Project description:Background: Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) is a new causative agent of chronic hepatitis in solid organ transplant recipients in Europe. Factors associated with the occurrence and persistence of chronic HEV infection remain largely unknown but chronic evolution seems to be the consequence of hostM-bM-^@M-^Ys immunological factors rather than of viral factors. Method: In a prospective case-control study, we have determined in whole blood of chronically HEV-infected kidney-transplant recipients the host response using microarray technology. Results: Chronically HEV-infected kidney-transplant recipients exhibited a specific transcriptional program, in which interferon effectors were prominent. The intensity of expression of each signatureM-bM-^@M-^Ys gene was significantly lower in patients who were subsequently cleared of HEV than in patients who were not. Furthermore, in patients who were cleared of HEV, a higher expression of these genes was associated with a longer delay until HEV clearance. Conclusions: The specific transcriptional program determined in chronically HEV-infected kidney-transplant recipients suggests an activation of type I interferon response. Intensity of interferon-stimulated genes expression could be useful to forecast the outcome of infection. High expression of interferon-stimulated genes could signify a dysregulation in the interferon response that might favour the persistence of the HEV infection. TrialM-bM-^@M-^Ys registration number: NCT01090232; RegistryM-bM-^@M-^Ys URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT01090232?term=kidney+transplant+recipients&cntry1=EU%3AFR&rank=2 Total RNA was extracted from whole-blood sample or monocytes of kidney-transplant patients with or without chronic hepatitis E (CHE) infection. Control patients were matched up with CHE patients for age, sex, time since kidney transplant and immunosuppressive treatment.
Project description:Background: Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) is a new causative agent of chronic hepatitis in solid organ transplant recipients in Europe. Factors associated with the occurrence and persistence of chronic HEV infection remain largely unknown but chronic evolution seems to be the consequence of host’s immunological factors rather than of viral factors. Method: In a prospective case-control study, we have determined in whole blood of chronically HEV-infected kidney-transplant recipients the host response using microarray technology. Results: Chronically HEV-infected kidney-transplant recipients exhibited a specific transcriptional program, in which interferon effectors were prominent. The intensity of expression of each signature’s gene was significantly lower in patients who were subsequently cleared of HEV than in patients who were not. Furthermore, in patients who were cleared of HEV, a higher expression of these genes was associated with a longer delay until HEV clearance. Conclusions: The specific transcriptional program determined in chronically HEV-infected kidney-transplant recipients suggests an activation of type I interferon response. Intensity of interferon-stimulated genes expression could be useful to forecast the outcome of infection. High expression of interferon-stimulated genes could signify a dysregulation in the interferon response that might favour the persistence of the HEV infection. Trial’s registration number: NCT01090232; Registry’s URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT01090232?term=kidney+transplant+recipients&cntry1=EU%3AFR&rank=2
Project description:Tacrolimus (Tac) is an effective anti-rejection agent in kidney transplantation, but its off-target effects make withdrawal desirable. While studies indicate that Tac can be safely withdrawn in a subset of kidney transplant recipients, immune mechanisms that underlie successful vs. unsuccessful Tac removal are unknown. We performed microarray analyses of PBMC RNA from subjects enrolled in the Clinical Trials in Organ Transplantation-09 study in which stable kidney transplant recipients were randomized to Tac withdrawal or maintenance of standard immunosuppression beginning 6-mo post-transplant. Eight of 14 subjects attempted but failed withdrawal, while six developed stable graft function for ≥2 years on mycophenolate mofetil plus prednisone. Whereas failed withdrawal upregulated immune activation genes, successful Tac withdrawal was associated with a distinct, T cell-specific, downregulatory, and pro-apoptotic gene program. Functional analyses suggested stronger donor-reactive immunity in subjects who failed withdrawal without evidence of regulatory T cell dysfunction. Together, our data suggest that successful Tac withdrawal can unleash an active, protective pro-apoptotic T cell program, and provide the foundation for developing strategies to promote this protective immunological phenotype in kidney transplant recipients.
Project description:The aim of this study was to investigate the association of gene expression profiles in subcutaneous adipose tissue with percent of total body weight change in 26 kidney transplant recipients. Using multivariate linear regression analysis controlled for race and gender, expression levels of 1553 genes were significantly (p<0.05) associated with weight change. A secondary data analysis was done on a subgroup (n=26) of existing clinical and gene expression data from a larger prospective longitudinal study examining factors contributing to weight gain in transplant recipients.
Project description:A preoperative short-term diet combining calorie and protein restriction diet given during five days before kidney donation and transplantation improves kidney outcome in live kidney donors and kidney transplant recipients, which shows that the benefits of dietary restriction on stress resistance can be induced rapidly in humans, and may be used for clinically relevant endpoints.
Project description:<p>In this study, we investigated the role of the gut microbiota on the development of complications in kidney transplant recipients. We collected serial fecal specimens from 168 kidney transplant recipients within the first 3 months after transplantation. We performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the V4-V5 hypervariable region and examined whether the relative gut abundance of pathogenic bacteria was associated with future development of complications like bacteriuria and urinary tract infections. In a subset of samples, we performed metagenomic sequencing of stool and urine supernatant specimens to determine strain level analysis. </p>
Project description:The aim of this study was to investigate the association of gene expression profiles in subcutaneous adipose tissue with percent of total body weight change in 26 kidney transplant recipients. Using multivariate linear regression analysis controlled for race and gender, expression levels of 1553 genes were significantly (p<0.05) associated with weight change.