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Background Aim of this study was to evaluate whether asymptomatic recurrent (≥ 2) antibody-mediated rejection (pAMR1+), defined as diffuse capillary C4d immunostaining (rAMR) on endomyocardial biopsies (EMB), during the first year after heart transplantation impairs left ventricular (LV) function. Methods 54 consecutive heart transplant patients who survived well (NYHA ≤ 2 and EF ≥ 55%) the first month after transplantation were enrolled and prospectively underwent 490 echocardiographies and EMB. Asymptomatic rAMR without histopathologic findings was evaluated as a risk factor for deterioration of graft function. Primary endpoint, assessed one year after transplantation, was development of LV dysfunction and/or adverse remodeling according to prespecified echo parameters. Results During the first year from transplantation rAMR occurred in 5 patients. Recurrent AMR was associated with a significant higher risk to develop LV concentric hypertrophy (OR 3.6, 95% CI: 1.8-7.0, p .02) or reduced lateral S’ peak velocity (OR 2.3, 95% CI: 1.5-3.6, p .03). Patients with rAMR showed significative adverse graft remodeling (ΔLV end-diastolic volume: +16 ± 12.3 vs. - 0.2 ± 14.4 ml; p .02) and deterioration of graft function (Δlateral S’ peak velocity: -3.3 ± 3 vs. -0.4 ± 2.9 cm/s; p .03). Conclusions Recurrent asymptomatic diffuse capillary C4d immunostaining may play a role in the early development of cardiac allograft adverse remodeling and dysfunction. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Background The C1q-binding properties of donor specific antibodies (DSA) may be related to antibody-mediated rejection and poor outcome. Methods We retrospectively studied 35 kidney transplant recipients with transplant glomerulopathy (TG) and de novo DSA (dnDSA). C1q dnDSA were measured in the serum stored at renal biopsy and the association among C1q-fixing dnDSA, C4d deposition and graft loss was examined. Results Of the 35 patients with dnDSA and TG, 15 (42.9%) had C1q-positive dnDSA and 20 (57.1%) had C1q-negative dnDSA. Ten out of 15 patients with C1q-positive dnDSA (66.6%) and 5 with C1q-negative dnDSA (25%) had C4d positive staining renal biopsies (P = 0.02), being the C1q-negative dnDSA/C4d-negative TG 42.9% of the total. The C1q-positive dnDSA group has significantly higher IgG DSA Class II MFI than the C1q-negative dnDSA group (P = 0.004). Patients with C4d deposits have significantly higher IgG DSA MFI for both Class I and Class II than those without C4d deposits (P = 0.02). We found a trend toward higher graft loss in the C1q-positive dnDSA group (60%) versus the C1q-negative dnDSA group (40%) without a statistical significance (P = 0.31). Conclusion Our study provides further characterization of TG associated with dnDSA. The major part of dnDSA-associated TG was C1q-negative and the presence of C1q-fixing dnDSA did not significantly correlate with graft outcome.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) present in the urine are mainly released from cells of the nephron and can therefore provide information on kidney function. We here evaluated the presence of vesicles expressing the progenitor marker CD133 in the urine of normal subjects and of patients undergoing renal transplant. We found that EV expressing CD133 were present in the urine of normal subjects, but not of patients with end stage renal disease. The first day after transplant, urinary CD133+ EVs were present at low levels, to increase thereafter (at day 7). Urinary CD133(+) EVs significantly increased in patients with slow graft function in respect to those with early graft function. In patients with a severe pre-transplant vascular damage of the graft, CD133(+) EVs did not increase at day 7. At variance, the levels of EVs expressing the renal exosomal marker CD24 did not vary in the urine of patients with end stage renal disease or in transplanted patients in respect to controls. Sorted CD133(+) EVs were found to express glomerular and proximal tubular markers. These data indicate that urinary CD133(+) EVs are continuously released during the homeostatic turnover of the nephron and may provide information on its function or regenerative potential.

Two transplant candidates sensitized during pregnancy by a B*44:02 mismatch showed antibodies that reacted with an epitope defined by the 145R+82LR eplet pair shared by all Bw4 antigens in single allele Luminex panels except B13. Both eplets are on one or more alleles of the antibody producer and according to HLAMatchmaker, they are considered intralocus and interlocus matches which should not induce antibodies. The recently developed nonself-self paradigm for HLA epitope immunogenicity has offered a ready explanation why the pair of self-145R and self-82LR eplets on B*44:02 induced specific antibodies. This finding is consistent with the concept that alloantibody responses originate from B-cells with self-HLA immunoglobulin receptors.

The effect of B cell cross-match (XM) was investigated in 680 first deceased-donor kidney transplants in a single centre from 1990 to 1999: 74 transplants presented a B-positive XM (Group 1) 606 had a B-negative XM (Group 2). The absence in Group 1 of weak/low-titre anti-HLA Class I antibodies was assured blocking anti-Class I reactivity by treating B cells with non-cytotoxic anti-beta2 microglobulin (alphabeta2 M) serum before XM. Graft survivals up to 5 years were not significantly different; some differences were nevertheless observed: HLA-A,B,DR mismatches influenced graft outcome in Group 1: patients with 0-2 mismatches had better survival than patients with 3-4. When analysed according DR mismatch, patients with 1 mismatch had worse graft survival than well matched patients (p0.05). No significant difference depending on HLA match was observed in Group 2. Early acute rejection rate was similar in the Groups except the rejection episodes after one year: Group 1 had significantly more. 61/74 patients of Group 1 were retrospectively analysed for anti-HLA-DR,DQ reactivity: only 11/61 had anti-HLA-DR or DQ antibodies (3/11 were donor specific); graft survival and rejections were not significantly different in the patients with and without anti-HLA Class II antibodies. Anti-donor B cell reactivity, at XM, once excluded the presence of weak/low-titre anti-HLA Class I antibodies, did not influence first kidney graft survival.

Context.—The first national quality control (QC) program of histocompatibility serum testing was performed in Italy in 2002. Objective.—To monitor the performance of HLA typing laboratories while meeting the accreditation requirements of the European Federation for Immunogenetics (EFI), which require HLA typing laboratories to participate in external QC of their crossmatch and antibody analyses. Design.—The Turin Transplant Immunology Service was asked to organize a QC survey of 17 HLA typing laboratories in Italy. Each laboratory received 12 serum specimens and 6 blood samples and was required to perform 36 crossmatches and 12 serum antibody specificity determinations. Settings.—Data of participating centers were compared to establish whether EFI requirements were satisfied. Results.—In crossmatch analysis, the results of 32 of 36 crossmatches reached the 75% consensus target, with all the participating laboratories meeting the standards of the EFI. In antibody analysis, only 7 of 17 laboratories met the EFI standards. Conclusion.—The first Italian QC program shows that the participating laboratories obtained consistent results in crossmatching, whereas the results were less satisfactory in the determination of serum antibody specificity, where consensus was reached only with monospecific sera and antibody-negative samples.

Two transplant candidates sensitized during pregnancy by a B*44:02 mismatch showed antibodies that reacted with an epitope defined by the 145R+82LR eplet pair shared by all Bw4 antigens in single allele Luminex panels except B13. Both eplets are on one or more alleles of the antibody producer and according to HLAMatchmaker, they are considered intralocus and interlocus matches which should not induce antibodies. The recently developed nonself-self paradigm for HLA epitope immunogenicity has offered a ready explanation why the pair of self-145R and self-82LR eplets on B*44:02 induced specific antibodies. This finding is consistent with the concept that alloantibody responses originate from B-cells with self-HLA immunoglobulin receptors.