Donor-Specific Human Leukocyte Antigen Antibody Formation After Distal Tibia Allograft and Subsequent Graft Resorption.

The association between donor-specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibody formation and small bone allograft resorption has not been studied. We present the case of a patient treated for glenoid bone loss using a distal tibial allograft with Bankart repair who formed donor-specific HLA antibodies against the allograft and had subsequent graft resorption. X-ray and computed tomography (CT) scans were performed before and after surgery at standard checkpoints. Patient blood and serum samples were collected before and after surgery for HLA typing and HLA antibody testing. Human leukocyte antigen antibodies against the donor-specific HLA-A2 antigens were identified 6 weeks after surgery and were still detected at 5 months after surgery. At 6 months after surgery, a CT arthrogram revealed significant graft resorption. This case shows a temporal correlation between HLA antibody formation and clinical findings, potentially suggesting an association between HLA antibody formation and graft resorption. Further study is required to confirm this.

Glycine and Folate Ameliorate Models of Congenital Sideroblastic Anemia.

Sideroblastic anemias are acquired or inherited anemias that result in a decreased ability to synthesize hemoglobin in red blood cells and result in the presence of iron deposits in the mitochondria of red blood cell precursors. A common subtype of congenital sideroblastic anemia is due to autosomal recessive mutations in the SLC25A38 gene. The current treatment for SLC25A38 congenital sideroblastic anemia is chronic blood transfusion coupled with iron chelation. The function of SLC25A38 is not known. Here we report that the SLC25A38 protein, and its yeast homolog Hem25, are mitochondrial glycine transporters required for the initiation of heme synthesis. To do so, we took advantage of the fact that mitochondrial glycine has several roles beyond the synthesis of heme, including the synthesis of folate derivatives through the glycine cleavage system. The data were consistent with Hem25 not being the sole mitochondrial glycine importer, and we identify a second SLC25 family member Ymc1, as a potential secondary mitochondrial glycine importer. Based on these findings, we observed that high levels of exogenous glycine, or 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-Ala) a metabolite downstream of Hem25 in heme biosynthetic pathway, were able to restore heme levels to normal in yeast cells lacking Hem25 function. While neither glycine nor 5-Ala could ameliorate SLC25A38 congenital sideroblastic anemia in a zebrafish model, we determined that the addition of folate with glycine was able to restore hemoglobin levels. This difference is likely due to the fact that yeast can synthesize folate, whereas in zebrafish folate is an essential vitamin that must be obtained exogenously. Given the tolerability of glycine and folate in humans, this study points to a potential novel treatment for SLC25A38 congenital sideroblastic anemia.

Unrelated donor choices for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in Canada: an evaluation of factors influencing donor selection.

BACKGROUND: Utilization of unrelated donors and cord blood units (CBUs) for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation continues to increase. Understanding the practices of donor selection by transplant centers is critical for unrelated donor registries and cord blood banks to optimize registry composition and inventory to meet patient need. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Unrelated donor and CBU selection practices of Canadian transplant centers served by Canadian Blood Services' OneMatch Stem Cell & Marrow Network (OM) were reviewed, including HLA match level, locus of disparity, age, sex, and product choice (donor vs. CBU). RESULTS: HLA-matched donors within OM and/or international (INT) registries were preferentially investigated, underscoring the primary importance of HLA matching. In the case of HLA-mismatched donors, HLA-A disparities were most common while DRB1 mismatches were least common. Advanced age, sex, and lack of donor availability were the most frequent reasons that high-probability OM donors were overlooked in favor of INT donors. High-probability 10 of 10 HLA-matched female donors from OM were often avoided in favor of INT male donors. Use of female donors, however, increased in cases restricted to more HLA-disparate donor options. Caucasian patients were more likely to find 10 of 10 matched donors, whereas use of mismatched donors and CBUs were more prevalent among non-Caucasian patients. CONCLUSIONS: Recruitment and retention of young, male donors from diverse ethnic backgrounds may increase the usage of histocompatible OM donors for patients in need.

Optimized cell transplantation using adult rag2 mutant zebrafish.

Cell transplantation into adult zebrafish has lagged behind mouse models owing to the lack of immunocompromised strains. Here we have created rag2(E450fs) mutant zebrafish that have reduced numbers of functional T and B cells but are viable and fecund. Mutant fish engraft muscle, blood stem cells and various cancers. rag2(E450fs) mutant zebrafish are the first immunocompromised zebrafish model that permits robust, long-term engraftment of multiple tissues and cancer.

Piperine, a Pungent Alkaloid from Black Pepper, Inhibits B Lymphocyte Activation and Effector Functions.

Piperine has several well-documented anti-inflammatory properties; however, little is known regarding its effect on humoral immunity. In this study, we describe the immunosuppressive effect of piperine on B lymphocytes, which are integral to the humoral immune response. Mouse B cells were cultured in the absence or presence of non-cytotoxic concentrations (25, 50, and 100 µM) of piperine during T-dependent or T-independent stimulation. Piperine inhibited B cell proliferation by causing G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest in association with reduced expression of cyclin D2 and D3. The inhibitory effect of piperine was not mediated through transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 ion channel (TRPV1) because piperine also inhibited the proliferation of B cells from TRPV1-deficient mice. Expression of class II major histocompatibility complex molecules and costimulatory CD40 and CD86 on B lymphocytes was reduced in the presence of piperine, as was B cell-mediated antigen presentation to syngeneic T cells. In addition, piperine inhibited B cell synthesis of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 cytokines, as well as IgM, IgG2b, and IgG3 immunoglobulins. The inhibitory effect of piperine on B lymphocyte activation and effector function warrants further investigation for possible application in the treatment of pathologies related to inappropriate humoral immune responses. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Becoming a chef in the human leukocyte antigen kitchen: interpretation and modification of human leukocyte antigen-antibody assays.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Fluorescence-based human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibody detection methods, including flow cytometric crossmatch and single antigen bead assays revolutionized HLA antibody identification and assessment of immunological risk in transplant candidates and patients. Nevertheless, these assays are not flawless and their interpretation can be complex. This review highlights the limitations of the single antigen bead and flow cytometric crossmatch assays and discusses protocol modifications and interpretive approaches to address these issues. RECENT FINDINGS: Several limitations of HLA antibody detection methods have been identified in recent years. Protocol variability, denatured epitopes, and interfering factors can all significantly impact the identification of clinically relevant HLA antibodies. A number of solutions to address these challenges have been developed. These include pretreatment of sera, method standardization, and protocol modifications. In addition, HLA epitope-based analysis approaches to improve interpretation of antibody test results have been introduced. SUMMARY: In the 50 years, since Patel and Terasaki first developed the crossmatch assay there have been remarkable advances in HLA antibody testing methodology. However, with these advances, new problems emerged and solutions had to be developed. As the technology continues to evolve, our methods and ability to interpret results must keep pace to provide transplant patients with the best possible care.

Piperine from black pepper inhibits activation-induced proliferation and effector function of T lymphocytes.

Piperine is a major alkaloid component of black pepper (Piper nigrum Linn), which is a widely consumed spice. Here, we investigated the effect of piperine on mouse T lymphocyte activation. Piperine inhibited polyclonal and antigen-specific T lymphocyte proliferation without affecting cell viability. Piperine also suppressed T lymphocyte entry into the S and G2 /M phases of the cell cycle, and decreased expression of G1 -associated cyclin D3, CDK4, and CDK6. In addition, piperine inhibited CD25 expression, synthesis of interferon-γ, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, and IL-17A, and the generation of cytotoxic effector cells. The inhibitory effect of piperine on T lymphocytes was associated with hypophosphorylation of Akt, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and inhibitor of κBα, but not ZAP-70. The ability of piperine to inhibit several key signaling pathways involved in T lymphocyte activation and the acquisition of effector function suggests that piperine might be useful in the management of T lymphocyte-mediated autoimmune and chronic inflammatory disorders.

The reversible P2Y12 inhibitor ticagrelor inhibits metastasis and improves survival in mouse models of cancer.

Tumor cells use activated platelets to promote their proliferation and metastatic potential. Because platelet activation is largely mediated through ADP engagement of purinergic P2Y12 receptors on platelets, we investigated the potential of the reversible P2Y12 inhibitor ticagrelor, a clinical agent used in the prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, to inhibit tumor adhesion and metastasis. In B16-F10 melanoma intravenous and intrasplenic metastasis models, mice treated with a clinical dose of ticagrelor (10 mg/kg) exhibited marked reductions in lung (84%) and liver (86%) metastases. Furthermore, ticagrelor treatment improved survival compared to saline-treated animals. A similar effect was observed in a 4T1 breast cancer model, with reductions in lung (55%) and bone marrow (87%) metastases following ticagrelor treatment. In vitro, B16-F10 cells exhibited decreased interaction with platelets from ticagrelor-treated mice compared to saline-treated mice, an effect similar to that observed with blockade of glycoprotein IIbIIIa. Similarly, B16-F10 cells co-incubated with platelets from ticagrelor-treated mice exhibited reduced adhesion to endothelial monolayers compared to those co-incubated with platelets from saline-treated animals, an effect also observed in vivo. Interestingly, pretreatment of endothelial monolayers with ticagrelor did not result in reduced tumor cell adhesion. These findings support a role for P2Y12-mediated platelet activation in promoting metastases, and provide proof-of-concept for the clinical use of ticagrelor in the prevention of tumor metastasis.

Direct addition of EDTA to LABScreen single antigen bead suspension: A simple way to prevent complement mediated interference and streamline HLA antibody testing.

Compromised detection of HLA specific antibodies due to complement mediated interference (CMI) is a well-recognized limitation of the single antigen bead (SAB) assay. Serum treatment with EDTA prior to SAB assay testing is a common strategy used to prevent CMI, however, treatment of individual sera, especially in large clinical runs, can extend assay turnaround time and increase the risk of a sample mix-up. In this study, we describe a simplified EDTA treatment strategy that can be applied simultaneously to all sera in a testing run. This strategy effectively prevents CMI without added pipetting steps and the increased turnaround time associated with other strategies. In the novel bead treatment (BT) method, EDTA solution and SAB suspension are combined and added into the wells of a testing tray together, patient sera are then added to the SAB/EDTA mixture. This eliminates the separate EDTA pre-treatment step used in the standard procedure (ST). Parallel testing using the BT, ST, and no EDTA treatment strategies followed by antibody identification using the Rapid Optimized SAB (ROB) protocol was performed for 19 well characterized sera with known CMI at two different laboratories. Both BT and ST methods were equally effective in preventing CMI. In addition, excellent MFI correlation was observed for specificities not affected by CMI. Both negative and pooled positive control sera performed as expected using the BT method and the pooled positive control serum, specifically designed to exhibit CMI, served well as an EDTA treatment control for all sera. The modified BT protocol can be easily implemented for clinical testing and eliminates extra pipetting steps, reduces the likelihood of pipetting error, and decreases turnaround time, while effectively preventing CMI and ensuring accurate detection of HLA antibodies. This protocol was recently implemented in the Halifax HLA Laboratory and has been very positively received by the laboratory team.

Regulation of S100A10 by the PML-RAR-α oncoprotein.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a distinct subtype of acute myeloid leukemia that results from the expression of the promyelocytic leukemia-retinoic acid receptor α (PML-RAR-α) oncoprotein. It is characterized by severe hemorrhagic complications due in part to excessive fibrinolysis, resulting from the excessive generation of the fibrinolytic enzyme, plasmin, at the cell surface of the PML cells. The treatment of patients with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) effectively ameliorates the disease by promoting the destruction of the PML-RAR-α oncoprotein. In the present study we show for the first time that the plasminogen receptor, S100A10, is present on the extracellular surface of APL cells and is rapidly down-regulated in response to all-trans retinoic acid. The loss of S100A10 is concomitant with a loss in fibrinolytic activity. Furthermore, the induced expression of the PML-RAR-α oncoprotein increased the expression of cell surface S100A10 and also caused a dramatic increase in fibrinolytic activity. Depletion of S100A10 by RNA interference effectively blocked the enhanced fibrinolytic activity observed after induction of the PML-RAR-α oncoprotein. These experiments show that S100A10 plays a crucial role in the generation of plasmin leading to fibrinolysis, thus providing a link to the clinical hemorrhagic phenotype of APL.

Technical aspects of HLA antibody testing.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Since the landmark studies of Patel and Terasaki, pretransplant identification of donor-directed HLA alloantibodies (DSAs) has been a critical prelude to renal allograft transplantation. Pretransplant, DSAs may be an acceptable risk or an unconditional contraindication to transplantation depending on the particular donor : recipient combination. Posttransplant, DSAs are associated with episodes of acute rejection, chronic rejection, and graft loss. Thus, monitoring for such antibodies is an important aspect of patient care. RECENT FINDINGS: The development of solid-phase antibody detection assays significantly enhanced our ability to identify HLA antibodies, taking virtual crossmatching from concept to reality. At the root of these detection assays are two questions that have been asked for almost 50 years: are donor-directed HLA antibodies present and, if so, are they clinically relevant? While the technology related to solid-phase antibody detection has seemingly allowed the first question to be answered with exquisite sensitivity and specificity, can the same be said for question 2? SUMMARY: Solid-phase antibody detection assays have clear benefits over historical approaches to antibody identification, but are not flawless. In fact, the limitations of these assays are frequently ignored. Herein, the strengths and weaknesses of solid-phase antibody detection are highlighted.

S100A10 regulates plasminogen-dependent macrophage invasion.

The plasminogen activation system plays an integral role in the migration of macrophages in response to an inflammatory stimulus, and the binding of plasminogen to its cell-surface receptor initiates this process. Although previous studies from our laboratory have shown the importance of the plasminogen receptor S100A10 in cancer cell plasmin production, the potential role of this protein in macrophage migration has not been investigated. Using thioglycollate to induce a peritoneal inflammatory response, we demonstrate, for the first time, that compared with wild-type (WT) mice, macrophage migration across the peritoneal membrane into the peritoneal cavity in S100A10-deficient (S100A10(-/-)) mice was decreased by up to 53% at 24, 48, and 72 hours. Furthermore, the number of S100A10-deficient macrophages that infiltrated Matrigel plugs was reduced by 8-fold compared with their WT counterpart in vivo. Compared with WT macrophages, macrophages from S100A10(-/-) mice demonstrated a 50% reduction in plasmin-dependent invasion across a Matrigel barrier and a 45% reduction in plasmin generation in vitro. This loss in plasmin-dependent invasion was in part the result of a decreased generation of plasmin and a decreased activation of pro-MMP-9 by S100A10-deficient macrophages. This study establishes a direct involvement of S100A10 in macrophage recruitment in response to inflammatory stimuli.

Reducing number of laboratories performing complement dependent cytotoxicity crossmatching: Reasons and conclusions.

Complement dependent cytotoxicity crossmatch (CDC-XM) has been the original standard crossmatch test, whereas, flow cytometry crossmatch (FCXM) is an enhanced and highly sensitive crossmatch assay performed to detect donor specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSA). We analyzed American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ASHI) proficiency testing data (2011-2020) and examined the number of laboratories performing CDC-XM vs. FCXM, the overall efficiency of laboratories in reporting ≥80% consensus CDC-XM vs. FCXM result, and reasons for non-consensus results in the two assays. Of 600 crossmatches in each crossmatch category, the percentage of laboratories reporting T cell CDC-XMs reduced from 40% in 2011 to 13% in 2020, T cell anti-human globulin (AHG) CDC-XM reduced from 56% in 2011 to 21% in 2020, and B cell CDC-XM reduced from 51% in 2011 to 20% in 2020. The percentage of laboratories performing T cell and B cell FCXM remained at approximately 80% throughout. CDC-XM performed on par with FCXM in providing a consensus negative result using negative DSA serum, but under-performed in comparison to FCXM in providing a consensus positive result using positive DSA serum. In addition, only minority of CDC-XMs was reported positive in presence of complement fixing DSA. This study shows that non-consensus CDC-XM was always in presence of HLA IgG DSA and that laboratories may be struggling to interpret the low sensitive CDC-XM results, where highly sensitive solid phase multi-antigen or single antigen assay shows the presence of HLA IgG DSA in serum.

Cutting through the weeds: Evaluation of a novel adsorption with crossmatch cells and elution protocol to sharpen HLA antibody identification by the single antigen bead assay.

The single antigen bead (SAB) assay is the most used test for the identification of HLA specific antibodies pre- and post-transplant. Nevertheless, detection of spurious reactivities remains a recognized assay limitation. In addition, the presence of weak reactivity patterns can complicate unacceptable antigen assignment. This work presents the evaluation of the adsorption with crossmatch cells and elution (AXE) technique, which was designed to help differentiate weak HLA specific antibodies targeting native antigens from spurious and background SAB assay reactivity. The AXE protocol uses selected donor cells to adsorb HLA specific antibodies from sera of interest. Bound antibodies are then eluted off washed cells and identified using the SAB assay. Only antibodies targeting native HLA are adsorbed. Assay evaluation was performed using five cell donors and pooled positive control serum. AXE efficiency was determined by comparing SAB reactivity of adsorbed/eluted antibody to that of the antibodies in unadsorbed sera. A robust efficiency was seen across a wide range of original MFI for donor specific antibodies (DSA). A higher absorption/elution recovery was observed for HLA class I antigens vs. class II. Locus-specific variation was also observed, with high-expression HLA loci (HLA-A/B/DR) providing the best recovery. Importantly, negligible reactivity was detected in the last wash control, confirming that AXE eluates were not contaminated with HLA antibody carry-over. Donor cells incubated with autologous and DSA-containing allogeneic sera showed that AXE selectively adsorbed HLA antibodies in a donor antigen-specific manner. Importantly, antibodies targeting denatured epitopes or other non-HLA antigens were not detected by AXE. AXE was particularly effective at distinguishing weak HLA antibodies from background reactivity. When combined with epitope analysis, AXE enhanced precise identification of antibody-targeted eplets and even facilitated the characterization of a potential novel eplet. Comparison of AXE to flow cytometric crossmatching further revealed that AXE was a more sensitive technique in the detection of weak DSA. Spurious reactivities on the current SAB assay have a deleterious impact on the assignment of clinically relevant HLA specificities. The AXE protocol is a novel test that enables users to interrogate reactive patterns of interest and discriminate HLA specific antibodies from spurious reactivity.

Role of activated protein C and its receptor in inhibition of tumor metastasis.

Engagement of endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) by activated protein C (aPC) decreases expression of endothelial adhesion molecules implicated in tumor-endothelium interactions. We examined the role of the aPC/EPCR pathway on tumor migration and metastasis. In vitro, B16-F10 melanoma cells showed decreased adhesion to and transmigration through endothelium treated with recombinant human aPC (rhaPC). In murine B16-F10 metastasis models, transgenic EPCR overexpressing (Tie2-EPCR) mice exhibited marked reductions in liver (50%) and lung (92%) metastases compared with wild-type (WT) animals. Intravital imaging showed reduced B16-F10 entrapment within livers of Tie2-EPCR compared with WT mice. A similar reduction was observed in WT mice treated with rhaPC. Strikingly, rhaPC treatment resulted in a 44% reduction in lung metastases. This was associated with decreased lung P-selectin and TNF-alpha mRNA levels. These findings support an important role for the aPC/EPCR pathway in reducing metastasis via inhibition of tumor cell adhesion and transmigration.

Vav1 regulates the migration and adhesion of dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent APCs for activating naive T cells, a process facilitated by the ability of immature DCs to mature and home to lymph nodes after encountering an inflammatory stimulus. Proteins involved in cytoskeletal rearrangement play an important role in regulating the adherence and motility of DCs. Vav1, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rho family GTPases, mediates cytoskeletal rearrangement in hematopoietic cells following integrin ligation. We show that Vav1 is not required for the normal maturation of DCs in vitro; however, it is critical for DC binding to fibronectin and regulates the distribution but not the formation of podosomes. We also found that DC Vav1 was an important component of a signaling pathway involving focal adhesion kinase, phospholipase C-gamma2, and ERK1/2 following integrin ligation. Surprisingly, Vav1(-/-) DCs had increased rates of migration in vivo compared with wild-type control DCs. In vitro findings show that the presence of adhesive substrates such as fibronectin resulted in inhibition of migration. However, there was less inhibition in the absence of Vav1. These findings suggest that DC migration is negatively regulated by adhesion and integrin-mediated signaling and that Vav1 has a central role in this process.

Donor-Specific Human Leukocyte Antigen Antibody Formation After Allograft Glenoid Reconstruction Occurs But Does Not Impact Clinicoradiographic Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent shoulder instability is a prevalent condition, with glenoid bone loss as a common cause. Arthroscopic repair using distal tibial allografts provides long-lasting treatment by restoring glenoid surface area and presumably avoids risks of sensitization against donor human leukocyte antigen (HLA). Two case studies have challenged this assumption, suggesting that small bone allografts are able to induce host adaptive immune responses to donor HLA. The incidence of small bone allograft HLA sensitization and its effects on resorption and patient outcomes are unclear. PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: The purpose was to assess the rate of sensitization against donor HLA after distal tibial allograft procedures for shoulder instability due to glenoid bone loss and to find whether HLA sensitization negatively affects patient-reported and radiographic outcomes. We hypothesized that sensitized patients would have worse radiographic and self-reported outcomes compared with nonsensitized patients. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: A total of 71 patients with a mean age of 28.85 years (range, 13.58-61.31 years) were enrolled, with 58 patients submitting sufficient pre- and postoperative blood samples for HLA antibody testing. In patients who developed HLA antibodies postoperatively, donor HLA typing was used to confirm donor-specific sensitization. Pre- and postoperative computerized tomography scans (0.9 ± 0.8 years follow-up) were used to grade resorption based on the modified Zhu resorption grade classification (ie, grade 0 = no resorption; grade 1 = less than 25% resorption; grade 2 = between 25% and 50% resorption; and grade 3 = larger than 50% resorption). The Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index outcome scores were obtained preoperatively and at regular postoperative appointments. Resorption and outcome data were compared between sensitized and nonsensitized patients using the Fisher exact test, independent 2-tailed Student t tests, and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test to determine the effect of HLA sensitization on radiographic and patient-reported outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 7 (12.1%) patients with sufficient HLA samples were sensitized against donor HLA postoperatively. Sensitized patients did not have significantly higher rates of resorption (21.9% vs 14.3%, 21.9% vs 28.6%, 43.8% vs 28.6%, and 12.5% vs 28.6% for respective resorption grades 0-3; P = .67; α = .05). Self-reported outcomes were not statistically significant between sensitized and nonsensitized patients (24.9 ± 27.61 vs 40.16 ± 18.99; P = .37; α = .05) and did not differ significantly based on resorption grade (47.4 ± 0.0 vs 55.2 ± 18.8, 30.4 ± 15.8 vs 39.9 ± 20.9, 41.2 ± 0.0 vs 39.1 ± 13.1, and -24.9 ± 0 vs 24.4 ± 19.6 for resorption grades 0-3; P > .05; α = .05). CONCLUSION: Sensitization against donor HLA after small bone graft allografting was not previously considered but has been brought to light as a possibility. Aside from potential complications for future organ transplants, HLA sensitization does not introduce a risk for adverse outcomes or higher grades of resorption compared with nonsensitized patients after small bone allografting for shoulder instability.

The Acute Phase Protein Hepcidin Is Cytotoxic to Human and Mouse Myeloma Cells.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Hepcidin is a cationic acute phase reactant synthesized by the liver. It has bactericidal properties and is a major regulator of iron homeostasis. Cationic antimicrobial peptides represent an innate antimicrobial defense system. We hypothesized that, like other cationic antimicrobial peptides, hepcidin is cytotoxic to cancer cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cytotoxicity of human hepcidin against myeloma cells was assessed by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and DNA fragmentation assays. Plasma membrane damage was quantified by propidium iodide (PI) staining. Cell membrane changes were visualized by scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: Hepcidin impaired myeloma cell survival and induced DNA fragmentation. PI staining and scanning electron microscopy revealed hepcidin-induced disruption of the plasma membrane. CONCLUSION: Human hepcidin is an anti-cancer peptide that induces myeloma cell lysis, and therefore may play a role in innate anticancer immunity. To our knowledge, this is the first biological function ascribed to human hepcidin that is not related to its antimicrobial and iron-regulatory properties.

Low Hydrophobic Mismatch Scores Calculated for HLA-A/B/DR/DQ Loci Improve Kidney Allograft Survival.

We evaluated the impact of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) disparity (immunogenicity; IM) on long-term kidney allograft survival. The IM was quantified based on physicochemical properties of the polymorphic linear donor/recipient HLA amino acids (the Cambridge algorithm) as a hydrophobic, electrostatic, amino acid mismatch scores (HMS\AMS\EMS) or eplet mismatch (EpMM) load. High-resolution HLA-A/B/DRB1/DQB1 types were imputed to calculate HMS for primary/re-transplant recipients of deceased donor transplants. The multiple Cox regression showed the association of HMS with graft survival and other confounders. The HMS integer 0-10 scale showed the most survival benefit between HMS 0 and 3. The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that: the HMS=0 group had 18.1-year median graft survival, a 5-year benefit over HMS>0 group; HMS ≤ 3.0 had 16.7-year graft survival, a 3.8-year better than HMS>3.0 group; and, HMS ≤ 7.8 had 14.3-year grafts survival, a 1.8-year improvement over HMS>7.8 group. Stratification based on EMS, AMS or EpMM produced similar results. Additionally, the importance of HLA-DR with/without -DQ IM for graft survival was shown. In our simulation of 1,000 random donor/recipient pairs, 75% with HMS>3.0 were re-matched into HMS ≤ 3.0 and the remaining 25% into HMS≥7.8: after re-matching, the 13.5 years graft survival would increase to 16.3 years. This approach matches donors to recipients with low/medium IM donors thus preventing transplants with high IM donors.

The ABCs (DRDQDPs) of the prozone effect in single antigen bead HLA antibody testing: Lessons from our highly sensitized patients.

Accurate identification of HLA antibodies using the single antigen bead (SAB) assay is critical for assessment of pre/post-transplant immunological risk and successful virtual crossmatching. Unfortunately, high titer HLA antibodies can be missed or underestimated in the SAB assay as a result of interference with the detection of IgG. This so called prozone effect has been attributed to both complement- and IgM-dependent mechanisms and can be minimized with serum dilution or treatment with heat, EDTA, or DTT. In this study we describe the frequency, nature, and degree of prozone in a cohort of highly sensitized patients (cPRA ≥ 95%), in whom accurate detection of HLA antibodies and virtual crossmatching is of paramount importance. Sera were tested by the SAB assay ±â€¯EDTA treatment, ±1:10 dilution to identify the prozone effect. The relative contribution of complement vs IgM to prozone was assessed using anti-C3d and anti-IgM reporter antibodies, respectively. We found that prozone was very frequent in highly sensitized patients (80%), especially those with a history of previous transplantation (87%). Class I HLA specificities were more commonly affected than class II and the susceptibility to prozone was locus dependent with HLA-A(31%), -B(29%) and -DQ(26%) being affected more frequently than HLA-DP(17%), -C(16%) and -DR(5%) antigens. Interestingly, the presence of prozone could be predicted by C3d positivity (MFI ≥ 4000; sensitivity = 95.2%, specificity = 97.2%) and the degree of prozone correlated directly with the extent of C3d deposition. The role of IgM was less clear. However, serum dilution studies suggested that IgM may contribute to interference in a small subset of prozone positive specificities. Our study underscores the importance of serum treatment to inhibit complement activation and minimize prozone in the SAB assay, especially in highly sensitized patients.