New Insights into Pediatric Kidney Transplant Rejection Biomarkers: Tissue, Plasma and Urine MicroRNAs Compared to Protocol Biopsy Histology.

The early identification of a subclinical rejection (SCR) can improve the long-term outcome of the transplanted kidney through intensified immunosuppression. However, the only approved diagnostic method is the protocol biopsy, which remains an invasive method and not without minor and/or major complications. The protocol biopsy is defined as the sampling of allograft tissue at pre-established times even in the absence of an impaired renal function; however, it does not avoid histological damage. Therefore, the discovery of new possible biomarkers useful in the prevention of SCR has gained great interest. Among all the possible candidates, there are microRNAs (miRNAs), which are short, noncoding RNA sequences, that are involved in mediating numerous post-transcriptional pathways. They can be found not only in tissues, but also in different biological fluids, both as free particles and contained in extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by different cell types. In this study, we firstly performed a retrospective miRNA screening analysis on biopsies and serum EV samples of 20 pediatric transplanted patients, followed by a second screening on another 10 pediatric transplanted patients' urine samples at one year post-transplant. In both cohorts, we divided the patients into two groups: patients with histological SCR and patients without histological SCR at one year post-transplantation. The isolated miRNAs were analyzed in an NGS platform to identify different expressions in the two allograft states. Although no statistical data were found in sera, in the tissue and urinary EVs, we highlighted signatures of miRNAs associated with the histological SCR state.

Pre-Existing Intrarenal Parvovirus B19 Infection May Relate to Antibody-Mediated Rejection in Pediatric Kidney Transplant Patients.

Viral infections can lead to transplant dysfunction, and their possible role in rejection is described. In total, 218 protocol biopsies performed in 106 children at 6, 12 and 24 months after transplantation were analyzed according to Banff '15. RT-PCR for cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, BK virus and Parvovirus B19 was performed on blood and bioptic samples at the time of transplant and each protocol biopsy. The prevalence of intrarenal viral infection increases between 6 and 12 months after transplantation (24% vs. 44%, p = 0.007). Intrarenal Parvovirus B19 infection is also associated with antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) (50% ABMR vs. 19% T-cell-mediated rejection, p = 0.04). Moreover, Parvovirus infection is higher at 12 months of follow-up and it decreases at 48 months (40.4% vs. 14%, p = 0.02), while in 24% of grafts, Parvovirus is already detectable at the moment of transplantation. Intrarenal Parvovirus B19 infection seems to be related to ABMR in pediatric kidney recipients. The graft itself may be the way of transmission for Parvovirus, so performance of a PCR test for Parvovirus B19 should be considered to identify high-risk patients. Intrarenal Parvovirus infection presents mainly during the first-year post-transplantation; thus, we recommend an active surveillance of donor-specific antibodies (DSA) in patients with intrarenal Parvovirus B19 infection during this period. Indeed, it should be considered a treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins in patients with intrarenal Parvovirus B19 infection and DSA positivity, even in the absence of ABMR criteria for kidney biopsy.

A 10-year large-scale cystic fibrosis carrier screening in the Italian population.

BACKGROUND: Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is one of the most common autosomal recessive genetic disorders, with the majority of patients born to couples unaware of their carrier status. Carrier screenings might help reducing the incidence of CF. METHODS: We used a semi-automated reverse-dot blot assay identifying the 47 most common CFTR gene mutations followed by DGGE/dHPLC analysis. RESULTS: Results of a 10-year (1996-2006) CF carrier screening on 57,999 individuals with no prior family history of CF are reported. Of these, 25,104 were couples and 7791 singles, with 77.9% from the Italian Veneto region. CFTR mutations were found in 1879 carriers (frequency 1/31), with DeltaF508 being the most common (42.6%). Subjects undergoing medically assisted reproduction (MAR) had significantly (p<0.0001) higher CF carrier frequency (1/22 vs 1/32) compared to non-MAR subjects. CONCLUSIONS: If coupled to counselling programmes, CF carrier screening tests might help reducing the CF incidence.

Gender-sensitive association of CFTR gene mutations and 5T allele emerging from a large survey on infertility.

Human infertility in relation to mutations affecting the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene has been investigated by different authors. The role of additional variants, such as the possible forms of the thymidine allele (5T, 7T and 9T) of the acceptor splice site of intron 8, has in some instances been considered. However, a large-scale analysis of the CFTR gene and number of thymidine residues, alone and in combination, in the two sexes had not yet been addressed. This was the aim of this study. Two groups were compared, a control group of 20,532 subjects being screened for perspective reproduction, and the patient group represented by 1854 idiopathically infertile cases. Analyses involved PCR-based CFTR mutations assessment, reverse dot-blot IVS8-T polymorphism analyses, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and DNA sequencing. The expected 5T increase in infertile men was predominantly owing to the 5/9 genotypic class. The intrinsic rate of 5T fluctuated only slightly among groups, but some gender-related differences arose when comparing their association. Infertile men showed a significantly enriched 5T + CFTR mutation co-presence, distributed in the 5/9 and 5/7 classes. In contrast, females, from both the control and the infertile groups, showed a trend towards a pronounced reduction of such association. The statistical significance of the difference between expected and observed double occurrence of 5T + CFTR traits in women suggests, in line with other reports in the literature, a possible survival-hampering effect. Moreover, regardless of the 5T status, CFTR mutations appear not to be involved in female infertility. These results underline the importance of (i) assessing large sample populations and (ii) considering separately the two genders, whose genotypically opposite correlations with these phenomena may otherwise tend to mask each other.