heterotopic-auxiliary-whole-liver-rat-transplant-model-utilizing

Heterotopic Auxiliary Whole Liver Rat Transplant Model Utilizing a Hepaticoureterostomy for Allograft Rejection Studies

Small animal transplant models are indispensable for organ tolerance studies investigating feasible therapeutic interventions in preclinical studies. Rat ...

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Alloantibody represents a significant barrier in kidney transplant through the sensitization of patients prior to transplant through antibody mediated rejection (ABMR). APRIL BLyS are critical survival factors for mature B lymphocytes plasma cells, the primary source of alloantibody. We examined the effect of APRIL/BLyS blockade via TACI-Ig (Transmembrane activator calcium modulator cyclophilin lig interactor-Immunoglobulin) in a preclinical rodent model as treatment for both desensitization ABMR. Lewis rats were sensitized with Brown Norway (BN) blood for 21 days. Following sensitization, animals were then sacrificed or romized into kidney transplant (G4, sensitized transplant control); desensitization with TACI-Ig followed by kidney transplant (G5, sensitized + pre-transplant TACI-Ig); kidney transplant with post-transplant TACI-Ig for 21 days (G6, sensitized + post-transplant TACI-Ig); desensitization with TACI-Ig followed by kidney transplant post-transplant TACI-Ig for 21 days (G7, sensitized + pre- post-transplant TACI-Ig). Animals were sacrificed on day 21 post-transplant tissues were analyzed using flow cytometry, IHC, ELISPOT, RT-PCR. Sensitized animals treated with APRIL/BLyS blockade demonstrated a significant decrease in marginal zone non-switched B lymphocyte populations (p<0.01). Antibody secreting cells were also significantly reduced in the sensitized APRIL/BLyS blockade treated group. Post-transplant APRIL/BLyS blockade treated animals were found to have significantly less C4d deposition less ABMR as defined by Banff classification when compared to groups receiving APRIL/BLyS blockade before transplant or both before after transplant (p<0.0001). The finding of worse ABMR in groups receiving APRIL/BLyS blockade before both before after transplant may indicate that B lymphocyte depletion in this setting also resulted in regulatory lymphocyte depletion resulting in a worse rejection. Data presented here demonstrates that the targeting of APRIL BLyS can significantly deplete mature B lymphocytes, antibody secreting cells, effectively decrease ABMR when given post-transplant in a sensitized animal model.

Desensitization and treatment with APRIL/BLyS blockade in rodent kidney transplant model.

Highly sensitized candidates on the transplant waitlist remain a significant challenge, as current desensitization protocols have variable success rates of donor-specific antibody (DSA) reduction. Therefore, improved therapies are needed. A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) and B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) are critical survival factors for B-lymphocytes and plasma cells, which are the primary sources of alloantibody production. We examined the effect of APRIL/BLyS blockade on DSA in a murine kidney transplant model as a possible novel desensitization strategy.

APRIL/BLyS Blockade Reduces Donor-specific Antibodies in Allosensitized Mice.

Chronic antibody mediated rejection (cAMR) remains a significant barrier to achieving long-term graft survival in kidney transplantation, which results from alloantibody production from B lymphocytes and plasma cells. APRIL (A proliferation-inducing ligand) and BLyS (B lymphocyte stimulator) are critical survival factors for B lymphocytes and plasma cells. Here we describe the results of APRIL/BLyS blockade in a murine cAMR kidney transplant model. c57/B6 mice underwent kidney transplantation with Bm12 kidneys (minor MHC mismatch), a well-described model for chronic rejection where animals cannot make donor specific antibody but rather make antinuclear antibody (ANA). Following transplantation, animals received TACI-Ig (to block APRIL and BLyS) or no treatment. Animals were continued on treatment until harvest 4 weeks following transplant. Serum was analyzed for circulating anti-nuclear autoantibodies using HEp-2 indirect immunofluorescence. Spleen and transplanted kidneys were analyzed via H&E. ANA production was significantly decreased in APRIL/BLyS blockade treated animals (p<0.0001). No significant difference in autoantibody production was found between syngeneic transplant control (B6 to B6) and APRIL/BLyS blockade treated animals (p = 0.90). Additionally, disruption of splenic germinal center architecture was noted in the APRIL/BLyS blockade treated animals. Despite the significant decrease in autoantibody production and germinal center disruption, no significant difference in lymphocyte infiltration was noted in the transplanted kidney. APRIL/BLyS blockade resulted in a significant decrease of autoantibody production and disrupted splenic germinal center formation in a chronic kidney transplant model, however in this model no difference in kidney transplant pathology was seen, which may have to do with the absence of any T cell centric immunosuppression. Regardless, these findings suggest that APRIL/BLyS blockade may play a role in decreasing antibody formation long-term in kidney transplantation. Future investigations will use APRIL/BLyS blockade in conjunction with T lymphocyte depleting agents to determine its efficacy in chronic rejection.

Autoantibody production significantly decreased with APRIL/BLyS blockade in murine chronic rejection kidney transplant model.

Ischemia-reperfusion injury, including injury from warm- and cold-ischemia (CI) organ storage, remains a significant problem for all solid organ transplants. Suppressing CI damage would reduce delayed graft function and increase the donor organ pool size. PrC-210 has demonstrated superior prevention of damage in several preclinical studies as an immediate-acting free-radical scavenger. Here, we describe its profound efficacy in suppressing CI injury in a rat kidney model.

Significant Improvement in Rat Kidney Cold Storage Using UW Organ Preservation Solution Supplemented With the Immediate-Acting PrC-210 Free Radical Scavenger.

Allograft kidney transplantation, which triggers host cellular- and antibody-mediated rejection of the kidney, is a major contributor to kidney damage during transplant. Here, we asked whether PrC-210 would suppress damage seen in allograft kidney transplant. Brown Norway (BN) rat kidneys were perfused in situ (UW Solution) with or without added 30 mM PrC-210, and then immediately transplanted into Lewis (LEW) rats. 20 h later, the transplanted BN kidneys and LEW rat plasma were analyzed. Kidney histology, and kidney/serum levels of several inflammation-associated cytokines, were measured to assess mismatch-related kidney pathology, and PrC-210 protective efficacy. Twenty hours after the allograft transplants: (i) significant histologic kidney tubule damage and mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltration were seen in allograft kidneys; (ii) kidney function metrics (creatinine and BUN) were significantly elevated; (iii) significant changes in key cytokines, i.e., TIMP-1, TNF-alpha and MIP-3A/CCL20, and kidney activated caspase levels were seen. In PrC-210-treated kidneys and recipient rats, (i) kidney histologic damage (Banff Scores) and mononuclear infiltration were reduced to untreated background levels; (ii) creatinine and BUN were significantly reduced; and (iii) activated caspase and cytokine changes were significantly reduced, some to background. In conclusion, the results suggest that PrC-210 could provide broadly applicable organ protection for many allograft transplantation conditions; it could protect transplanted kidneys during and after all stages of the transplantation process-from organ donation, through transportation, re-implantation and the post-operative inflammation-to minimize acute and chronic rejection.

Suppression of Inflammation-Associated Kidney Damage Post-Transplant Using the New PrC-210 Free Radical Scavenger in Rats.

APRIL (A proliferation inducing ligand) and BLyS (B Lymphocyte Stimulator) are two critical survival factors for B lymphocytes and plasma cells, the main source of alloantibody. We sought to characterize the specific effects of these cytokines in a kidney transplant model of antibody mediated rejection (AMR). We engineered APRIL-/- and BLyS-/- Lewis rats using CRISPR/Cas9. APRIL-/- and BLyS-/- rats were sensitized with Brown Norway (BN) blood (complete MHC mismatch). Twenty-one days following sensitization, animals were harvested and collected tissues were analyzed using flow cytometry, ELISPOT, and immunohistochemistry. Flow cross match and a 3 day mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) was performed to assess donor specific antibody (DSA) production and T-cell proliferation, respectively. Sensitized dual knock out Lewis rats (APRIL-/-/BLyS-/-) underwent kidney transplantation and were sacrificed on day 7 post-transplant. Sensitized BLyS-/- had significant decreases in DSA and cell proliferation compared to WT and APRIL-/- (p<0.02). Additionally, BLyS-/- rats had a significant reduction in IgG secreting cells in splenic marginal zone B lymphocytes, and in cell proliferation when challenged with alloantigen compared to WT and APRIL-/-. Transplanted APRIL-/-/BLyS-/- rodents had significantly less DSA and antibody secreting cells compared to WT (p<0.05); however, this did not translate into a significant difference in AMR seen between groups. In summary, our studies suggest that APRIL and BLyS play a greater role in DSA generation rather than AMR, highlighting the role of cellular pathways that regulate AMR.

Article	Year
Desensitization and treatment with APRIL/BLyS blockade in rodent kidney transplant model. PloS one\| PubMed ID: 30735519	2019
APRIL/BLyS Blockade Reduces Donor-specific Antibodies in Allosensitized Mice. Transplantation\| PubMed ID: 30830041	2019
Autoantibody production significantly decreased with APRIL/BLyS blockade in murine chronic rejection kidney transplant model. PloS one\| PubMed ID: 31647850	2019
Significant Improvement in Rat Kidney Cold Storage Using UW Organ Preservation Solution Supplemented With the Immediate-Acting PrC-210 Free Radical Scavenger. Transplantation direct\| PubMed ID: 33134502	2020
Suppression of Inflammation-Associated Kidney Damage Post-Transplant Using the New PrC-210 Free Radical Scavenger in Rats. Biomolecules\| PubMed ID: 34356678	2021
APRIL/BLyS deficient rats prevent donor specific antibody (DSA) production and cell proliferation in rodent kidney transplant model. PloS one\| PubMed ID: 36227902	2022

Bret Verhoven

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