Metabolic Considerations in Direct Procurement and Perfusion Protocols with DCD Heart Transplantation.

Heart transplantation with donation after circulatory death (DCD) provides excellent patient outcomes and increases donor heart availability. However, unlike conventional grafts obtained through donation after brain death, DCD cardiac grafts are not only exposed to warm, unprotected ischemia, but also to a potentially damaging pre-ischemic phase after withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy (WLST). In this review, we aim to bring together knowledge about changes in cardiac energy metabolism and its regulation that occur in DCD donors during WLST, circulatory arrest, and following the onset of warm ischemia. Acute metabolic, hemodynamic, and biochemical changes in the DCD donor expose hearts to high circulating catecholamines, hypoxia, and warm ischemia, all of which can negatively impact the heart. Further metabolic changes and cellular damage occur with reperfusion. The altered energy substrate availability prior to organ procurement likely plays an important role in graft quality and post-ischemic cardiac recovery. These aspects should, therefore, be considered in clinical protocols, as well as in pre-clinical DCD models. Notably, interventions prior to graft procurement are limited for ethical reasons in DCD donors; thus, it is important to understand these mechanisms to optimize conditions during initial reperfusion in concert with graft evaluation and re-evaluation for the purpose of tailoring and adjusting therapies and ensuring optimal graft quality for transplantation.

Oocyte maturity, oocyte fertilization and cleavage-stage embryo morphology are better in natural compared with high-dose gonadotrophin stimulated IVF cycles.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Does high-dose gonadotrophin stimulation have an effect on oocyte and early-stage embryo development? DESIGN: This was a retrospective study including 616 natural cycle IVF (NC-IVF) and 167 conventional IVF (cIVF) cycles. In total, 2110 oocytes were retrieved and analysed in fresh cycles. In NC-IVF, only human chorionic gonadotrophin was applied to trigger ovulation. In cIVF, antagonist protocols with daily 150-300 IU of human menopausal gonadotrophins were performed. The effect of gonadotrophins on oocyte and early-stage embryo development was analysed. Primary outcomes were the occurrence of mature (metaphase II) oocytes, zygotes and embryos with good morphology at the cleavage stage 2 days after oocyte retrieval. RESULTS: The mature oocyte rate (number of mature oocytes/number of retrieved oocytes) was higher in NC-IVF than cIVF cycles (89% versus 82%, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.79, P = 0.001), as was the zygote rate per oocyte retrieved (70% versus 58%, aOR 1.76, P = 0.001) and the zygote rate per mature oocyte (79% versus 71%, aOR 1.62, P = 0.001). The percentage of zygotes that developed into cleavage-stage embryos was no different. For the transferred embryos, the probability of having a good embryo morphology with four blastomeres and a fragmentation of <10% (score 0) in cleavage-stage embryos was found to be higher in NC-IVF (proportional aOR for four blastomeres 2.00, P < 0.001; aOR 1.87 for a fragmentation score of 0, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Oocyte maturity, oocyte fertilization and morphology of the cleavage-stage embryo are affected by high-dose gonadotrophin stimulation in fresh IVF cycles.

Immune Rejection of Cartilage in a Swine Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation Model.

BACKGROUND: Cartilage is a crucial tissue in vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) and plays a pivotal role in restoring motor function, especially in joint allotransplantation. Nevertheless, our understanding of immune rejection in cartilage remains limited and contentious. This study seeks to investigate the immune rejection of cartilage in a large animal model of VCA. METHODS: Cartilage, including articular cartilage and meniscus, as well as skin, muscle and lymph node, was retrieved from a swine heterotopic VCA graft when the skin of the graft suffered from grade III-IV rejection. Histologic examination, transmission electron microscopy and immunofluorescent staining were used to investigate immune rejection. RESULTS: Histologic examination revealed the infiltration of inflammatory cells and tissue destruction in cartilage. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed tissue damage and necrosis in cartilage. However, cartilage exhibited milder tissue damage when compared to rejected skin and muscle. Immunofluorescent staining revealed the activation of both the innate and adaptive immune systems, accompanied by an up-regulation of cell death biomarkers, including apoptosis and pyroptosis, in the rejected cartilage. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that cartilage is not immunologically privileged and undergoes immune rejection concurrently with skin and muscle in the VCA graft, though with less severe inflammation and rejection.

Transcriptome profiling of immune rejection mechanisms in a porcine vascularized composite allotransplantation model.

Background: Vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) offers the potential for a biological, functional reconstruction in individuals with limb loss or facial disfigurement. Yet, it faces substantial challenges due to heightened immune rejection rates compared to solid organ transplants. A deep understanding of the genetic and immunological drivers of VCA rejection is essential to improve VCA outcomes. Methods: Heterotopic porcine hindlimb VCA models were established and followed until reaching the endpoint. Skin and muscle samples were obtained from VCA transplant recipient pigs for histological assessments and RNA sequencing analysis. The rejection groups included recipients with moderate pathological rejection, treated locally with tacrolimus encapsulated in triglycerol-monostearate gel (TGMS-TAC), as well as recipients with severe end-stage rejection presenting evident necrosis. Healthy donor tissue served as controls. Bioinformatics analysis, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy were utilized to examine gene expression patterns and the expression of immune response markers. Results: Our comprehensive analyses encompassed differentially expressed genes, Gene Ontology, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways, spanning various composite tissues including skin and muscle, in comparison to the healthy control group. The analysis revealed a consistency and reproducibility in alignment with the pathological rejection grading. Genes and pathways associated with innate immunity, notably pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), and antigen processing and presentation pathways, exhibited upregulation in the VCA rejection groups compared to the healthy controls. Our investigation identified significant shifts in gene expression related to cytokines, chemokines, complement pathways, and diverse immune cell types, with CD8 T cells and macrophages notably enriched in the VCA rejection tissues. Mechanisms of cell death, such as apoptosis, necroptosis and ferroptosis were observed and coexisted in rejected tissues. Conclusion: Our study provides insights into the genetic profile of tissue rejection in the porcine VCA model. We comprehensively analyze the molecular landscape of immune rejection mechanisms, from innate immunity activation to critical stages such as antigen recognition, cytotoxic rejection, and cell death. This research advances our understanding of graft rejection mechanisms and offers potential for improving diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to enhance the long-term success of VCA.

A local drug delivery system prolongs graft survival by dampening T cell infiltration and neutrophil extracellular trap formation in vascularized composite allografts.

Introduction: The standard treatment for preventing rejection in vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) currently relies on systemic immunosuppression, which exposes the host to well-known side effects. Locally administered immunosuppression strategies have shown promising results to bypass this hurdle. Nevertheless, their progress has been slow, partially attributed to a limited understanding of the essential mechanisms underlying graft rejection. Recent discoveries highlight the crucial involvement of innate immune components, such as neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), in organ transplantation. Here we aimed to prolong graft survival through a tacrolimus-based drug delivery system and to understand the role of NETs in VCA graft rejection. Methods: To prevent off-target toxicity and promote graft survival, we tested a locally administered tacrolimus-loaded on-demand drug delivery system (TGMS-TAC) in a multiple MHC-mismatched porcine VCA model. Off-target toxicity was assessed in tissue and blood. Graft rejection was evaluated macroscopically while the complement system, T cells, neutrophils and NETs were analyzed in graft tissues by immunofluorescence and/or western blot. Plasmatic levels of inflammatory cytokines were measured using a Luminex magnetic-bead porcine panel, and NETs were measured in plasma and tissue using DNA-MPO ELISA. Lastly, to evaluate the effect of tacrolimus on NET formation, NETs were induced in-vitro in porcine and human peripheral neutrophils following incubation with tacrolimus. Results: Repeated intra-graft administrations of TGMS-TAC minimized systemic toxicity and prolonged graft survival. Nevertheless, signs of rejection were observed at endpoint. Systemically, there were no increases in cytokine levels, complement anaphylatoxins, T-cell subpopulations, or neutrophils during rejection. Yet, tissue analysis showed local infiltration of T cells and neutrophils, together with neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in rejected grafts. Interestingly, intra-graft administration of tacrolimus contributed to a reduction in both T-cellular infiltration and NETs. In fact, in-vitro NETosis assessment showed a 62-84% reduction in NETs after stimulated neutrophils were treated with tacrolimus. Conclusion: Our data indicate that the proposed local delivery of immunosuppression avoids off-target toxicity while prolonging graft survival in a multiple MHC-mismatch VCA model. Furthermore, NETs are found to play a role in graft rejection and could therefore be a potential innovative therapeutic target.

High dose gonadotropin stimulation increases endometrial thickness but this gonadotropin induced thickening does not have an effect on implantation.

INTRODUCTION: Endometrial thickness <8 mm is related with lower pregnancy rates. This raises the question if endometrial thickness can be increased by gonadotropin stimulation to increase estradiol (E2) concentration and if such an artificial thickening of the endometrium has an effect on implantation. A model to address this question is the comparison of endometrial thickness and outcome parameters in conventional gonadotropin stimulated IVF (cIVF) compared to unstimulated natural cycle IVF (NC-IVF). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study including 235 cIVF and 616 NC-IVF cycles without embryo selection and with fresh transfer on day 2 and 3 from 2015 to 2019. Endometrial and E2 measurements were included and analysed between day -4 and -2 (0 = day of aspiration). The effects of E2 on endometrial thickness, endometrial growth and the effect of endometrial thickness on implantation rates and live births were analysed. RESULTS: Endometrial thickness was found to be higher in cIVF compared to NC-IVF (p < 0.001). On day -2, the day when ovulation was triggered, mean endometrial thickness was 9.75 ± 2.05 mm and 8.12 ± 1.66 mm, respectively. The increase in endometrial thickness slowed down with increasing E2 concentrations (time x estradiol concentration: -0.19, p = 0.010). Implantation rates were not significantly different in cIVF and NC-IVF cycles (clinical pregnancy rate: 19.1% vs. 15.4% p = 0.2; live birth rate: 12.8% vs. 11.7%, p = 0.8). CONCLUSIONS: Endometrial growth dynamic is different and endometrium is thicker in cIVF compared to NC-IVF. Pregnancy and live birth rates are not different. Gonadotropin induced thickening of the endometrium does not appear to improve implantation.

Optimal Timing of Ovulation Triggering to Achieve Highest Success Rates in Natural Cycles-An Analysis Based on Follicle Size and Oestradiol Concentration in Natural Cycle IVF.

Introduction: Timing of ovulation triggering is essential in infertility treatments including treatments based on natural menstrual cycles. However, data on follicle size and oestradiol (E2) concentration are limited. Therefore, the model of natural cycle IVF (NC-IVF) was applied to provide more detailed information on these parameters to better schedule the optimal time for triggering ovulation. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 606 monofollicular NC-IVF cycles was performed at a university-based IVF centre from 2016 to 2019. Follicle size and E2 and LH serum concentrations were evaluated on day -5 to 0 (day 0 = day of oocyte retrieval). Ovulation was triggered if follicle size was 14-22 mm. Patients with irregular cycles, endometriosis >II°, cycles with azoospermia or cryptozoospermia and cycles with inconsistent data were excluded. All parameters were analysed inter- and intraindividually, and associations of the parameters were evaluated. Associations were adjusted for age, cause of infertility and number of previous transfers. Results: The mean age of women undergoing NC-IVF was 35.8 ± 4.0 years. Follicle size increased by 1.04 ± 0.03 mm, and E2 concentration by 167 ± 11.0 pmol/l per day.Based on a multivariate adjusted mixed model with follicle size, E2 and their interaction, the number of retrieved oocytes was associated with E2 concentration (aOR 1.91, 95% CI: 1.03-3.56; p = 0.040). Maturity of oocytes was associated not only with E2 concentration (aOR 2.01, 95% CI: 1.17-3.45; p = 0.011) but also with follicle size (aOR 1.27, 95% CI: 1.01-1.60; p = 0.039), as was the interaction of both parameters (aOR 0.96, 95% CI: 0.93-0.99; p = 0.017).LH surge was calculated to start in 25% of cases at an E2 level of 637 pmol/l, in 50% of cases at 911 pmol/l and in 75% of cases at an E2 level of 1,480 pmol/l.The live birth rate per follicle aspiration cycle was (non-significantly) higher in cycles with follicles sizes at the time of oocyte retrieval of 18-22 mm (7.7%-12.5%) versus in cycles with follicles sizes of 14-17 mm (1.6%-4.3%). Conclusion: The study contributes to an optimization of infertility treatments involving natural cycles. The study gives guidance about the number of days required after follicle monitoring to schedule the optimal time for triggering ovulation.