Banff Lung Report: Current knowledge and future research perspectives for diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary antibody-mediated rejection (AMR).

The Lung session of the 2017 14th Banff Foundation for Allograft Pathology Conference, Barcelona focused on the multiple aspects of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) in lung transplantation. Multidimensional approaches for AMR diagnosis, including classification, histological and immunohistochemical analysis, and donor- specific antibody (DSA) characterization with their current strengths and limitations were reviewed in view of recent research. The group also discussed the role of tissue gene expression analysis in the context of unmet needs in lung transplantation. The current best practice for monitoring of AMR and the therapeutic approach are summarized and highlighted in this report. The working group reached consensus of the major gaps in current knowledge and focused on the unanswered questions regarding pulmonary AMR. An important outcome of the meeting was agreement on the need for future collaborative research projects to address these gaps in the field of lung transplantation.

Genome-Wide Association Study of Acute Renal Graft Rejection.

Acute renal rejection is a major risk factor for chronic allograft dysfunction and long-term graft loss. We performed a genome-wide association study to detect loci associated with biopsy-proven acute T cell-mediated rejection occurring in the first year after renal transplantation. In a discovery cohort of 4127 European renal allograft recipients transplanted in eight European centers, we used a DNA pooling approach to compare 275 cases and 503 controls. In an independent replication cohort of 2765 patients transplanted in two European countries, we identified 313 cases and 531 controls, in whom we genotyped individually the most significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the discovery cohort. In the discovery cohort, we found five candidate loci tagged by a number of contiguous SNPs (more than five) that was never reached in iterative in silico permutations of our experimental data. In the replication cohort, two loci remained significantly associated with acute rejection in both univariate and multivariate analysis. One locus encompasses PTPRO, coding for a receptor-type tyrosine kinase essential for B cell receptor signaling. The other locus involves ciliary gene CCDC67, in line with the emerging concept of a shared building design between the immune synapse and the primary cilium.

Kidney intragraft donor-specific antibodies as determinant of antibody-mediated lesions and poor graft outcome.

Allograft pathology, antibody-tissue interaction as demonstrated by C4d deposition and serological evidence of donor-specific antibodies (DSA) are the cardinal diagnostic features of antibody-mediated lesions (AML) in kidney transplantation. However, discrepancy between histological and serological findings is common, and more reliable diagnostic tools are called for. Here, we asked whether the in situ detection of DSA could serve as marker for AML. To that end, we applied the anti-HLA single antigen flow bead assay to eluates from 51 needle core graft biopsies performed for cause. Intragraft antibody profiles were correlated to serum DSA (sDSA), histological data and transplant outcome. The prevalence and the mean number of intragraft DSA (gDSA) were lower than that of sDSA (15/51 gDSA+ vs. 37/51 sDSA+ patients; 1.64 gDSA vs. 2.24 sDSA per patient). DSA were detected in all anti-HLA antibody-positive biopsies (15/15). The presence of gDSA was significantly associated with (1) microcirculation lesions taken individually (g, cg) and analyzed in functional clusters (ptc + g + cg > 0, cg + mm > 0), (2) C4d positivity and (3) a worse short-term transplant outcome (p = 0.05). These associations were not found for patients presenting only sDSA. Taken together, these results indicate that gDSA is a severity marker of antibody-mediated pathogenic process.

[Immunogenetics of celiac disease]. / Immunogénétique de la maladie cœliaque.

Celiac disease is an auto-immune enteropathy involving genetic factors. It is associated in almost all the patients, to specific susceptibility alleles encoding histocompatibility antigens (HLA for human leucocyte antigen), specifically certain variants of the HLA-DQ2, and the HLA-DQ8 HLA class II molecules. Its estimated prevalence is 1% in the european and north-american populations. However, although these alleles represent the main genetic factor for this disease, they do not explain it on their own, as they are expressed by up to 30% of the population. Recent immunological advances allowed identifying the immunodominant epitopes of gluten, to establish the role of tissue transglutaminase in the disease and to define at the atomic level the presentation of these antigens by the HLA-DQ molecule. It is noteworthy that the HLA susceptibility alleles only account for 40% of the whole genetic risk, and the challenge is now to explain the remaining 60%. Genome-wide association studies using the DNA arrays technology to screen single nucleotide polymorphisms to pinpoint candidate regions and genes, have started to provide answers, but contradictory results sometimes still persist. Most of the genes emerging as statistically significantly associated with celiac disease are involved in the immune response, and suggest that the situation is complex.

[Serological diagnosis of celiac disease]. / Diagnostic sérologique de la maladie cœliaque.

Screening studies using high-sensitivity and specificity markers indicate a prevalence of celiac disease of up to 1% in European and North-American populations. Celiac disease is a frequent condition that has become an important public health issue. Yet the majority of cases remain undiagnosed due to the polymorphism of its clinical manifestations. The new insight in the pathogenesis of celiac disease has lead to the development of new diagnostic tools. Early screening of symptomatic patients and pre-identified at-risk groups significantly improves the quality of life while reducing morbidity and mortality. However, prophylactic benefits of early diagnosis by assessing the general population have not been shown in any study. French and Northern American scientific societies have introduced serological testing in their newly revised strategies to diagnose celiac disease. Older markers judged insufficiently accurate like anti-gliadin and anti-reticulin antibodies have recently been withdrawn from the list of reimbursed medical expenses in France. Anti-endomysium and tissue transglutaminase IgA antibodies have proven to be at this day the most sensitive and specific markers for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients on gluten-free diet, at the exception of IgA-deficient patients. Assays testing for IgG antibodies are recommended upon IgA-deficiency. Although very accurate, a better standardisation of current assays may enable serological testing to replace in a near future histological confirmation brought by small bowel biopsies which remains today the gold standard test to diagnose celiac disease. Indeed, serological testing represents and attractive alternative as it is less invasive, less expansive, laboursaving and more objective in interpretation.

Mothers without HLA antibodies before transplantation have a low risk of alloimmunization post-transplantation.

Human leukocyte antigen antibodies (HLA Abs) are associated with poor renal graft outcome. We selected 134 first kidney transplant recipients without HLA Ab (LABScreen® Luminex) before transplantation despite previous allogeneic exposure whether through blood transfusion (BT) and/or pregnancy (PR). We screened these patients for HLA Ab post-transplantation (yearly) and determined the risk of HLA Ab and donor-specific antibody (DSA) appearance according to BT/PR in a univariate and a multivariate model. Among the 134 patients (43 males/91 females), 56 were BT+/PR-, 41 BT-/PR+ and 37 BT+/PR+. Median delay between last PR or BT and transplantation were 25.9 years (0.5-47.8) and 8 months (0.8-128.0), respectively. Median number of PR and BT were 2 (1-11) and 3 units (1-28), respectively. After transplantation (median follow-up: 47.5 months), 13 patients (9.7%) had HLA Ab and 10 DSA, mainly directed against class II HLA (HLA Ab: 10/13, DSA: 9/10). The risk of HLA Ab and DSA appearance was significantly lower in patients with PR before transplantation (P = 0.032 and P = 0.009, respectively). The risk of DSA appearance (hazard ratio = 0.17, P = 0.027) remained significantly lower after adjustment on donor age, acute rejection and number of class I/II HLA mismatches. In conclusion, we show that parous women non-immunized are at low risk of HLA Ab production after transplantation.

Prevalence, distribution and amplitude of the complement interference phenomenon in single antigen flow beads assays.

HLA antibody detection with single antigen flow beads (SAFB) assays is impaired by complement interference whose frequency, predictability and distribution among HLA antigens have not been analyzed in large cohorts. We compared in two patients' cohorts the routine follow-up SAFB profiles obtained in class I (n = 129) and class II (n = 85) with and without ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-treatment. The presence of complement interference was defined according to the reproducibility of the SAFB assays evaluated with our class I and II routine positive control sera. Interference occurred in 29.5% and 45.9% of patients in class I and II, respectively. In the untreated condition, at serum level, neither the number of positive beads, the highest bead mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) nor MFI at bead level, satisfactorily predicted interference. HLA-C were the least affected among class I beads. HLA-DQ beads were the most affected in class II. At least one antibody specificity was falsely negative without EDTA for about 3% of sera in class I and 9% in class II. EDTA-treatment did not significantly modify the low-MFI strengths (500-3000 range). This study emphasizes the high frequency of complement interference and the importance and advantages of systematically pretreating sera with EDTA before performing SAFB assays.

Decreased expression of the signal-transducing zeta chains in tumor-infiltrating T-cells and NK cells of patients with colorectal carcinoma.

An impaired immune response is frequently observed in cancer patients and tumor-bearing mice. T-cells from mice with an experimental colon carcinoma were recently shown to express T-cell receptors that completely lacked the signal-transducing molecule CD3 zeta. Here, we have investigated the expression of the signal-transducing molecule zeta on lymphocytes from 14 patients with colorectal carcinomas using flow cytometric analysis of permeabilized cells with a monoclonal antibody (TIA-2; IgG1) specific for the cytoplasmic domain of the zeta chain as well as with immunoprecipitation and analysis on diagonal gel electrophoresis. We demonstrate that T-cells isolated from the tumors of the patients express significantly less CD3 zeta than T-cells in the peripheral blood of the same patients and that the peripheral blood of the patients express decreased levels of zeta chains, as compared to the levels found in lymphocytes from healthy controls. This decreased expression was also observed on zeta chains associated with the low affinity Fc receptor for IgG found in tumor-infiltrating NK cells (Fc gamma RIIIA alpha; CD16).

Risk factors and outcome of graft failure after HLA matched and mismatched unrelated donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a study on behalf of SFGM-TC and SFHI.

Graft failure remains a severe complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Several risk factors have already been published. In this study, we re-evaluated them in a large cohort who had the benefit of the recent experience in HSCT (2006-2012). Data from 4684 unrelated donor HSCT from 2006 to 2012 were retrospectively collected from centers belonging to the French Society for Stem Cell Transplantation. Among the 2716 patients for whom HLA typing was available, 103 did not engraft leading to a low rate of no engraftment at 3.8%. In univariate analysis, only type of disease and status of disease at transplant for malignant diseases remained significant risk factors (P=0.04 and P<0.0001, respectively). In multivariate analysis, only status of disease was a significant risk factor (P<0.0001). Among the 61 patients who did not engraft and who were mismatched for 1 HLA class I and/or HLA-DP, 5 donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) were detected but only 1 was clearly involved in graft failure, for the others their role was more questionable. Second HSCT exhibited a protective although not statistically significant effect on OS (hazard ratio=0.57 [0.32-1.02]). In conclusion, only one parameter (disease status before graft) remains risk factor for graft failure in this recent cohort.

Potentiation of Fas-mediated apoptosis by an engineered glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked Fas.

FasL and TRAIL are apoptotic ligands of the TNF-like cytokines family, acting via activation of the transmembrane death domain containing receptors Fas for FasL, and DR4 or DR5 for TRAIL. A glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked TRAIL receptor called DcR1 behaves as a decoy receptor inhibiting TRAIL-mediated cell death in several cellular systems. We engineered and stably expressed a chimeric GPI-linked Fas receptor (Fas-GPI) in T-lymphocyte cell lines constitutively expressing functional transmembrane Fas. Surprisingly, despite lacking the death domain region of functional Fas, Fas-GPI was able to significantly increase Fas-mediated cell death triggered by membrane bound or soluble FasL, whereas engagement of Fas-GPI alone did not trigger apoptosis. This potentiating effect, but not transmembrane Fas activation, was selectively inhibited by protein kinase C activation with phorbol esters, demonstrating that Fas-GPI activated a specific synergistic signal transduction pathway. Fas-GPI and transmembrane Fas were localized in distinct membrane compartments, since Fas-GPI, but not transmembrane Fas, was found in the glycolipid-rich membrane microdomains. These results suggest that apoptosis induced by members of this ligand/receptors family may be differentially modulated through other and parallel signalling pathways.

Evaluation of the placental environment with a new in vitro model of histocultures of early and term placentae: determination of cytokine and chemokine expression profiles.

We aimed to set up and validate a new in vitro model of placental histocultures, for the evaluation of cytokine and chemokine profiles of the placental environment, over a long culture period. Micro-explant cultures from 6 early and 6 term placentae were set up on collagen sponge gel supports at a liquid/air interface. At various times during culture, we analyzed tissue morphology and cell death by microscopy and quantified beta-hCG production and mRNA levels for beta-hCG and insulin-like 4 (INSL4). Levels of IL-6, LIF, TNF alpha, IL-10, IFN-gamma, IL-16 and RANTES in the medium were measured by ELISA on days 1, 4 and 7 of culture. SDF-1 mRNA expression was determined by real-time PCR at the same time points. Histocultures from early and term placentae remained viable until day 10. High levels of IL-6 and LIF production, low levels of TNF alpha, IL-10 and IFN-gamma production and significant SDF-1 expression were observed. These data indicate that placental histoculture is a suitable and reliable in vitro model for studying the placental environment.

Increase in CD3+ CD4- T lymphocytes in patients with AIDS and disseminated Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex infection: a prospective study. GECSA. Groupe d'Epidemiologie Clinique du SIDA en Aquitaine.

In a retrospective study, an increase in double-negative (CD3+ CD4- CD8-) (DN) T lymphocytes has been shown to be an independent predictor of disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (D.MAC) infection in patients with less than 100 CD4+ T cells per mm3. To better characterize this cell expansion, a prospective study was designed. From July 1995 to April 1997, 206 HIV-infected patients with less than 100 CD4+ T cells per mm3 were prospectively followed up and immunophenotyped. The median followup was 1.1 year (+/-0.5 year), and 14 new D.MAC infections were diagnosed among 84 first AIDS-defining events. In univariate and multivariate analyses, D.MAC infections were the only opportunistic infection with a significant increase in DN T-cell percentage (median = 6.6; range = 1.7 to 24.5, P = 0.004) compared with patients without any opportunistic infection. This alteration in T-lymphocyte count could constitute a predictor for D.MAC infection in clinical practice.

Functional quantification of cyclosporine A and FK506 in human whole blood by flow cytometry, using the green fluorescent protein as an interleukin-2 reporter gene.

The concentration of the immunosuppressive drugs cyclosporine A (CSA) and FK506 in biological fluids is routinely determined by antibody-based assays, which for several reasons do not give accurate information on the actual level of immunosuppression in the patient. To alleviate this problem, we developed a functional reporter gene assay which uses the enhancer fragment of the interleukin-2 promoter region driving the expression of the green fluorescent protein (GFP). This construct was stably transfected in the Jurkat human T lymphoblastoid cell line. Upon stimulation of the cell recipient, the GFP was produced and evaluated by flow cytometry. Immunosuppressants acting via inhibition of interleukin-2 synthesis, such as CSA or FK506, inhibited the production of GFP in a dose-dependent manner. This assay can be performed within a working day with a good reproducibility and was more sensitive than the antibody-based assays, since its detection limit was as low as 10 ng/ml for CSA and 0.5 ng/ml for FK506. We used it for the follow up of drug level present in the blood of transplanted patients, and compared the results with those obtained with the antibody-based assay routinely carried out in our hospital. The conclusions suggest that this assay is a valuable alternative to the presently available assays for the measurement of the immunosuppressive activity found in body fluids.

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against the leukemia inhibitory factor low affinity receptor, gp190.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), oncostatin-M (OSM), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and cardiotrophin-1 (CT1) act through transmembrane receptors which share the gp190 glycoprotein chain. The understanding of its involvement in the biology of these cytokines is of importance since these systems have recently been shown to participate in major inflammatory and neoplastic processes such as myelomatosis (Rose-John, S., Heinrich, P.C., 1994. Soluble receptors for cytokines and growth factors: generation and biological function. Biochem. J. 300, 281). In addition, this family of receptors also shares the gp130 transducing chain, with the IL6 and IL11 receptors. Because IL6 and gp130 were the first members to be discovered, most of the available reagents are directed at them. In this respect, monoclonal antibodies have played a major role in elucidating these receptor/ligand interactions and exploring the pathophysiological aspects of their biology. So far, no such reagents have been described for the gp190. We now report the production and characterization of 16 monoclonal antibodies directed against human gp190. They were obtained using recombinant chimeric or truncated proteins produced in a eukaryotic CHO cell line. One was able to block the biological activity of LIF. Because gp190 comprises two hematopoietin binding domains, crude epitope mapping was possible using the same reagents. While more of these antibodies are required, the present set validate the technological approach used for their preparation and should improve our understanding of this class of cytokines.

HILDA/LIF urinary excretion during acute kidney rejection.

Recently, a new lymphokine called HILDA (human interleukin for DA cells) has been described and cloned. This cytokine, initially described to be produced by alloreactive T lymphocyte clones grown from a rejected human kidney allograft, is identical to other factors termed D-factor, differentiation-inducing factor, differentiation inhibitory activity, hepatocyte-stimulating factor III, and leukemia inhibitory factor. HILDA/LIF induces various effects on neural, hemopoietic, embryonic cells as well as on bone remodeling and acute phase protein synthesis in hepatocyte. In this study we demonstrate the presence of HILDA/LIF in the urine but not in the serum of kidney graft recipients during acute rejection episodes, whereas this lymphokine was detectable neither in the serum nor in the urine of kidney transplanted patients with stable renal function. These data reinforce the notion of a possible role for this lymphokine in the inflammatory and/or the immune response.

One-year enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay follow-up of human interleukin for Da cells/leukemia inhibitory factor in blood and urine of 22 kidney transplant recipients.

The cytokine human interleukin for Da cells/leukemia inhibitory factor (HILDA/LIF) exerts multiple biological effects in vitro. In mice, high circulating levels of HILDA/LIF induce a wide range of pathophysiological events, some of them closely involved with immunological and inflammatory responses. Using a sandwich ELISA recognizing the natural human HILDA/LIF molecule with a threshold of 50 pg/ml in urine and 150 pg/ml in plasma, we monitored the urine and plasma HILDA/LIF levels of 22 patients in their first year after a kidney transplant. HILDA/LIF urine excretion is increased during acute rejection, and infections also trigger heavy HILDA/LIF plasma concentrations or urine excretion. In addition, this study raises the question of HILDA/LIF involvement in post-kidney-transplant phenomena such as hypercalcemia, osteoporosis, or the reversal of anemia.

Leukemia inhibitory factor: part of a large ingathering family.

Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF) has a wide variety of biological activities. It regulates the differentiation of embryonic stem cells, neural cells, osteoblasts, adipocytes, hepatocytes and kidney epithelial cells. It also triggers the proliferation of myoblasts, primordial germ cells and some endothelial cells. Many of these biological functions parallel those of interleukin-6, Oncostatin M, ciliary neurotrophic factor, interleukin-11 and cardiotrophin-1. These structurally related cytokines also share subunits of their receptors which could partially explain the redundancy in this system of soluble mediators. In vivo LIF proves important in regulating the inflammatory response by fine tuning of the delicate balance of at least four systems in the body, namely the immune, the hematopoietic, the nervous and the endocrine systems. Although we are far from its therapeutic applications, the fast increasing knowledge in this field may bring new insights for the understanding of the cytokine biology in general.

Sequential production of leukaemia inhibitory factor by blood cell culture in patients with ARDS.

OBJECTIVE: Leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a polyfunctional cytokine integrated in cytokine networks and its concentration has been shown to be elevated in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The aim of our study was to evaluate the production of LIF by culturing blood cells from patients with ARDS. PATIENTS: 8 patients with ARDS, 8 patients with pneumonia and 5 healthy subjects. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The blood samples were taken on day 1 after onset of ARDS. LIF was measured, in the cell-free supernatant, with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay after 24 h, 48 h and 72 h of blood cell culture. LIF was detectable in some patients in the ARDS group: at i) at 24 h and 48 h: in 2 patients ii) at 72 h in 4/5 patients (140 +/- 231 pg/ml). Only in the 4 patients in whom LIF was measured at 72 h was ARDS associated with the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Furthermore, among the 5 patients with ARDS who subsequently died, 4 had a detectable LIF. CONCLUSIONS: We have observed that LIF was produced only in ARDS, but not in all patients. The production of LIF seems to be a good indicator of the severity of ARDS. These preliminary results must be confirmed by a larger study.