R01AI158421

Acute Antibody Mediated Kidney Allograft Rejection - Abstract

Antibody-mediated lymphocyte depletion is a common strategy to eliminate donor-reactive T cells in transplant recipients. However, memory T cells are more resistant to depletion and have been associated with acute rejection episodes in transplant recipients treated with polyclonal rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) or anti-CD52 MAB. Understanding the mechanisms and composition of T cells reconstituted in lymphopenic transplant recipients is thus critical for the rational use of lymphoablative therapies and for improving their graft-prolonging efficacy.

The ultimate goal of our studies is to develop approaches that minimize homeostatic expansion and shift the balance towards thymopoiesis, thus avoiding over-immunosuppression. During the previous funding cycle, we used a murine ATG analog (MATG) in a mouse heart allograft model to establish that homeostatic reconstitution of the entire T cell compartment is driven by depletion-resistant memory CD4+ T cells via B cells and CD40/CD154 pathway. While cognate TCR-PMHC interactions between B cells and T cells were dispensable, we identified posttransplant inflammation and B cell-derived cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-27 as key factors facilitating homeostatic T cell recovery.

Our preliminary data indicate that signaling through pattern recognition receptors TLR4, TLR9, and a macrophage-inducible C-type lectin (MINCLE, or CLEC4E) is required to initiate B cell production of proinflammatory cytokines. We further identified innate-like marginal zone (MZ) B cells acting as initial sensors of posttransplant inflammation in lymphopenic recipients. Genetic deficiency or specific depletion of MZ B cells markedly delays T cell reconstitution in MATG-treated heart allograft recipients.

We hypothesize that inflammation induced by transplantation at the time of lymphoablation promotes rapid T cell reconstitution. DAMPs released by the graft activate B cells to secrete proinflammatory cytokines that further amplify B cell activation and directly enhance T cell proliferation. In particular, MZ B cells activated via C-type lectin receptor MINCLE and TLRs act as initial sensors of posttransplant inflammation facilitating proinflammatory functions of follicular B cells. Therefore, the homeostatic recovery of memory T cells and ensuing allograft rejection may be decreased by minimizing DAMPs signaling or by targeting MZ B cell activation and functions.

We will test this hypothesis in two specific aims:

Aim 1. To test the role of MZ B cells as primary sensors of graft tissue injury in lymphopenic recipients.

Aim 2. To investigate the mechanisms by which C-type lectin receptor MINCLE facilitates B cell proinflammatory functions after MATG lymphoablation.

The proposed studies will mechanistically dissect how inflammatory pathways triggered by allograft ischemia/reperfusion injury drive rapid reconstitution of depletion-resistant memory T cells. Based on these insights, we will test the efficacy of several clinically relevant approaches for inhibiting recovery of pathogenic donor-reactive memory T cells and prolonging heart allograft survival in ATG-treated recipients.

Cleveland Clinic Lerner College Of Medicine Of Case Western Reserve University

TO ASSIST PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO ESTABLISH, EXPAND AND IMPROVE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND RELATED AREAS, TO CONDUCT DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH, TO PRODUCE AND TEST RESEARCH MATERIALS. TO ASSIST PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO CONDUCT DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH, TO PRODUCE AND TEST RESEARCH MATERIALS, TO PROVIDE RESEARCH SERVICES AS REQUIRED BY THE AGENCY FOR PROGRAMS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES, AND CONTROLLING DISEASE CAUSED BY INFECTIOUS OR PARASITIC AGENTS, ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC DISEASES AND RELATED AREAS. PROJECTS RANGE FROM STUDIES OF MICROBIAL PHYSIOLOGY AND ANTIGENIC STRUCTURE TO COLLABORATIVE TRIALS OF EXPERIMENTAL DRUGS AND VACCINES, MECHANISMS OF RESISTANCE TO ANTIBIOTICS AS WELL AS RESEARCH DEALING WITH EPIDEMIOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS OR COMMUNITY POPULATIONS AND PROGRESS IN ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC DISEASES. BECAUSE OF THIS DUAL FOCUS, THE PROGRAM ENCOMPASSES BOTH BASIC RESEARCH AND CLINICAL RESEARCH. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM EXPANDS AND IMPROVES PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH. THE SBIR PROGRAM INTENDS TO INCREASE AND FACILITATE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. THE SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM STIMULATES AND FOSTERS SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. RESEARCH CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARDS SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTISTS DURING THE FORMATIVE STAGES OF THEIR CAREERS. INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARDS (NRSAS) ARE MADE DIRECTLY TO APPROVE APPLICANTS FOR RESEARCH TRAINING IN SPECIFIED BIOMEDICAL SHORTAGE AREAS. IN ADDITION, INSTITUTIONAL NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARDS ARE MADE TO ENABLE INSTITUTIONS TO SELECT AND MAKE AWARDS TO INDIVIDUALS TO RECEIVE TRAINING UNDER THE AEGIS OF THEIR INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAM.

93.855 - Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) [HHS - NIH]

Cleveland, Ohio 44195 United States

Single Zip Code

NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PA-20-185)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 400% from $607,527 to $3,037,635.