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Huibers MMH, Gareau AJ, Beerthuijzen JMT, Siera-de Koning E, van Kuik J, Kamburova EG, Vink A, de Jonge N, Lee TDG, Otten HG, de Weger RA. Donor-Specific Antibodies Are Produced Locally in Ectopic Lymphoid Structures in Cardiac Allografts. Am J Transplant 2017; 17:246-254. [PMID: 27428759 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.13969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Revised: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 07/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a transplant pathology, limiting graft survival after heart transplantation. CAV arteries are surrounded by ectopic lymphoid structures (ELS) containing B cells and plasma cells. The aim of this study was to characterize the antigenic targets of antibodies produced in ELS. Coronary arteries and surrounding epicardial tissue from 56 transplant recipients were collected during autopsy. Immunofluorescence was used to identify antibody-producing plasma cells. Immunoglobulin levels in tissue lysates were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and analyzed for donor-specific HLA antibodies by Luminex assay. Cytokine and receptor expression levels were quantified using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Plasma cells in ELS were polyclonal and produced IgG and/or IgM antibodies. In epicardial tissue, IgG (p < 0.05) and IgM levels were higher in transplant patients with larger ELS than smaller ELS. In 4 of 21 (19%) patients with ELS, donor-specific HLA type II antibodies were detected locally. Cytokine and receptor expression (CXCR3, interferon γ and TGF-β) was higher in large ELS in the epicardial tissue than in other vessel wall layers, suggesting active recruitment and proliferation of T and B lymphocytes. ELS exhibited active plasma cells producing locally manufactured antibodies that, in some cases, were directed against the donor HLA, potentially mediating rejection with major consequences for the graft.
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Affiliation(s)
- M M H Huibers
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - A J Gareau
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - J M T Beerthuijzen
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - E Siera-de Koning
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - J van Kuik
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - E G Kamburova
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - A Vink
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - N de Jonge
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - T D G Lee
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.,Department of Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - H G Otten
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - R A de Weger
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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