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Tocilizumab in the Treatment of Chronic Antibody-Mediated Rejection Post Kidney Transplantation: Clinical and Histological Monitoring.

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Chronic antibody-mediated rejection (cAMR) has very few effective therapeutic options. Interleukin-6 is an attractive target because it is involved in inflammation and humoral immunity. Therefore, the use of tocilizumab (anti-IL6 receptor, TCZ) is a potential valuable therapeutic option to treat cABMR in kidney-transplant (KT) recipients. Materials and Methods: This single-center retrospective study included all KT recipients that received monthly TCZ infusions in the setting of cABMR, between August 2018 and July 2021. We assessed 12-month renal function and KT histology during follow-up. Results: Forty patients were included. At 12-months, eGFR was not significantly different, 41.6 ± 17 vs. 43 ± 17 mL/min/1.73 m² (p = 0.102) in patients with functional graft. Six patients (15%) lost their graft: their condition was clinically more severe at the time of first TCZ infusion. Histological follow-up showed no statistical difference in the scores of glomerulitis, peritubular capillaritis, and interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy (IFTA). Chronic glomerulopathy score however, increased significantly over time; conversely arteritis and inflammation in IFTA ares improved in follow-up biopsies. Conclusion: In our study, the addition of TCZ prevented clinical and histological worsening of cABMR in KT recipients, except for more severely ill patients. Randomized studies are needed to clarify the risk/benefit of TCZ in cABMR.

SUBMITTER: Noble J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8739887 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Chronic antibody-mediated rejection (CAMR) represents the main cause of kidney graft loss, but its pathogenesis is unclear. In order to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying this condition, we characterized the molecular signature of circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells and, separately, of CD4+ T lymphocytes isolated from CAMR patients compared to kidney transplant recipients with normal graft function and histology. In total peripheral lympho-monocytes, forty-five genes resulted differentially expressed between the two groups, most of them were up-regulated in CAMR and were involved in type I interferon signaling. In addition, in the same set of patients, 16 microRNAs resulted down-regulated in CAMR subjects compared to controls: 4 were predicted modulators of 6 mRNAs identified in the transcriptional analysis. In silico functional analysis supported the involvement of type I interferon signaling. To further confirm this hypothesis, we investigated the transcriptomic profiles of CD4+ T lymphocytes in an independent group of patients and we observed that the activation of type I interferon signaling was a specific hallmark of CAMR. In addition, in CAMR patients we detected a reduction of circulating BDCA2+ dendritic cells, the natural type I interferon- producing cells and their recruitment into the graft along with an increased expression of MXA, a type I interferon-induced protein, at tubulointerstitial and vascular level. In conclusion, our data suggest that type I interferon signaling may represent the molecular signature of CAMR. For microarray analysis, we studied 5 patients included into the control-group and 4 included into the study group. The control group was represented by renal transplant recipients undergoing protocol graft biopsies, with normal renal function and histology, in the absence of circulating anti-HLA antibodies. Study group patients showed clinical and histological evidence of CAMR according to Banff 2011 criteria.

Project description:Chronic antibody-mediated rejection (CAMR) represents the main cause of kidney graft loss, but its pathogenesis is unclear. In order to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying this condition, we characterized the molecular signature of circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells and, separately, of CD4+ T lymphocytes isolated from CAMR patients compared to kidney transplant recipients with normal graft function and histology. In total peripheral lympho-monocytes, forty-five genes resulted differentially expressed between the two groups, most of them were up-regulated in CAMR and were involved in type I interferon signaling. In addition, in the same set of patients, 16 microRNAs resulted down-regulated in CAMR subjects compared to controls: 4 were predicted modulators of 6 mRNAs identified in the transcriptional analysis. In silico functional analysis supported the involvement of type I interferon signaling. To further confirm this hypothesis, we investigated the transcriptomic profiles of CD4+ T lymphocytes in an independent group of patients and we observed that the activation of type I interferon signaling was a specific hallmark of CAMR. In addition, in CAMR patients we detected a reduction of circulating BDCA2+ dendritic cells, the natural type I interferon- producing cells and their recruitment into the graft along with an increased expression of MXA, a type I interferon-induced protein, at tubulointerstitial and vascular level. In conclusion, our data suggest that type I interferon signaling may represent the molecular signature of CAMR. For microarray analysis, we studied 8 patients included into the control-group and 10 included into the study group. The control group was represented by renal transplant recipients undergoing protocol graft biopsies, with normal renal function and histology, in the absence of circulating anti-HLA antibodies. Study group patients showed clinical and histological evidence of CAMR according to Banff 2011 criteria.

Project description:Chronic antibody-mediated rejection (CAMR) represents the main cause of kidney graft loss, but its pathogenesis is unclear. In order to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying this condition, we characterized the molecular signature of circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells and, separately, of CD4+ T lymphocytes isolated from CAMR patients compared to kidney transplant recipients with normal graft function and histology. In total peripheral lympho-monocytes, forty-five genes resulted differentially expressed between the two groups, most of them were up-regulated in CAMR and were involved in type I interferon signaling. In addition, in the same set of patients, 16 microRNAs resulted down-regulated in CAMR subjects compared to controls: 4 were predicted modulators of 6 mRNAs identified in the transcriptional analysis. In silico functional analysis supported the involvement of type I interferon signaling. To further confirm this hypothesis, we investigated the transcriptomic profiles of CD4+ T lymphocytes in an independent group of patients and we observed that the activation of type I interferon signaling was a specific hallmark of CAMR. In addition, in CAMR patients we detected a reduction of circulating BDCA2+ dendritic cells, the natural type I interferon- producing cells and their recruitment into the graft along with an increased expression of MXA, a type I interferon-induced protein, at tubulointerstitial and vascular level. In conclusion, our data suggest that type I interferon signaling may represent the molecular signature of CAMR. We performed microarray experiments in CD4+ T cells isolated from a small independent group of 5 patients included into the control-group and 5 included into the study group. The control group was represented by renal transplant recipients undergoing protocol graft biopsies, with normal renal function and histology, in the absence of circulating anti-HLA antibodies. Study group patients showed clinical and histological evidence of CAMR according to Banff 2011 criteria.

Project description:Background: The complement system activation and regulation have been linked to post-transplant pathologies including chronic antibody mediated rejection (cAMR) and the recurrence of IgA nephropathy (ReIgAN) but distinct mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Methods: In this retrospective single center study, the outcome of kidney transplantation was studied in 150 patients with late histological diagnosis to be either cAMR or ReIgAN, 14 stable kidney grafts at 3 months and finally 11 patients with native kidney IgAN nephropathy. To study a role of complement cascade and regulation in cAMR and ReIgAN, the RNA was extracted from available frozen kidney biopsy samples and using RT-qPCR transcripts of 11 target genes along with clinical data were determined and compared with stable grafts at 3 months protocol biopsies or IgAN native kidney nephropathy. Immunohistologically, CD46 (MCP), and C5 proteins were stained in biopsies. Results: Interestingly, there were no differences in kidney graft survival between cAMR and ReIgAN since transplantation. cAMR was associated with significantly higher intragraft transcripts of C3, CD59, and C1-INH as compared to ReIgAN (p < 0.05). When compared to normal stable grafts, cAMR grafts exhibited higher C3, CD55, CD59, CFH, CFI, and C1-INH (p < 0.01). Moreover, ReIgAN was associated with the increase of CD46, CD55, CD59 (p < 0.01), and CFI (p < 0.05) transcripts compared with native kidney IgAN. Rapid progression of cAMR (failure at 2 years after biopsy) was observed in patients with lower intrarenal CD55 expression (AUC 0.77, 78.6% sensitivity, and 72.7 specificity). There was highly significant association of several complement intrarenal transcripts and the degree of CKD regardless the diagnosis; C3, CD55, CFH, CFI, and C1-INH expressions positively correlated with eGFR (for all p < 0.001). Neither the low mRNA transcripts nor the high mRNA transcripts biopsies were associated with distinct trend in MCP or C5 proteins staining. Conclusions: The intrarenal complement system transcripts are upregulated in progressively deteriorated kidney allografts.

Project description:BackgroundCorrelation between antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) and circulating HLA donor-specific antibodies (HLA-DSA) is strong but imperfect in kidney transplant (KT) recipients, raising the possibility of undetected HLA-DSA or non-HLA antibodies contributing to ABMR. Detailed evaluation of the degree of HLA matching together with the identification of non-HLA antibodies in KT may help to decipher the antibody involved.MethodsWe retrospectively assessed patients with transplant biopsies scored following Banff'15 classification. Pre- and post-transplant serum samples were checked for HLA and non-HLA antibodies [MICA-Ab, angiotensin-II type-1-receptor (AT1R)-Ab, endothelin-1 type-A-receptor (ETAR)-Ab and crossmatches with primary aortic endothelial cells (EC-XM)]. We also analyzed HLA epitope mismatches (HLA-EM) between donors and recipients to explore their role in ABMR histology (ABMRh) with and without HLA-DSA.ResultsOne-hundred eighteen patients with normal histology (n = 19), ABMRh (n = 52) or IFTA (n = 47) were studied. ABMRh patients were HLA-DSApos (n = 38, 73%) or HLA-DSAneg (n = 14, 27%). Pre-transplant HLA-DSA and AT1R-Ab were more frequent in ABMRh compared with IFTA and normal histology cases (p = 0.006 and 0.003), without differences in other non-HLA antibodies. Only three ABMRhDSAneg cases showed non-HLA antibodies. ABMRhDSAneg and ABMRhDSApos cases showed similar biopsy changes and graft-survival. Both total class II and DRB1 HLA-EM were associated with ABMRhDSApos but not with ABMRhDSAneg. Multivariate analysis showed that pre-transplant HLA-DSA (OR: 3.69 [1.31-10.37], p = 0.013) and AT1R-Ab (OR: 5.47 [1.78-16.76], p = 0.003) were independent predictors of ABMRhDSApos.ConclusionsIn conclusion, pre-transplant AT1R-Ab is frequently found in ABMRhDSApos patients. However, AT1R-Ab, MICA-Ab, ETAR-Ab or EC-XM+ are rarely found among ABMRhDSAneg patients. Pre-transplant AT1R-Ab may act synergistically with preformed or de novo HLA-DSA to produce ABMRhDSApos but not ABMRhDSAneg. HLA epitope mismatch associates with ABMRhDSApos compared with ABMRhDSAneg, suggesting factors other than HLA are responsible for the damage.

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Tocilizumab in the Treatment of Chronic Antibody-Mediated Rejection Post Kidney Transplantation: Clinical and Histological Monitoring.

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