Prolonged xenokidney graft survival in sensitized NHP recipients by expression of multiple human transgenes in a triple knockout pig.

Genetic modification of porcine donors, combined with optimized immunosuppression, has been shown to improve outcomes of experimental xenotransplant. However, little is known about outcomes in sensitized recipients, a population that could potentially benefit the most from the clinical implementation of xenotransplantation. Here, five highly allosensitized rhesus macaques received a porcine kidney from GGTA1 (α1,3-galactosyltransferase) knockout pigs expressing the human CD55 transgene (1KO.1TG) and were maintained on an anti-CD154 monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based immunosuppressive regimen. These recipients developed de novo xenoreactive antibodies and experienced xenograft rejection with evidence of thrombotic microangiopathy and antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). In comparison, three highly allosensitized rhesus macaques receiving a kidney from GGTA1, CMAH (cytidine monophospho-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase), and b4GNT2/b4GALNT2 (ß-1,4-N-acetyl-galactosaminyltransferase 2) knockout pigs expressing seven human transgenes including human CD46, CD55, CD47, THBD (thrombomodulin), PROCR (protein C receptor), TNFAIP3 (tumor necrosis factor-α-induced protein 3), and HMOX1 (heme oxygenase 1) (3KO.7TG) experienced significantly prolonged graft survival and reduced AMR, associated with dampened post-transplant humoral responses, early monocyte and neutrophil activation, and T cell repopulation. After withdrawal of all immunosuppression, recipients who received kidneys from 3KO.7TG pigs rejected the xenografts via AMR. These data suggest that allosensitized recipients may be suitable candidates for xenografts from genetically modified porcine donors and could benefit from an optimized immunosuppression regimen designed to target the post-transplant humoral response, thereby avoiding AMR.

Reproducibility and prognostic ability of chronicity parameters in kidney biopsy - Comprehensive evaluation comparing microscopy and artificial intelligence in digital pathology.

INTRODUCTION: Semi-quantitative scoring of various parameters in renal biopsy is accepted as an important tool to assess disease activity and prognostication. There are concerns on the impact of interobserver variability in its prognostic utility, generating a need for computerized quantification. METHODS: We studied 94 patients with renal biopsies, 45 with native diseases and 49 transplant patients with index biopsies for Polyomavirus nephropathy. Chronicity scores were evaluated using two methods. A standard definition diagram was agreed after international consultation and four renal pathologists scored each parameter in a double-blinded manner. Interstitial fibrosis (IF) score was assessed with five different computerized and AI-based algorithms on trichrome and PAS stains. RESULTS: There was strong prognostic correlation with renal function and graft outcome at a median follow-up ranging from 24 to 42 months respectively, independent of moderate concordance for pathologists scores. IF scores with two of the computerized algorithms showed significant correlation with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at biopsy but not at the end of follow-up. There was poor concordance for AI based platforms. CONCLUSION: Chronicity scores are robust prognostic tools despite interobserver reproducibility. AI-algorithms have absolute precision but are limited by significant variation when different hardware and software algorithms are used for quantification.

Banff 2022 Liver Group Meeting report: Monitoring long-term allograft health.

The Banff Working Group on Liver Allograft Pathology met in September 2022. Participants included hepatologists, surgeons, pathologists, immunologists, and histocompatibility specialists. Presentations and discussions focused on the evaluation of long-term allograft health, including noninvasive and tissue monitoring, immunosuppression optimization, and long-term structural changes. Potential revision of the rejection classification scheme to better accommodate and communicate late T cell-mediated rejection patterns and related structural changes, such as nodular regenerative hyperplasia, were discussed. Improved stratification of long-term maintenance immunosuppression to match the heterogeneity of patient settings will be central to improving long-term patient survival. Such personalized therapeutics are in turn contingent on a better understanding and monitoring of allograft status within a rational decision-making approach, likely to be facilitated in implementation with emerging decision-support tools. Proposed revisions to rejection classification emerging from the meeting include the incorporation of interface hepatitis and fibrosis staging. These will be opened to online testing, modified accordingly, and subject to consensus discussion leading up to the next Banff conference.

Claudin-2 upregulation enhances intestinal permeability, immune activation, dysbiosis, and mortality in sepsis.

Intestinal epithelial expression of the tight junction protein claudin-2, which forms paracellular cation and water channels, is precisely regulated during development and in disease. Here, we show that small intestinal epithelial claudin-2 expression is selectively upregulated in septic patients. Similar changes occurred in septic mice, where claudin-2 upregulation coincided with increased flux across the paracellular pore pathway. In order to define the significance of these changes, sepsis was induced in claudin-2 knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice. Sepsis-induced increases in pore pathway permeability were prevented by claudin-2 KO. Moreover, claudin-2 deletion reduced interleukin-17 production and T cell activation and limited intestinal damage. These effects were associated with reduced numbers of neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells, and bacteria within the peritoneal fluid of septic claudin-2 KO mice. Most strikingly, claudin-2 deletion dramatically enhanced survival in sepsis. Finally, the microbial changes induced by sepsis were less pathogenic in claudin-2 KO mice as survival of healthy WT mice injected with cecal slurry collected from WT mice 24 h after sepsis was far worse than that of healthy WT mice injected with cecal slurry collected from claudin-2 KO mice 24 h after sepsis. Claudin-2 upregulation and increased pore pathway permeability are, therefore, key intermediates that contribute to development of dysbiosis, intestinal damage, inflammation, ineffective pathogen control, and increased mortality in sepsis. The striking impact of claudin-2 deletion on progression of the lethal cascade activated during sepsis suggests that claudin-2 may be an attractive therapeutic target in septic patients.

Banff 2022 Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation Meeting Report: Diagnostic criteria for vascular changes.

As more data become available, the Banff 2007 working classification of skin-containing vascularized composite allograft (VCA) pathology is expected to evolve and develop. This report represents the Banff VCA Working Group's consensus on the first revision of the 2007 scoring system. Prior to the 2022 Banff-CanXadian Society of Transplantation Joint Meeting, 83 clinicians and/or researchers were invited to a virtual meeting to discuss whether the 2007 Banff VCA system called for a revision. Unanimously, it was determined that the vascular changes were to be included in the first revision. Subsequently, 2 international online surveys, each followed by virtual discussions, were launched. The goals were (1) to identify which changes define severe rejection, (2) to grade their importance in the evaluation of severe rejection, and (3) to identify emerging criteria to diagnose rejection. A final hybrid (in-person and virtual) discussion at the Banff/Canadian Society of Transplantation Joint Meeting finalized the terminology, the definition, a scoring system, and a reporting system of the vascular changes. This proposal represents an international consensus on this topic and establishes the first revision of the Banff 2007 working classification of skin-containing vascularized composite allograft pathology.

The Banff 2022 Kidney Meeting Work Plan: Data-driven refinement of the Banff Classification for renal allografts.

The XVIth Banff Meeting for Allograft Pathology was held in Banff, Alberta, Canada, from September 19 to 23, 2022, as a joint meeting with the Canadian Society of Transplantation. In addition to a key focus on the impact of microvascular inflammation and biopsy-based transcript analysis on the Banff Classification, further sessions were devoted to other aspects of kidney transplant pathology, in particular T cell-mediated rejection, activity and chronicity indices, digital pathology, xenotransplantation, clinical trials, and surrogate endpoints. Although the output of these sessions has not led to any changes in the classification, the key role of Banff Working Groups in phrasing unanswered questions, and coordinating and disseminating results of investigations addressing these unanswered questions was emphasized. This paper summarizes the key Banff Meeting 2022 sessions not covered in the Banff Kidney Meeting 2022 Report paper and also provides an update on other Banff Working Group activities relevant to kidney allografts.

Banff 2022 pancreas transplantation multidisciplinary report: Refinement of guidelines for T cell-mediated rejection, antibody-mediated rejection and islet pathology. Assessment of duodenal cuff biopsies and noninvasive diagnostic methods.

The Banff pancreas working schema for diagnosis and grading of rejection is widely used for treatment guidance and risk stratification in centers that perform pancreas allograft biopsies. Since the last update, various studies have provided additional insight regarding the application of the schema and enhanced our understanding of additional clinicopathologic entities. This update aims to clarify terminology and lesion description for T cell-mediated and antibody-mediated allograft rejections, in both active and chronic forms. In addition, morphologic and immunohistochemical tools are described to help distinguish rejection from nonrejection pathologies. For the first time, a clinicopathologic approach to islet pathology in the early and late posttransplant periods is discussed. This update also includes a discussion and recommendations on the utilization of endoscopic duodenal donor cuff biopsies as surrogates for pancreas biopsies in various clinical settings. Finally, an analysis and recommendations on the use of donor-derived cell-free DNA for monitoring pancreas graft recipients are provided. This multidisciplinary effort assesses the current role of pancreas allograft biopsies and offers practical guidelines that can be helpful to pancreas transplant practitioners as well as experienced pathologists and pathologists in training.

Banff Digital Pathology Working Group: Image Bank, Artificial Intelligence Algorithm, and Challenge Trial Developments.

The Banff Digital Pathology Working Group (DPWG) was established with the goal to establish a digital pathology repository; develop, validate, and share models for image analysis; and foster collaborations using regular videoconferencing. During the calls, a variety of artificial intelligence (AI)-based support systems for transplantation pathology were presented. Potential collaborations in a competition/trial on AI applied to kidney transplant specimens, including the DIAGGRAFT challenge (staining of biopsies at multiple institutions, pathologists' visual assessment, and development and validation of new and pre-existing Banff scoring algorithms), were also discussed. To determine the next steps, a survey was conducted, primarily focusing on the feasibility of establishing a digital pathology repository and identifying potential hosts. Sixteen of the 35 respondents (46%) had access to a server hosting a digital pathology repository, with 2 respondents that could serve as a potential host at no cost to the DPWG. The 16 digital pathology repositories collected specimens from various organs, with the largest constituent being kidney (n = 12,870 specimens). A DPWG pilot digital pathology repository was established, and there are plans for a competition/trial with the DIAGGRAFT project. Utilizing existing resources and previously established models, the Banff DPWG is establishing new resources for the Banff community.

Detailed Analysis of Simultaneous Renal and Liver Allografts in the Presence of DSA.

Liver allografts protect renal allografts from the same donor from some, but not all, preformed donor specific alloantibodies (DSA). However, the precise mechanisms of protection and the potential for more subtle alterations/injuries within the grafts resulting from DSA interactions require further study. Methods: We reevaluated allograft biopsies from simultaneous liver-kidney transplant recipients who had both allografts biopsied within 60 d of one another and within 30 d of DSA being positive in serum (positive: mean florescence intensity ≥5000). Routine histology, C4d staining, and specialized immunohistochemistry for Kupffer cells (KCs; CD163) and a C4d receptor immunoglobulin-like transcript-4 were carried out in 4 patients with 6 paired biopsies. Results: Overt antibody-mediated rejection was found in 3 of 4 renal and liver allografts. One patient had biopsy-confirmed renal and liver allograft antibody-mediated rejection despite serum clearance of DSA. All biopsies showed KC hypertrophy (minimal: 1; mild: 2; moderate: 1; severe: 2) and cytoplasmic C4d KC staining was easily detected in 2 biopsies from 2 patients; minimal and negative in 2 biopsies each. Implications of which are discussed. Control 1-y protocol liver allograft biopsies from DSA- recipients showed neither KC hypertrophy nor KC C4d staining (n = 6). Conclusions: Partial renal allograft protection by a liver allograft from the same donor may be partially mediated by phagocytosis/elimination of antibody and complement split products by KCs, as shown decades ago in controlled sensitized experimental animal experiments.

CD28-Selective Inhibition Prolongs Non-Human Primate Kidney Transplant Survival.

Costimulation blockade using belatacept results in improved renal function after kidney transplant as well as decreased likelihood of death/graft loss and reduced cardiovascular risk; however, higher rates and grades of acute rejection have prevented its widespread clinical adoption. Treatment with belatacept blocks both positive (CD28) and negative (CTLA-4) T cell signaling. CD28-selective therapies may offer improved potency by blocking CD28-mediated costimulation while leaving CTLA-4 mediated coinhibitory signals intact. Here we test a novel domain antibody directed at CD28 (anti-CD28 dAb (BMS-931699)) in a non-human primate kidney transplant model. Sixteen macaques underwent native nephrectomy and received life-sustaining renal allotransplantation from an MHC-mismatched donor. Animals were treated with belatacept alone, anti-CD28 dAb alone, or anti-CD28 dAb plus clinically relevant maintenance (MMF, Steroids) and induction therapy with either anti-IL-2R or T cell depletion. Treatment with anti-CD28 dAb extended survival compared to belatacept monotherapy (MST 187 vs. 29 days, p=0.07). The combination of anti-CD28 dAb and conventional immunosuppression further prolonged survival to MST ∼270 days. Animals maintained protective immunity with no significant infectious issues. These data demonstrate CD28-directed therapy is a safe and effective next-generation costimulatory blockade strategy with a demonstrated survival benefit and presumed advantage over belatacept by maintaining intact CTLA-4 coinhibitory signaling.

Desensitization and belatacept-based maintenance therapy in pregnancy-sensitized monkeys receiving a kidney transplant.

Among sensitized patients awaiting a transplant, females are disproportionately represented, partly because of pregnancy-induced sensitization. Using female NHPs sensitized by pregnancy alone, we examined the efficacy of costimulation blockade and proteasome inhibition for desensitization. Three animals received no desensitization (control), and seven animals received weekly carfilzomib (27 mg/m2) and belatacept (20 mg/kg) before kidney transplantation. All animals received renal allografts from crossmatch-positive/maximally MHC-mismatched donors. Controls and three desensitized animals received tacrolimus-based immunosuppression. Four desensitized animals received additional belatacept with tacrolimus-based immunosuppression. Multiparous females had less circulating donor-specific antibody when compared to skin-sensitized males before transplantation. While females receiving desensitization showed only a marginal survival benefit over control females (MST = 11 days versus 63 days), additional belatacept to posttransplant maintenance significantly prolonged graft survival (MST > 164 days) and suppressed posttransplant DSA and circulating follicular helper T-like cells. This combination of therapies demonstrates great potential to reduce antibody-mediated rejection in sensitized recipients.

Dual IL-6 and CTLA-4 blockade regresses pancreatic tumors in a T cell- and CXCR3-dependent manner.

This study aimed to enhance antitumor immune responses to pancreatic cancer via Ab-based blockade of IL-6 and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4). Mice bearing s.c. or orthotopic pancreatic tumors were treated with blocking Abs to IL­6 and/or CTLA-4. In both tumor models, dual IL-6 and CTLA-4 blockade significantly inhibited tumor growth. Additional investigations revealed that dual therapy induced an overwhelming infiltration of T cells into the tumor as well as changes in CD4+ T cell subsets. Dual blockade therapy elicited CD4+ T cells to secrete increased IFN-γ in vitro. Likewise, in vitro stimulation of pancreatic tumor cells with IFN-γ profoundly increased tumor cell production of CXCR3-specific chemokines, even in the presence of IL-6. In vivo blockade of CXCR3 prevented orthotopic tumor regression in the presence of the combination treatment, demonstrating a dependence on the CXCR3 axis for antitumor efficacy. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were required for the antitumor activity of this combination therapy, as their in vivo depletion via Abs impaired outcomes. These data represent the first report to our knowledge of IL-6 and CTLA­4 blockade as a means to regress pancreatic tumors with defined operative mechanisms of efficacy.

Urinary markers differentially associate with kidney inflammatory activity and chronicity measures in patients with lupus nephritis.

OBJECTIVE: Lupus nephritis (LN) is diagnosed by biopsy, but longitudinal monitoring assessment methods are needed. Here, in this preliminary and hypothesis-generating study, we evaluate the potential for using urine proteomics as a non-invasive method to monitor disease activity and damage. Urinary biomarkers were identified and used to develop two novel algorithms that were used to predict LN activity and chronicity. METHODS: Baseline urine samples were collected for four cohorts (healthy donors (HDs, n=18), LN (n=42), SLE (n=17) or non-LN kidney disease biopsy control (n=9)), and over 1 year for patients with LN (n=42). Baseline kidney biopsies were available for the LN (n=46) and biopsy control groups (n=9). High-throughput proteomics platforms were used to identify urinary analytes ≥1.5 SD from HD means, which were subjected to stepwise, univariate and multivariate logistic regression modelling to develop predictive algorithms for National Institutes of Health Activity Index (NIH-AI)/National Institutes of Health Chronicity Index (NIH-CI) scores. Kidney biopsies were analysed for macrophage and neutrophil markers using immunohistochemistry (IHC). RESULTS: In total, 112 urine analytes were identified from LN, SLE and biopsy control patients as both quantifiable and overexpressed compared with HDs. Regression analysis identified proteins associated with the NIH-AI (n=30) and NIH-CI (n=26), with four analytes common to both groups, demonstrating a difference in the mechanisms associated with NIH-AI and NIH-CI. Pathway analysis of the NIH-AI and NIH-CI analytes identified granulocyte-associated and macrophage-associated pathways, and the presence of these cells was confirmed by IHC in kidney biopsies. Four markers each for the NIH-AI and NIH-CI were identified and used in the predictive algorithms. The NIH-AI algorithm sensitivity and specificity were both 93% with a false-positive rate (FPR) of 7%. The NIH-CI algorithm sensitivity was 88%, specificity 96% and FPR 4%. The accuracy for both models was 93%. CONCLUSIONS: Longitudinal predictions suggested that patients with baseline NIH-AI scores of ≥8 were most sensitive to improvement over 6-12 months. Viable approaches such as this may enable the use of urine samples to monitor LN over time.

Computational pathology in 2030: a Delphi study forecasting the role of AI in pathology within the next decade.

BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly fuelling a fundamental transformation in the practice of pathology. However, clinical integration remains challenging, with no AI algorithms to date in routine adoption within typical anatomic pathology (AP) laboratories. This survey gathered current expert perspectives and expectations regarding the role of AI in AP from those with first-hand computational pathology and AI experience. METHODS: Perspectives were solicited using the Delphi method from 24 subject matter experts between December 2020 and February 2021 regarding the anticipated role of AI in pathology by the year 2030. The study consisted of three consecutive rounds: 1) an open-ended, free response questionnaire generating a list of survey items; 2) a Likert-scale survey scored by experts and analysed for consensus; and 3) a repeat survey of items not reaching consensus to obtain further expert consensus. FINDINGS: Consensus opinions were reached on 141 of 180 survey items (78.3%). Experts agreed that AI would be routinely and impactfully used within AP laboratory and pathologist clinical workflows by 2030. High consensus was reached on 100 items across nine categories encompassing the impact of AI on (1) pathology key performance indicators (KPIs) and (2) the pathology workforce and specific tasks performed by (3) pathologists and (4) AP lab technicians, as well as (5) specific AI applications and their likelihood of routine use by 2030, (6) AI's role in integrated diagnostics, (7) pathology tasks likely to be fully automated using AI, and (8) regulatory/legal and (9) ethical aspects of AI integration in pathology. INTERPRETATION: This systematic consensus study details the expected short-to-mid-term impact of AI on pathology practice. These findings provide timely and relevant information regarding future care delivery in pathology and raise key practical, ethical, and legal challenges that must be addressed prior to AI's successful clinical implementation. FUNDING: No specific funding was provided for this study.

MYOSIN LIGHT CHAIN KINASE DELETION WORSENS LUNG PERMEABILITY AND INCREASES MORTALITY IN PNEUMONIA-INDUCED SEPSIS.

ABSTRACT: Increased epithelial permeability in sepsis is mediated via disruptions in tight junctions, which are closely associated with the perijunctional actin-myosin ring. Genetic deletion of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) reverses sepsis-induced intestinal hyperpermeability and improves survival in a murine model of intra-abdominal sepsis. In an attempt to determine the generalizability of these findings, this study measured the impact of MLCK deletion on survival and potential associated mechanisms following pneumonia-induced sepsis. MLCK -/- and wild-type mice underwent intratracheal injection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Unexpectedly, survival was significantly worse in MLCK -/- mice than wild-type mice. This was associated with increased permeability to Evans blue dye in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid but not in tissue homogenate, suggesting increased alveolar epithelial leak. In addition, bacterial burden was increased in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Cytokine array using whole-lung homogenate demonstrated increases in multiple proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in knockout mice. These local pulmonary changes were associated with systemic inflammation with increased serum levels of IL-6 and IL-10 and a marked increase in bacteremia in MLCK -/- mice. Increased numbers of both bulk and memory CD4 + T cells were identified in the spleens of knockout mice, with increased early and late activation. These results demonstrate that genetic deletion of MLCK unexpectedly increases mortality in pulmonary sepsis, associated with worsened alveolar epithelial leak and both local and systemic inflammation. This suggests that caution is required in targeting MLCK for therapeutic gain in sepsis.

Body mass index and molecular subtypes of colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is an established risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC), but the evidence for the association is inconsistent across molecular subtypes of the disease. METHODS: We pooled data on body mass index (BMI), tumor microsatellite instability status, CpG island methylator phenotype status, BRAF and KRAS mutations, and Jass classification types for 11 872 CRC cases and 11 013 controls from 11 observational studies. We used multinomial logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusted for covariables. RESULTS: Higher BMI was associated with increased CRC risk (OR per 5 kg/m2 = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.15 to 1.22). The positive association was stronger for men than women but similar across tumor subtypes defined by individual molecular markers. In analyses by Jass type, higher BMI was associated with elevated CRC risk for types 1-4 cases but not for type 5 CRC cases (considered familial-like/Lynch syndrome microsatellite instability-H, CpG island methylator phenotype-low or negative, BRAF-wild type, KRAS-wild type, OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.90 to 1.20). This pattern of associations for BMI and Jass types was consistent by sex and design of contributing studies (cohort or case-control). CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to previous reports with fewer study participants, we found limited evidence of heterogeneity for the association between BMI and CRC risk according to molecular subtype, suggesting that obesity influences nearly all major pathways involved in colorectal carcinogenesis. The null association observed for the Jass type 5 suggests that BMI is not a risk factor for the development of CRC for individuals with Lynch syndrome.

Belatacept and carfilzomib-based treatment for antibody-mediated rejection in a sensitized nonhuman primate kidney transplantation model.

Introduction: One-third of HLA-incompatible kidney transplant recipients experience antibody mediated rejection (AMR) with limited treatment options. This study describes a novel treatment strategy for AMR consisting of proteasome inhibition and costimulation blockade with or without complement inhibition in a nonhuman primate model of kidney transplantation. Methods: All rhesus macaques in the present study were sensitized to maximally MHC-mismatched donors by two sequential skin transplants prior to kidney transplant from the same donor. All primates received induction therapy with rhesus-specific ATG (rhATG) and were maintained on various immunosuppressive regimens. Primates were monitored postoperatively for signs of acute AMR, which was defined as worsening kidney function resistant to high dose steroid rescue therapy, and a rise in serum donor-specific antibody (DSA) levels. Kidney biopsies were performed to confirm AMR using Banff criteria. AMR treatment consisted of carfilzomib and belatacept for a maximum of four weeks with or without complement inhibitor. Results: Treatment with carfilzomib and belatacept was well tolerated and no treatment-specific side effects were observed. After initiation of treatment, we observed a reduction of class I and class II DSA in all primates. Most importantly, primates had improved kidney function evident by reduced serum creatinine and BUN as well as increased urine output. A four-week treatment was able to extend graft survival by up to two months. Discussion: In summary, combined carfilzomib and belatacept effectively treated AMR in our highly sensitized nonhuman primate model, resulting in normalization of renal function and prolonged allograft survival. This regimen may translate into clinical practice to improve outcomes of patients experiencing AMR.

Addition of interleukin-6 receptor blockade to carfilzomib-based desensitization in a highly sensitized nonhuman primate model.

Sensitized patients, those who had prior exposure to foreign human leukocyte antigens, are transplanted at lower rates due to challenges in finding suitable organs. Desensitization strategies have permitted highly sensitized patients to undergo kidney transplantation, albeit with higher rates of rejection. This study assesses targeting plasma cell and interleukin (IL)-6 receptor for desensitization in a sensitized nonhuman primate kidney transplantation model. All animals were sensitized using two sequential skin transplants from maximally major histocompatibility complex-mismatched donors. Carfilzomib (CFZ)/tocilizumab (TCZ) desensitization (N = 6) successfully decreased donor-specific antibody (DSA) titers and prevented the expansion of B cells compared to CFZ monotherapy (N = 3). Dual desensitization further delayed, but did not prevent humoral rebound, as evidenced by a delayed increase in post-kidney transplant DSA titers. Accordingly, CFZ/TCZ desensitization conferred a significant survival advantage over CFZ monotherapy. A trend toward increased T follicular helper cells was also observed in the dual therapy group along the same timeline as an increase in DSA and subsequent graft loss. Cytomegalovirus reactivation also occurred in the CFZ/TCZ group but was prevented with ganciclovir prophylaxis. In accordance with prior studies of CFZ-based dual desensitization strategies, the addition of IL-6 receptor blockade resulted in desensitization with further suppression of posttransplant humoral response compared to CFZ monotherapy.

An integrative web-based software tool for multi-dimensional pathology whole-slide image analytics.

Objective.In the era of precision medicine, human tumor atlas-oriented studies have been significantly facilitated by high-resolution, multi-modal tissue based microscopic pathology image analytics. To better support such tissue-based investigations, we have developed Digital Pathology Laboratory (DPLab), a publicly available web-based platform, to assist biomedical research groups, non-technical end users, and clinicians for pathology whole-slide image visualization, annotation, analysis, and sharing via web browsers.Approach.A major advancement of this work is the easy-to-follow methods to reconstruct three-dimension (3D) tissue image volumes by registering two-dimension (2D) whole-slide pathology images of serial tissue sections stained by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The integration of these serial slides stained by different methods provides cellular phenotype and pathophysiologic states in the context of a 3D tissue micro-environment. DPLab is hosted on a publicly accessible server and connected to a backend computational cluster for intensive image analysis computations, with results visualized, downloaded, and shared via a web interface.Main results.Equipped with an analysis toolbox of numerous image processing algorithms, DPLab supports continued integration of community-contributed algorithms and presents an effective solution to improve the accessibility and dissemination of image analysis algorithms by research communities.Significance.DPLab represents the first step in making next generation tissue investigation tools widely available to the research community, enabling and facilitating discovery of clinically relevant disease mechanisms in a digital 3D tissue space.

Artificial intelligence based liver portal tract region identification and quantification with transplant biopsy whole-slide images.

Liver fibrosis staging is clinically important for liver disease progression prediction. As the portal tract fibrotic quantity and size in a liver biopsy correlate with the fibrosis stage, an accurate analysis of portal tract regions is clinically critical. Manual annotations of portal tract regions, however, are time-consuming and subject to large inter- and intra-observer variability. To address such a challenge, we develop a Multiple Up-sampling and Spatial Attention guided UNet model (MUSA-UNet) to segment liver portal tract regions in whole-slide images of liver tissue slides. To enhance the segmentation performance, we propose to use depth-wise separable convolution, the spatial attention mechanism, the residual connection, and multiple up-sampling paths in the developed model. This study includes 53 histopathology whole slide images from patients who received liver transplantation. In total, 6,012 patches derived from 30 images are used for our deep learning model training and validation. The remaining 23 whole slide images are utilized for the model testing. The average liver portal tract segmentation performance of the developed MUSA-UNet is 0.94 (Precision), 0.85 (Recall), 0.89 (F1 Score), 0.89 (Accuracy), 0.80 (Jaccard Index), and 0.91 (Fowlkes-Mallows Index), respectively. The clinical Scheuer fibrosis stage presents a strong correlation with the resulting average portal tract fibrotic area (R = 0.681, p<0.001) and portal tract percentage (R = 0.335, p = 0.02) computed from the MUSA-UNet segmentation results. In conclusion, our developed deep learning model MUSA-UNet can accurately segment portal tract regions from whole-slide images of liver tissue biopsies, presenting its promising potential to assist liver disease diagnosis in a computational manner.