenen
Spezies verstanden, insbesondere von Schweinen auf den Menschen. In den meisten
Industrieländern klafft eine große Lücke zwischen der
Anzahl geeigneter Spenderorgane und der Anzahl benötigter Transplantate.
Weltweit können nur etwa 10% des Organbedarfs durch Spenden
gedeckt werden. Eine erfolgreiche Xenotransplantation könnte diesen
Mangel mildern oder sogar weitgehend vermeiden. Das Schwein wird aus
verschiedenen Erwägungen heraus als am besten geeignete Spenderspezies
angesehen. Bei einer Übertragung porziner Organe auf Primaten treten
verschiedene immunologisch bedingte Abstoßungsreaktionen auf, die das
übertragene Organ innerhalb kurzer Zeit zerstören
können, wie die HAR (hyperakute Abstoßung), die AVR (akute
vaskuläre Abstoßung) und die spätere zelluläre
Abstoßung. Diese Abstoßungsreaktionen müssen durch
genetische Modifikationen im Schwein und eine geeignete immunsuppressive
Behandlung des Empfängers kontrolliert werden. Dazu müssen Tiere
mit mehrfachen genetischen Veränderungen produziert und im Hinblick auf
ihre Eignung für eine erfolgreiche Xenotransplantation geprüft
werden. Inzwischen können die HAR und auch die AVR durch Knockouts von
antigenen Oberflächenepitopen (z. B. αGal
[Galaktose-α1,3-Galaktose]) und transgene Expression humaner Gene mit
antiinflammatorischer, antiapoptotischer oder antikoagulativer Wirkung
zuverlässig kontrolliert werden. Nach orthotopen Transplantationen in
nicht humane Primaten konnten inzwischen mit Schweineherzen
Überlebensraten von bis zu 264 Tagen und mit porzinen Nieren von 435
Tagen erzielt werden. Eine Übertragung pathogener Erreger auf den
Empfänger kann bei Einhaltung einschlägiger
Hygienemaßnahmen ausgeschlossen werden. PERV (porzine endogene
Retroviren) können durch RNA-(Ribonukleinsäure-)Interferenz oder
Gen-Knockout ausgeschaltet werden. Sie stellen damit kein
Übertragungsrisiko für den Empfänger mehr dar. Anfang
2022 wurde in Baltimore (USA) ein Schweineherz mit 10 genetischen Modifikationen
auf einen Patienten mit schwerem Herzleiden übertragen, mit dem der
Empfänger 2 Monate offenbar ohne größere Probleme lebte.
Es wird erwartet, dass Xenotransplantate vom Schwein in absehbarer Zeit zur
klinischen Anwendungsreife kommen werden. Dazu werden klinische Versuche zur
systematischen Erfassung aller Auswirkungen solcher Transplantate auf den
Patienten sowie geeignete rechtliche und finanzielle Rahmenbedingungen
benötigt.
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9
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Stand der Technik und Durchbruch bei der kardialen Xenotransplantation. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR HERZ THORAX UND GEFASSCHIRURGIE 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00398-022-00534-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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10
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Goerlich CE, Singh AK, Griffith BP, Mohiuddin MM. The immunobiology and clinical use of genetically engineered porcine hearts for cardiac xenotransplantation. NATURE CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH 2022; 1:715-726. [PMID: 36895262 PMCID: PMC9994617 DOI: 10.1038/s44161-022-00112-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
A summary of the scientific rationale of the advancements that led to the first genetically modified pig-to-human cardiac xenotransplantation is lacking in a complex and rapidly evolving field. Here, we aim to aid the general readership in the understanding of the gradual progression of cardiac (xeno)transplantation research, the immunobiology of cardiac xenotransplantation (including the latest immunosuppression, cardiac preservation and genetic engineering required for successful transplantation) and the regulatory landscape related to the clinical application of cardiac xenotransplantation for people with end-stage heart failure. Finally, we provide an overview of the outcomes and lessons learned from the first genetically modified pig-to-human cardiac heart xenotransplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corbin E Goerlich
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Avneesh K Singh
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Bartley P Griffith
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Muhammad M Mohiuddin
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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11
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Litovsky SH, Foote JB, Jagdale A, Walcott G, Iwase H, Bikhet MH, Yamamoto T, Hansen-Estruch C, Ezzelarab MB, Ayares D, Carlo WF, Rhodes LA, Crawford JH, Borasino S, Dabal RJ, Padilla LA, Hara H, Cooper DK, Cleveland DC. Cardiac and Pulmonary Histopathology in Baboons Following Genetically-Engineered Pig Orthotopic Heart Transplantation. Ann Transplant 2022; 27:e935338. [PMID: 35789146 PMCID: PMC9270855 DOI: 10.12659/aot.935338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although improving, survival after pig orthotopic heart transplantation (OHTx) in baboons has been mixed and largely poor. The causes for the high incidence of early failure remain uncertain. MATERIAL AND METHODS We have carried out pig OHTx in 4 baboons. Two died or were euthanized within hours, and 2 survived for 3 and 8 months, respectively. There was evidence of a significant 'cytokine storm' in the immediate post-OHTx period with the elevations in IL-6 correlating closely with the final outcome. RESULTS All 4 baboons demonstrated features suggestive of respiratory dysfunction, including increased airway resistance, hypoxia, and tachypnea. Histopathological observations of pulmonary infiltration by neutrophils and, notably, eosinophils within vessels and in the perivascular and peribronchiolar space, with minimal cardiac pathology, suggested a role for early lung acute inflammation. In one, features suggestive of transfusion-related acute lung injury were present. The 2 longer-term survivors died of (i) a cardiac dysrhythmia with cellular infiltration around the conducting tissue (at 3 months), and (ii) mixed cellular and antibody-mediated rejection (at 8 months). CONCLUSIONS These initial findings indicate a potential role of acute lung injury early after OHTx. If this response can be prevented, increased survival may result, providing an opportunity to evaluate the factors affecting long-term survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvio H. Litovsky
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Jeremy B. Foote
- Department of Microbiology and Animal Resources Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Abhijit Jagdale
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Gregory Walcott
- Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Hayato Iwase
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Mohamed H. Bikhet
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Takayuki Yamamoto
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Christophe Hansen-Estruch
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Mohamed B. Ezzelarab
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Waldemar F. Carlo
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Leslie A. Rhodes
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Jack H. Crawford
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Santiago Borasino
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Robert J. Dabal
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Luz A. Padilla
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Hidetaka Hara
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - David K.C. Cooper
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - David C. Cleveland
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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12
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Singh AK, Goerlich CE, Shah AM, Zhang T, Tatarov I, Ayares D, Horvath KA, Mohiuddin MM. Cardiac Xenotransplantation: Progress in Preclinical Models and Prospects for Clinical Translation. Transpl Int 2022; 35:10171. [PMID: 35401039 PMCID: PMC8985160 DOI: 10.3389/ti.2022.10171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Survival of pig cardiac xenografts in a non-human primate (NHP) model has improved significantly over the last 4 years with the introduction of costimulation blockade based immunosuppression (IS) and genetically engineered (GE) pig donors. The longest survival of a cardiac xenograft in the heterotopic (HHTx) position was almost 3 years and only rejected when IS was stopped. Recent reports of cardiac xenograft survival in a life-sustaining orthotopic (OHTx) position for 6 months is a significant step forward. Despite these achievements, there are still several barriers to the clinical success of xenotransplantation (XTx). This includes the possible transmission of porcine pathogens with pig donors and continued xenograft growth after XTx. Both these concerns, and issues with additional incompatibilities, have been addressed recently with the genetic modification of pigs. This review discusses the spectrum of issues related to cardiac xenotransplantation, recent progress in preclinical models, and its feasibility for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avneesh K. Singh
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Corbin E. Goerlich
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Aakash M. Shah
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Tianshu Zhang
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Ivan Tatarov
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | | | - Keith A. Horvath
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Muhammad M. Mohiuddin
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Muhammad M. Mohiuddin,
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13
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Meier RPH. Invited commentary. Xenotransplantation 2022; 29:e12736. [PMID: 35166408 DOI: 10.1111/xen.12736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Raphael P H Meier
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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14
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Goerlich CE, Griffith B, Singh AK, Abdullah M, Singireddy S, Kolesnik I, Lewis B, Sentz F, Tatarov I, Hershfeld A, Zhang T, Strauss E, Odonkor P, Williams B, Tabatabai A, Bhutta A, Ayares D, Kaczorowski DJ, Mohiuddin MM. Blood Cardioplegia Induction, Perfusion Storage and Graft Dysfunction in Cardiac Xenotransplantation. Front Immunol 2021; 12:667093. [PMID: 34177906 PMCID: PMC8220198 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.667093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Perioperative cardiac xenograft dysfunction (PCXD) describes a rapidly developing loss of cardiac function after xenotransplantation. PCXD occurs despite genetic modifications to increase compatibility of the heart. We report on the incidence of PCXD using static preservation in ice slush following crystalloid or blood-based cardioplegia versus continuous cold perfusion with XVIVO© heart solution (XHS) based cardioplegia. Methods Baboons were weight matched to genetically engineered swine heart donors. Cardioplegia volume was 30 cc/kg by donor weight, with del Nido cardioplegia and the addition of 25% by volume of donor whole blood. Continuous perfusion was performed using an XVIVO © Perfusion system with XHS to which baboon RBCs were added. Results PCXD was observed in 5/8 that were preserved with crystalloid cardioplegia followed by traditional cold, static storage on ice. By comparison, when blood cardioplegia was used followed by cold, static storage, PCXD occurred in 1/3 hearts and only in 1/5 hearts that were induced with XHS blood cardioplegia followed by continuous perfusion. Survival averaged 17 hours in those with traditional preservation and storage, followed by 11.47 days and 15.03 days using blood cardioplegia and XHS+continuous preservation, respectively. Traditional preservation resulted in more inotropic support and higher average peak serum lactate 14.3±1.7 mmol/L compared to blood cardioplegia 3.6±3.0 mmol/L and continuous perfusion 3.5±1.5 mmol/L. Conclusion Blood cardioplegia induction, alone or followed by XHS perfusion storage, reduced the incidence of PCXD and improved graft function and survival, relative to traditional crystalloid cardioplegia-slush storage alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corbin E Goerlich
- Department of Surgery, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Bartley Griffith
- Department of Surgery, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Avneesh K Singh
- Department of Surgery, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Mohamed Abdullah
- Department of Surgery, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Shreya Singireddy
- Department of Surgery, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Irina Kolesnik
- Department of Surgery, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Billeta Lewis
- Department of Surgery, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Faith Sentz
- Department of Surgery, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Ivan Tatarov
- Department of Surgery, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Alena Hershfeld
- Department of Surgery, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Tianshu Zhang
- Department of Surgery, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Erik Strauss
- Department of Surgery, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Patrick Odonkor
- Department of Surgery, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Brittney Williams
- Department of Surgery, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Ali Tabatabai
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Adnan Bhutta
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | | | - David J Kaczorowski
- Department of Surgery, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Muhammad M Mohiuddin
- Department of Surgery, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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15
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Denner J. Porcine Lymphotropic Herpesviruses (PLHVs) and Xenotranplantation. Viruses 2021; 13:1072. [PMID: 34199939 PMCID: PMC8229715 DOI: 10.3390/v13061072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Porcine lymphotropic herpesviruses -1, -2 and -3 (PLHV-1, PLHV-2 and PLHV-3) are gammaherpesviruses which are widespread in pigs. They are closely related to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus, both of which cause severe diseases in humans. PLHVs are also related to bovine and ovine gammaherpesviruses, which are apathogenic in the natural host, but cause severe diseases after transmission into other species. Until now, no association between PLHVs and any pig diseases had been described. However, PLHV-1 causes a post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) after experimental transplantations in minipigs. This disorder is similar to human PTLD, a serious complication of solid human organ transplantation linked to EBV. Xenotransplantation using pig cells, tissues and organs is under development in order to alleviate the shortage of human transplants. Meanwhile, remarkable survival times of pig xenotransplants in non-human primates have been achieved. In these preclinical trials, another pig herpesvirus, the porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV), a roseolovirus, was shown to significantly reduce the survival time of pig xenotransplants in baboons and other non-human primates. Although PLHV-1 was found in genetically modified donor pigs used in preclinical xenotransplantation, it was, in contrast to PCMV, not transmitted to the recipient. Nevertheless, it seems important to use PLHV-free donor pigs in order to achieve safe xenotransplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Denner
- Institute of Virology, Free University, 14163 Berlin, Germany
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16
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Thompson CP, Jagdale A, Walcott G, Iwase H, Foote JB, Cron RQ, Hara H, Cleveland DC, Cooper DKC. A perspective on the potential detrimental role of inflammation in pig orthotopic heart xenotransplantation. Xenotransplantation 2021; 28:e12687. [PMID: 33786912 DOI: 10.1111/xen.12687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
There is a critical shortage of deceased human donor organs for transplantation. The need is perhaps most acute in neonates and infants with life-threatening congenital heart disease, in whom mechanical support devices are largely unsuccessful. If orthotopic (life-supporting) heart transplantation (OHTx) were consistently successful in the genetically engineered pig-to-nonhuman primate (NHP) model, a clinical trial of bridging with a pig heart in such patients might be justified. However, the results of pig OHTx in NHPs have been mixed and largely poor. We hypothesise that a factor is the detrimental effects of the inflammatory response that is known to develop (a) during any surgical procedure that requires cardiopulmonary bypass, and (b) immediately after an NHP recipient is exposed to a pig xenograft. We suggest that the combination of these two inflammatory responses has a direct detrimental effect on pig heart graft function, but also, and possibly of more importance, on recipient baboon pulmonary function, which further impacts survival of the pig heart graft. In addition, the inflammatory response almost certainly adversely impacts the immune response to the graft. If our hypothesis is correct, the potential steps that could be taken to reduce the inflammatory response or its effects (with varying degrees of efficacy) include (a) white blood cell filtration, (b) complement depletion or inactivation, (c) immunosuppressive therapy, (d) high-dose corticosteroid therapy, (e) cytokine/chemokine-targeted therapy, (f) ultrafiltration or CytoSorb hemoperfusion, (g) reduction in the levels of endogenous catecholamines, (h) triiodothyronine therapy and (i) genetic engineering of the organ-source pig. Prevention of the inflammatory response, or attenuation of its effects, by judicious anti-inflammatory therapy may contribute not only to early survival of the recipient of a genetically engineered pig OHTx, but also to improved long-term pig heart graft survival. This would open the possibility of initiating a clinical trial of genetically engineered pig OHTx as a bridge to allotransplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles P Thompson
- Xenotransplantation Program, Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Abhijit Jagdale
- Xenotransplantation Program, Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Gregory Walcott
- Department of Medicine/Cardiovascular Diseases, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Hayato Iwase
- Xenotransplantation Program, Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Jeremy B Foote
- Department of Microbiology and Animal Resources Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Randall Q Cron
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Hidetaka Hara
- Xenotransplantation Program, Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - David C Cleveland
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Alabama, and Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - David K C Cooper
- Xenotransplantation Program, Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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17
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The resurgent landscape of xenotransplantation of pig organs in nonhuman primates. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2020; 64:697-708. [PMID: 32975720 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-019-1806-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Organ shortage is a major bottleneck in allotransplantation and causes many wait-listed patients to die or become too sick for transplantation. Genetically engineered pigs have been discussed as a potential alternative to allogeneic donor organs. Although xenotransplantation of pig-derived organs in nonhuman primates (NHPs) has shown sequential advances in recent years, there are still underlying problems that need to be completely addressed before clinical applications, including (i) acute humoral xenograft rejection; (ii) acute cellular rejection; (iii) dysregulation of coagulation and inflammation; (iv) physiological incompatibility; and (v) cross-species infection. Moreover, various genetic modifications to the pig donor need to be fully characterized, with the aim of identifying the ideal transgene combination for upcoming clinical trials. In addition, suitable pretransplant screening methods need to be confirmed for optimal donor-recipient matching, ensuring a good outcome from xenotransplantation. Herein, we summarize the understanding of organ xenotransplantation in pigs-to-NHPs and highlight the current status and recent progress in extending the survival time of pig xenografts and recipients. We also discuss practical strategies for overcoming the obstacles to xenotransplantation mentioned above to further advance transplantation of pig organs in the clinic.
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18
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Heterotopic Porcine Cardiac Xenotransplantation in the Intra-Abdominal Position in a Non-Human Primate Model. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10709. [PMID: 32612124 PMCID: PMC7329828 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66430-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterotopic cardiac transplantation in the intra-abdominal position in a large animal model has been essential in the progression of the field of cardiac transplantation. Our group has over 10 years of experience in cardiac xenotransplantation with pig to baboon models, the longest xenograft of which survived over 900 days, with rejection only after reducing immunosuppression. This article aims to clarify our approach to this model in order to allow others to share success in long-term survival. Here, we demonstrate the approach to implantation of a cardiac graft into the intra-abdominal position in a baboon recipient for the study of transplantation and briefly highlight our model's ability to provide insight into not only xenotransplantation but across disciplines. We include details that have provided us with consistent success in this model; performance of the anastomoses, de-airing of the graft, implantation of a long-term telemetry device for invasive graft monitoring, and ideal geometric positioning of the heart and telemetry device in the limited space of the recipient abdomen. We additionally detail surveillance techniques to assess long-term graft function.
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19
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Shu S, Ren J, Song J. Cardiac xenotransplantation: a promising way to treat advanced heart failure. Heart Fail Rev 2020; 27:71-91. [DOI: 10.1007/s10741-020-09989-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Considerable advancements have been made in the field of cardiac xenotransplantation in the recent years, achieving prolonged survival of the life-supporting cardiac xenograft and paving the way toward first clinical implications. RECENT FINDINGS The combination of genetic modifications and novel immunosuppression with costimulation blockade, as well as supporting therapy with antiinflammatory treatment, growth prevention, and adaptation of the heart procurement system to reduce myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury improves the overall cardiac xenograft function and overall survival in nonhuman primates. Through the newly identified xenoantigens and novel gene-editing techniques, further genetic modification of the porcine xenografts should be explored, to ensure clinical safety. SUMMARY With continuous progress in all fields of cardiac xenotransplantation, first clinical use in humans seems accomplishable. To ensure the clinical safety and to conform to the ethical regulations, further investigation of the infectious and immunological implications on humans should be explored prior to first clinical use. The first clinical use of cardiac xenotransplantation will be limited to only highly selected patients.
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21
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Lu T, Yang B, Wang R, Qin C. Xenotransplantation: Current Status in Preclinical Research. Front Immunol 2020; 10:3060. [PMID: 32038617 PMCID: PMC6989439 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.03060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing life expectancy of humans has led to a growing numbers of patients with chronic diseases and end-stage organ failure. Transplantation is an effective approach for the treatment of end-stage organ failure; however, the imbalance between organ supply and the demand for human organs is a bottleneck for clinical transplantation. Therefore, xenotransplantation might be a promising alternative approach to bridge the gap between the supply and demand of organs, tissues, and cells; however, immunological barriers are limiting factors in clinical xenotransplantation. Thanks to advances in gene-editing tools and immunosuppressive therapy as well as the prolonged xenograft survival time in pig-to-non-human primate models, clinical xenotransplantation has become more viable. In this review, we focus on the evolution and current status of xenotransplantation research, including our current understanding of the immunological mechanisms involved in xenograft rejection, genetically modified pigs used for xenotransplantation, and progress that has been made in developing pig-to-pig-to-non-human primate models. Three main types of rejection can occur after xenotransplantation, which we discuss in detail: (1) hyperacute xenograft rejection, (2) acute humoral xenograft rejection, and (3) acute cellular rejection. Furthermore, in studies on immunological rejection, genetically modified pigs have been generated to bridge cross-species molecular incompatibilities; in the last decade, most advances made in the field of xenotransplantation have resulted from the production of genetically engineered pigs; accordingly, we summarize the genetically modified pigs that are currently available for xenotransplantation. Next, we summarize the longest survival time of solid organs in preclinical models in recent years, including heart, liver, kidney, and lung xenotransplantation. Overall, we conclude that recent achievements and the accumulation of experience in xenotransplantation mean that the first-in-human clinical trial could be possible in the near future. Furthermore, we hope that xenotransplantation and various approaches will be able to collectively solve the problem of human organ shortage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Lu
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, The Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Critical Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Bochao Yang
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, The Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Critical Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Ruolin Wang
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, The Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Critical Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Chuan Qin
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, The Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.,Beijing Engineering Research Center for Experimental Animal Models of Human Critical Diseases, Beijing, China
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22
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Abstract
There is a well-known worldwide shortage of deceased human donor organs for clinical transplantation. The transplantation of organs from genetically engineered pigs may prove an alternative solution. In the past 5 years, there have been sequential advances that have significantly increased pig graft survival in nonhuman primates. This progress has been associated with (1) the availability of increasingly sophisticated genetically engineered pigs; (2) the introduction of novel immunosuppressive agents, particularly those that block the second T-cell signal (costimulation blockade); (3) a better understanding of the inflammatory response to pig xenografts; and (4) increasing experience in the management of nonhuman primates with pig organ or cell grafts. The range of investigations required in experimental studies has increased. The standard immunologic assays are still carried out, but increasingly investigations aimed toward other pathobiologic barriers (e.g., coagulation dysregulation and inflammation) have become more important in determining injury to the graft.Now that prolonged graft survival, extending to months or even years, is increasingly being obtained, the function of the grafts can be more reliably assessed. If the source pigs are bred and housed under biosecure isolation conditions, and weaned early from the sow, most microorganisms can be eradicated from the herd. The potential risk of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) infection remains unknown, but is probably small. Attention is being directed toward the selection of patients for the first clinical trials of xenotransplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David K C Cooper
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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23
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DiChiacchio L, Singh AK, Lewis B, Zhang T, Hardy N, Pasrija C, Morales D, Odonkor P, Strauss E, Williams B, Deatrick KB, Kaczorowski DJ, Ayares D, Griffith BP, Bartlett ST, Mohiuddin MM. Early Experience With Preclinical Perioperative Cardiac Xenograft Dysfunction in a Single Program. Ann Thorac Surg 2019; 109:1357-1361. [PMID: 31589847 DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2019.08.090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perioperative cardiac xenograft dysfunction (PCXD) was described by McGregor and colleagues as a major barrier to the translation of heterotopic cardiac xenotransplantation into the orthotopic position. It is characterized by graft dysfunction in the absence of rejection within 24 to 48 hours of transplantation. We describe our experience with PCXD at a single program. METHODS Orthotopic transplantation of genetically engineered pig hearts was performed in 6 healthy baboons. The immunosuppression regimen included induction by anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (mAb), thymoglobulin, cobra venom factor, and anti-CD40 mAb, and maintenance with anti-CD40 mAb, mycophenolate mofetil, and tapering doses of steroids. Telemetry was used to assess graft function. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was used to support 1 recipient. A full human clinical transplantation team was involved in these experiments and the procedure was performed by skilled transplantation surgeons. RESULTS A maximal survival of 40 hours was achieved in these experiments. The surgical procedures were uneventful, and all hearts were weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass without issue. Support with inotropes and vasopressors was generally required after separation from cardiopulmonary bypass. The cardiac xenografts performed well immediately, but within the first several hours they required increasing support and ultimately resulted in arrest despite maximal interventions. All hearts were explanted immediately; histology showed no signs of rejection. CONCLUSIONS Despite excellent surgical technique, uneventful weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass, and adequate initial function, orthotopic cardiac xenografts slowly fail within 24 to 48 hours without evidence of rejection. Modification of preservation techniques and minimizing donor organ ischemic time may be able to ameliorate PCXD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura DiChiacchio
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Avneesh K Singh
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland Baltimore, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Billeta Lewis
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland Baltimore, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Tianshu Zhang
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland Baltimore, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Naomi Hardy
- Department of Pathology, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Chetan Pasrija
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - David Morales
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Patrick Odonkor
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Erik Strauss
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Brittney Williams
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | - David J Kaczorowski
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | - Bartley P Griffith
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Stephen T Bartlett
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Muhammad M Mohiuddin
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland.
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25
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Längin M, Mayr T, Reichart B, Michel S, Buchholz S, Guethoff S, Dashkevich A, Baehr A, Egerer S, Bauer A, Mihalj M, Panelli A, Issl L, Ying J, Fresch AK, Buttgereit I, Mokelke M, Radan J, Werner F, Lutzmann I, Steen S, Sjöberg T, Paskevicius A, Qiuming L, Sfriso R, Rieben R, Dahlhoff M, Kessler B, Kemter E, Kurome M, Zakhartchenko V, Klett K, Hinkel R, Kupatt C, Falkenau A, Reu S, Ellgass R, Herzog R, Binder U, Wich G, Skerra A, Ayares D, Kind A, Schönmann U, Kaup FJ, Hagl C, Wolf E, Klymiuk N, Brenner P, Abicht JM. Consistent success in life-supporting porcine cardiac xenotransplantation. Nature 2018; 564:430-433. [PMID: 30518863 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0765-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 314] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Heart transplantation is the only cure for patients with terminal cardiac failure, but the supply of allogeneic donor organs falls far short of the clinical need1-3. Xenotransplantation of genetically modified pig hearts has been discussed as a potential alternative4. Genetically multi-modified pig hearts that lack galactose-α1,3-galactose epitopes (α1,3-galactosyltransferase knockout) and express a human membrane cofactor protein (CD46) and human thrombomodulin have survived for up to 945 days after heterotopic abdominal transplantation in baboons5. This model demonstrated long-term acceptance of discordant xenografts with safe immunosuppression but did not predict their life-supporting function. Despite 25 years of extensive research, the maximum survival of a baboon after heart replacement with a porcine xenograft was only 57 days and this was achieved, to our knowledge, only once6. Here we show that α1,3-galactosyltransferase-knockout pig hearts that express human CD46 and thrombomodulin require non-ischaemic preservation with continuous perfusion and control of post-transplantation growth to ensure long-term orthotopic function of the xenograft in baboons, the most stringent preclinical xenotransplantation model. Consistent life-supporting function of xenografted hearts for up to 195 days is a milestone on the way to clinical cardiac xenotransplantation7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Längin
- Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Transregional Collaborative Research Center 127, Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Tanja Mayr
- Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Transregional Collaborative Research Center 127, Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Bruno Reichart
- Transregional Collaborative Research Center 127, Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
| | - Sebastian Michel
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Buchholz
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sonja Guethoff
- Transregional Collaborative Research Center 127, Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Alexey Dashkevich
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Andrea Baehr
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefanie Egerer
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Bauer
- Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Maks Mihalj
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Alessandro Panelli
- Transregional Collaborative Research Center 127, Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lara Issl
- Transregional Collaborative Research Center 127, Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jiawei Ying
- Transregional Collaborative Research Center 127, Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ann Kathrin Fresch
- Transregional Collaborative Research Center 127, Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ines Buttgereit
- Transregional Collaborative Research Center 127, Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Maren Mokelke
- Transregional Collaborative Research Center 127, Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Julia Radan
- Transregional Collaborative Research Center 127, Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Fabian Werner
- Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Isabelle Lutzmann
- Transregional Collaborative Research Center 127, Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Stig Steen
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Lund University and Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Trygve Sjöberg
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Lund University and Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Audrius Paskevicius
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Lund University and Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Liao Qiuming
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Lund University and Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Riccardo Sfriso
- Department for BioMedical Research (DMBR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Robert Rieben
- Department for BioMedical Research (DMBR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Maik Dahlhoff
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Barbara Kessler
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Kemter
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Mayuko Kurome
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Valeri Zakhartchenko
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Katharina Klett
- I. Medizinische Klinik, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Rabea Hinkel
- I. Medizinische Klinik, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Kupatt
- I. Medizinische Klinik, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Almuth Falkenau
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Simone Reu
- Institute of Pathology, Medical Faculty, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Reinhard Ellgass
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Rudolf Herzog
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | | | - Arne Skerra
- Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science (CIPS-M) and Lehrstuhl für Biologische Chemie, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Alexander Kind
- Chair of Livestock Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | | | - Christian Hagl
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Eckhard Wolf
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Nikolai Klymiuk
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Paolo Brenner
- Transregional Collaborative Research Center 127, Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jan-Michael Abicht
- Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Transregional Collaborative Research Center 127, Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
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Denner J. Reduction of the survival time of pig xenotransplants by porcine cytomegalovirus. Virol J 2018; 15:171. [PMID: 30409210 PMCID: PMC6225623 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-018-1088-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/28/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Xenotransplantation using pig cells, tissues and organs may help to overcome the shortage of human tissues and organs for the treatment of tissue and organ failure. Progress in the prevention of immunological rejection using genetically modified pigs and new, more effective, immunosuppression regimens will allow clinical application of xenotransplantation in near future. However, xenotransplantation may be associated with the transmission of potentially zoonotic porcine microorganisms. Until now the only xenotransplantation-associated transmission was the transmission of the porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV) into non-human primates. PCMV caused a significant reduction of the survival time of the pig transplant. Main body of the abstract Here the available publications were analysed in order to establish the mechanism how PCMV shortened the survival time of xenotransplants. PCMV is a herpesvirus related to the human cytomegalovirus and the human herpesviruses 6 and 7. These three human herpesviruses can cause serious disease among immunocompromised human individuals, including transplant recipients. It was shown that PCMV predominantly contributes to the reduction of transplant survival in non-human primates by disruption of the coagulation system and by suppression and exhaustion of the immune system. Conclusion Although it is still unknown whether PCMV infects primate cells including human cells, indirect mechanism of the virus infection may cause reduction of the xenotransplant survival in future clinical trials and therefore PCMV has to be eliminated from donor pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Denner
- Robert Koch Fellow, Robert Koch Institute, Nordufer 20, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
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27
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Byrne GW. Does human leukocyte antigens sensitization matter for xenotransplantation? Xenotransplantation 2018; 25:e12411. [PMID: 29913037 DOI: 10.1111/xen.12411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The major histocompatibility complex class I and class II human leukocyte antigens (HLA) play a central role in adaptive immunity but are also the dominant polymorphic proteins targeted in allograft rejection. Sensitized patients with high levels of panel-reactive anti-HLA antibody (PRA) are at risk of early allograft injury, rejection, reduced allograft survival and often experience prolonged waiting times prior to transplantation. Xenotransplantation, using genetically modified porcine organs, offers a unique source of donor organs for these highly sensitized patients if the anti-HLA antibody, which places the allograft at risk, does not also enhance anti-pig antibody reactivity responsible for xenograft rejection. Recent improvements in xenotransplantation efficacy have occurred due to improved immune suppression, identification of additional xenogeneic glycans, and continued improvements in donor pig genetic modification. Genetically engineered pig cells, devoid of the known xenogeneic glycans, minimize human antibody reactivity in 90% of human serum samples. For waitlisted patients, early comparisons of patient PRA and anti-pig antibody reactivity found no correlation suggesting that patients with high PRA levels were not at increased risk of xenograft rejection. Subsequent studies have found that some, but not all, highly sensitized patients express anti-HLA class I antibody which cross-reacts with swine leukocyte antigen (SLA) class I proteins. Recent detailed antigen-specific analysis suggests that porcine-specific anti-SLA antibody from sensitized patients binds cross-reactive groups present in a limited subset of HLA antigens. This suggests that using modern genetic methods, a program to eliminate specific SLA alleles through donor genetic engineering or stringent donor selection is possible to minimize recipient antibody reactivity even for highly sensitized individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guerard W Byrne
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, London, UK.,Department of Surgery, University of Alabama, Birmingham, UK
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28
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Abstract
The growing shortage of available organs is a major problem in transplantology. Thus, new and alternative sources of organs need to be found. One promising solution could be xenotransplantation, i.e., the use of animal cells, tissues and organs. The domestic pig is the optimum donor for such transplants. However, xenogeneic transplantation from pigs to humans involves high immune incompatibility and a complex rejection process. The rapid development of genetic engineering techniques enables genome modifications in pigs that reduce the cross-species immune barrier.
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29
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Wang L, Cooper DKC, Burdorf L, Wang Y, Iwase H. Overcoming Coagulation Dysregulation in Pig Solid Organ Transplantation in Nonhuman Primates: Recent Progress. Transplantation 2018; 102:1050-1058. [PMID: 29538262 PMCID: PMC7228622 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000002171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Revised: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
There has recently been considerable progress in the results of pig organ transplantation in nonhuman primates, largely associated with the availability of (i) pigs genetically engineered to overcome coagulation dysregulation, and (ii) novel immunosuppressive agents. The barriers of thrombotic microangiopathy and/or consumptive coagulation were believed to be associated with (i) activation of the graft vascular endothelial cells by a low level of antipig antibody binding and/or complement deposition and/or innate immune cell activity, and (ii) molecular incompatibilities between the nonhuman primate and pig coagulation-anticoagulation systems. The introduction of a human coagulation-regulatory transgene, for example, thrombomodulin, endothelial protein C receptor, into the pig vascular endothelial cells has contributed to preventing a procoagulant state from developing, resulting in a considerable increase in graft survival. In the heterotopic (non-life-supporting) heart transplant model, graft survival has increased from a maximum of 179 days in 2005 to 945 days. After life-supporting kidney transplantation, survival has been extended from 90 days in 2004 to 499 days. In view of the more complex coagulation dysfunction seen after pig liver and, particularly, lung transplantation, progress has been less dramatic, but the maximum survival of a pig liver has been increased from 7 days in 2010 to 29 days, and of a pig lung from 4 days in 2007 to 9 days. There is a realistic prospect that the transplantation of a kidney or heart, in combination with a conventional immunosuppressive regimen, will enable long-term recipient survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liaoran Wang
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL
- Second Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang City, Hunan, China
| | - David K C Cooper
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL
| | - Lars Burdorf
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Maryland, Baltimore VAMC, Baltimore, MD
| | - Yi Wang
- Second Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang City, Hunan, China
| | - Hayato Iwase
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL
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30
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Chan JL, Miller JG, Singh AK, Horvath KA, Corcoran PC, Mohiuddin MM. Consideration of appropriate clinical applications for cardiac xenotransplantation. Clin Transplant 2018; 32:e13330. [DOI: 10.1111/ctr.13330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua L. Chan
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Program/National Heart; Lung and Blood Institute; National Institutes of Health; Bethesda MD USA
| | - Justin G. Miller
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Program/National Heart; Lung and Blood Institute; National Institutes of Health; Bethesda MD USA
| | - Avneesh K. Singh
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Program/National Heart; Lung and Blood Institute; National Institutes of Health; Bethesda MD USA
| | - Keith A. Horvath
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Program/National Heart; Lung and Blood Institute; National Institutes of Health; Bethesda MD USA
| | - Philip C. Corcoran
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Program/National Heart; Lung and Blood Institute; National Institutes of Health; Bethesda MD USA
| | - Muhammad M. Mohiuddin
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Program/National Heart; Lung and Blood Institute; National Institutes of Health; Bethesda MD USA
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31
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Meier RPH, Muller YD, Balaphas A, Morel P, Pascual M, Seebach JD, Buhler LH. Xenotransplantation: back to the future? Transpl Int 2018; 31:465-477. [PMID: 29210109 DOI: 10.1111/tri.13104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Revised: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 11/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The field of xenotransplantation has fluctuated between great optimism and doubts over the last 50 years. The initial clinical attempts were extremely ambitious but faced technical and ethical issues that prompted the research community to go back to preclinical studies. Important players left the field due to perceived xenozoonotic risks and the lack of progress in pig-to-nonhuman-primate transplant models. Initial apparently unsurmountable issues appear now to be possible to overcome due to progress of genetic engineering, allowing the generation of multiple-xenoantigen knockout pigs that express human transgenes and the genomewide inactivation of porcine endogenous retroviruses. These important steps forward were made possible by new genome editing technologies, such as CRISPR/Cas9, allowing researchers to precisely remove or insert genes anywhere in the genome. An additional emerging perspective is the possibility of growing humanized organs in pigs using blastocyst complementation. This article summarizes the current advances in xenotransplantation research in nonhuman primates, and it describes the newly developed genome editing technology tools and interspecific organ generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael P H Meier
- Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Yannick D Muller
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medical Specialties, University Hospitals and Medical Faculty, Geneva, Switzerland.,Transplantation Center, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Balaphas
- Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Morel
- Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Manuel Pascual
- Transplantation Center, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jörg D Seebach
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medical Specialties, University Hospitals and Medical Faculty, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Leo H Buhler
- Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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33
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Cooper DKC, Cowan P, Fishman JA, Hering BJ, Mohiuddin MM, Pierson RN, Sachs DH, Schuurman HJ, Dennis JU, Tönjes RR. Joint FDA‐IXA Symposium, September 20, 2017. Xenotransplantation 2017; 24. [PMID: 29193342 DOI: 10.1111/xen.12365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- David K C Cooper
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Peter Cowan
- Immunology Research Centre, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jay A Fishman
- Infectious Disease Division and MGH Transplant Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bernhard J Hering
- Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Muhammad M Mohiuddin
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Richard N Pierson
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore VA Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David H Sachs
- Columbia University Medical Center, New York City, NY, USA.,Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - John U Dennis
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Ralf R Tönjes
- Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicines, Division of Medical Biotechnology, Langen, Germany
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Porcine to Human Heart Transplantation: Is Clinical Application Now Appropriate? J Immunol Res 2017; 2017:2534653. [PMID: 29238731 PMCID: PMC5697125 DOI: 10.1155/2017/2534653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac xenotransplantation (CXTx) is a promising solution to the chronic shortage of donor hearts. Recent advancements in immune suppression have greatly improved the survival of heterotopic CXTx, now extended beyond 2 years, and life-supporting kidney XTx. Advances in donor genetic modification (B4GALNT2 and CMAH mutations) with proven Gal-deficient donors expressing human complement regulatory protein(s) have also accelerated, reducing donor pig organ antigenicity. These advances can now be combined and tested in life-supporting orthotopic preclinical studies in nonhuman primates and immunologically appropriate models confirming their efficacy and safety for a clinical CXTx program. Preclinical studies should also allow for organ rejection to develop xenospecific assays and therapies to reverse rejection. The complexity of future clinical CXTx presents a substantial and unique set of regulatory challenges which must be addressed to avoid delay; however, dependent on these prospective life-supporting preclinical studies in NHPs, it appears that the scientific path forward is well defined and the era of clinical CXTx is approaching.
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Iwase H, Hara H, Ezzelarab M, Li T, Zhang Z, Gao B, Liu H, Long C, Wang Y, Cassano A, Klein E, Phelps C, Ayares D, Humar A, Wijkstrom M, Cooper DKC. Immunological and physiological observations in baboons with life-supporting genetically engineered pig kidney grafts. Xenotransplantation 2017; 24:10.1111/xen.12293. [PMID: 28303661 PMCID: PMC5397334 DOI: 10.1111/xen.12293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Revised: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetically engineered pigs could provide a source of kidneys for clinical transplantation. The two longest kidney graft survivals reported to date have been 136 and 310 days, but graft survival >30 days has been unusual until recently. METHODS Donor pigs (n=4) were on an α1,3-galactosyltransferase gene-knockout (GTKO)/human complement regulatory protein (CD46) background (GTKO/CD46). In addition, the pigs were transgenic for at least one human coagulation regulatory protein. Two baboons received a kidney from a six-gene pig (GroupA) and two from a three-gene pig (GroupB). Immunosuppressive therapy was identical in all four cases and consisted of anti-thymoglobulin (ATG)+anti-CD20mAb (induction) and anti-CD40mAb+rapamycin+corticosteroids (maintenance). Anti-TNF-α and anti-IL-6R mAbs were administered to reduce the inflammatory response. Baboons were followed by clinical/laboratory monitoring of immune/coagulation/inflammatory/physiological parameters. At biopsy or euthanasia, the grafts were examined by microscopy. RESULTS The two GroupA baboons remained healthy with normal renal function >7 and >8 months, respectively, but then developed infectious complications. However, no features of a consumptive coagulopathy, eg, thrombocytopenia and reduction of fibrinogen, or of a protein-losing nephropathy were observed. There was no evidence of an elicited anti-pig antibody response, and histology of biopsies taken at approximately 4, 6, and 7 months and at necropsy showed no significant abnormalities. In contrast, both GroupB baboons developed features of a consumptive coagulopathy and required euthanasia on day 12. CONCLUSIONS The combination of (i) a graft from a specific six-gene genetically modified pig, (ii) an effective immunosuppressive regimen, and (iii) anti-inflammatory therapy prevented immune injury, a protein-losing nephropathy, and coagulation dysfunction for >7 months. Although the number of experiments is very limited, our impression is that expression of human endothelial protein C receptor (±CD55) in the graft is important if coagulation dysregulation is to be avoided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayato Iwase
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Hidetaka Hara
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Mohamed Ezzelarab
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Tao Li
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for Kidney Transplantation, Second Affiliated Hospital of the University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Zhongqiang Zhang
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of General Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital of the Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Bingsi Gao
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for Kidney Transplantation, Second Affiliated Hospital of the University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Hong Liu
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of General Surgery, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Cassandra Long
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yi Wang
- Center for Kidney Transplantation, Second Affiliated Hospital of the University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Amy Cassano
- Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Edwin Klein
- Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | | | - Abhinav Humar
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Martin Wijkstrom
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - David K C Cooper
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Cooper DKC. Is successful orthotopic heart transplantation in the pig-to-non-human primate model required before proceeding to a clinical trial? Xenotransplantation 2016; 23:328-9. [PMID: 27412907 DOI: 10.1111/xen.12251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David K C Cooper
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Abstract
The availability of cells, tissues and organs from a non-human species such as the pig could, at least in theory, meet the demand of organs necessary for clinical transplantation. At this stage, the important goal of getting over the first year of survival has been reported for both cellular and solid organ xenotransplantation in relevant preclinical primate models. In addition, xenotransplantation is already in the clinic as shown by the broad use of animal-derived medical devices, such as bioprosthetic heart valves and biological materials used for surgical tissue repair. At this stage, however, prior to starting a wide-scale clinical application of xenotransplantation of viable cells and organs, the important obstacle represented by the humoral immune response will need to be overcome. Likewise, the barriers posed by the activation of the innate immune system and coagulative pathway will have to be controlled. As far as xenogeneic nonviable xenografts, increasing evidence suggests that considerable immune reactions, mediated by both innate and adaptive immunity, take place and influence the long-term outcome of xenogeneic materials in patients, possibly precluding the use of bioprosthetic heart valves in young individuals. In this context, the present article provides an overview of current knowledge on the immune processes following xenotransplantation and on the possible therapeutic interventions to overcome the immunological drawbacks involved in xenotransplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Vadori
- CORIT (Consortium for Research in Organ Transplantation), Via dell'Università 10, 35020 Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - E Cozzi
- CORIT (Consortium for Research in Organ Transplantation), Via dell'Università 10, 35020 Legnaro, Padua, Italy.,Transplant Immunology Unit, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Padua University Hospital, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padua, Italy
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Mohiuddin MM, Reichart B, Byrne GW, McGregor CGA. Current status of pig heart xenotransplantation. Int J Surg 2015; 23:234-239. [PMID: 26318967 PMCID: PMC4684783 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2015.08.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2015] [Revised: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 08/12/2015] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Significant progress in understanding and overcoming cardiac xenograft rejection using a clinically relevant large animal pig-to-baboon model has accelerated in recent years. This advancement is based on improved immune suppression, which attained more effective regulation of B lymphocytes and possibly newer donor genetics. These improvements have enhanced heterotopic cardiac xenograft survival from a few weeks to over 2 years, achieved intrathoracic heterotopic cardiac xenograft survival of 50 days and orthotopic survival of 57 days. This encouraging progress has rekindled interest in xenotransplantation research and refocused efforts on preclinical orthotopic cardiac xenotransplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bruno Reichart
- Walter-Brendel-Centre for Experimental Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Guerard W Byrne
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, London, UK; Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Christopher G A McGregor
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, London, UK; Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN, USA
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Cooper DKC, Satyananda V, Ekser B, van der Windt DJ, Hara H, Ezzelarab MB, Schuurman HJ. Progress in pig-to-non-human primate transplantation models (1998-2013): a comprehensive review of the literature. Xenotransplantation 2014; 21:397-419. [PMID: 25176336 DOI: 10.1111/xen.12127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2014] [Accepted: 06/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The pig-to-non-human primate model is the standard choice for in vivo studies of organ and cell xenotransplantation. In 1998, Lambrigts and his colleagues surveyed the entire world literature and reported all experimental studies in this model. With the increasing number of genetically engineered pigs that have become available during the past few years, this model is being utilized ever more frequently. METHODS We have now reviewed the literature again and have compiled the data we have been able to find for the period January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2013, a period of 16 yr. RESULTS The data are presented for transplants of the heart (heterotopic and orthotopic), kidney, liver, lung, islets, neuronal cells, hepatocytes, corneas, artery patches, and skin. Heart, kidney, and, particularly, islet xenograft survival have increased significantly since 1998. DISCUSSION The reasons for this are briefly discussed. A comment on the limitations of the model has been made, particularly with regard to those that will affect progression of xenotransplantation toward the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- David K C Cooper
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Byrne GW, Azimzadeh AM, Ezzelarab M, Tazelaar HD, Ekser B, Pierson RN, Robson SC, Cooper DKC, McGregor CGA. Histopathologic insights into the mechanism of anti-non-Gal antibody-mediated pig cardiac xenograft rejection. Xenotransplantation 2013; 20:292-307. [PMID: 25098626 PMCID: PMC4126170 DOI: 10.1111/xen.12050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2013] [Accepted: 07/31/2013] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The histopathology of cardiac xenograft rejection has evolved over the last 20 yr with the development of new modalities for limiting antibody-mediated injury, advancing regimens for immune suppression, and an ever-widening variety of new donor genetics. These new technologies have helped us progress from what was once an overwhelming anti-Gal-mediated hyperacute rejection to a more protracted anti-Gal-mediated vascular rejection to what is now a more complex manifestation of non-Gal humoral rejection and coagulation dysregulation. This review summarizes the changing histopathology of Gal- and non-Gal-mediated cardiac xenograft rejection and discusses the contributions of immune-mediated injury, species-specific immune-independent factors, transplant and therapeutic procedures, and donor genetics to the overall mechanism(s) of cardiac xenograft rejection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guerard W Byrne
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, London, UK; Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
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McGregor CGA, Ricci D, Miyagi N, Stalboerger PG, Du Z, Oehler EA, Tazelaar HD, Byrne GW. Human CD55 expression blocks hyperacute rejection and restricts complement activation in Gal knockout cardiac xenografts. Transplantation 2012; 93:686-92. [PMID: 22391577 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0b013e3182472850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transgenic expression of human complement regulatory proteins reduces the frequency of hyperacute rejection (HAR) in Gal-positive cardiac xenotransplantation. In this study, we examined the impact of human CD55 (hCD55) expression on a Gal knockout (GTKO) background using pig-to-primate heterotopic cardiac xenotransplantation. METHODS Cardiac xenotransplantation was performed with GTKO (group 1; n=6) and GTKO.hCD55 (group 2; n=5) donor pigs using similar immunosuppression. Cardiac biopsies were obtained 30 min after organ reperfusion. Rejection was characterized by histology and immunohistology. Intragraft gene expression, serum non-Gal antibody, and antibody recovered from rejected hearts were analyzed. RESULTS HAR of a GTKO heart was observed. Remaining grafts developed delayed xenograft rejection. Median survival was 21 and 28 days for groups 1 and 2, respectively. Vascular antibody deposition was uniformly detected 30 min after organ reperfusion and at explant. A higher frequency of vascular C5b deposition was seen in GTKO organs at explant. Serum non-Gal antibody, antibody recovered from the graft, and intragraft gene expression were similar between the groups. CONCLUSION HAR of GTKO hearts without hCD55 may occur. Expression of hCD55 seemed to restrict local complement activation but did not improve graft survival. Chronic vascular antibody deposition with evidence of protracted endothelial cell activation was seen. These observations suggest that non-Gal antibody-induced chronic endothelial cell activation coupled to possible hemostatic incompatibilities may be the primary stimulus for delayed xenograft rejection of GTKO hearts. To avoid possible HAR, future clinical studies should use donors expressing human complement regulatory proteins in the GTKO background.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Cardiac xenotransplantation (CXTx) remains a promising approach to alleviate the chronic shortage of donor hearts. This review summarizes recent results of heterotopic and orthotopic CXTx, highlights the role of non-Gal antibody in xenograft rejection, and discusses challenges to clinical orthotopic CXTx. RECENT FINDINGS Pigs mutated in the α 1,3 galactosyltransferase gene (GTKO pigs) are devoid of the galactose α1,3 galactose (αGal) carbohydrate antigen. This situation effectively eliminates any role for anti-Gal antibody in GTKO cardiac xenograft rejection. Survival of heterotopic GTKO cardiac xenografts in nonhuman primates continues to increase. GTKO graft rejection commonly involves vascular antibody deposition and variable complement deposition. Non-Gal antibody responses to porcine antigens associated with inflammation, complement, and hemostatic regulation and to new carbohydrate antigens have been identified. Their contribution to rejection remains under investigation. Orthotopic CXTx is limited by early perioperative cardiac xenograft dysfunction (PCXD). However, hearts affected by PCXD recover full cardiac function and orthotopic survival up to 2 months without rejection has been reported. SUMMARY CXTx remains a promising technology for treating end-stage cardiac failure. Genetic modification of the donor and refinement of immunosuppressive regimens have extended heterotopic cardiac xenograft survival from minutes to in excess of 8 months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guerard W Byrne
- University College London, Institute for Cardiovascular Sciences, London, UK.
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Almiñana C, Fazeli A. Exploring the application of high-throughput genomics technologies in the field of maternal-embryo communication. Theriogenology 2012; 77:717-37. [PMID: 22217573 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2011.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2011] [Revised: 08/30/2011] [Accepted: 09/02/2011] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Deciphering the complex molecular dialogue between the maternal tract and embryo is crucial to increasing our understanding of pregnancy failure, infertility problems and in the modulation of embryo development, which has consequences through adulthood. High-throughput genomic technologies have been applied to look for a holistic view of the molecular interactions occurring during this dialogue. Among these technologies, microarrays have been widely used, being one of the most popular tools in maternal-embryo communication. Today, next generation sequencing technologies are dwarfing the capabilities of microarrays. The application of these new technologies has broadened to almost all areas of genomics research, because of their massive sequencing capacity. We review the current status of high-throughput genomic technologies and their application to maternal-embryo communication research. We also survey next generation technologies and their huge potential in many research areas. Given the diversity of unanswered questions in the field of maternal-embryo communication and the wide range of possibilities that these technologies offer, here we discuss future perspectives on the use of these technologies to enhance maternal-embryo research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Almiñana
- Academic Unit of Reproductive and Development Medicine, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
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Schneider MKJ, Seebach JD. Xenotransplantation literature update, January-February 2011. Xenotransplantation 2011; 18:147-50. [PMID: 21496121 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-3089.2011.00630.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mårten K J Schneider
- Laboratory of Vascular Immunology, Division of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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