NK-Cell Subset Distribution, Renal Function and Biopsy Findings in Kidney Transplant Recipients With HLA Donor-Specific Antibodies
1Nephrology Unit, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
2Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
3Servicio de Inmunología, Institut Mar d'Investigacions Mediques, Barcelona, Spain
4Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
5Laboratori de Referencia de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
6Immunology Department, Hospital de Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
Meeting: 2015 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: A114
Keywords: Alloantibodies, Biopsy, Glomerular filtration rate (GFR), Natural killer cells
Session Information
Session Name: Poster Session A: Kidney Antibody Mediated Rejection
Session Type: Poster Session
Date: Saturday, May 2, 2015
Session Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm
Presentation Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm
Location: Exhibit Hall E
Background: Detection of post-transplant donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies(DSA) constitutes a risk factor for kidney transplant (KT) loss. NK-cell antibody-dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity(ADCC) has been proposed to contribute to microvascular damage associated to antibody-mediated rejection(ABMR). We assessed peripheral NK-cell subsets in KT recipients with circulating DSA and the potential relationship with clinical outcomes or histological changes.
Methods: Observational exploratory study of 38 patients with anti-HLA DSA. Data base collecting demographics and clinical data. Contemporaneous analysis of HLA antibodies (Luminex screening and single-antigen tests) and peripheral CD3-CD56+NK-cells immunophenotyping (NKG2A, NKG2C, KIR, ILT2, CD161) a median of 60 months post-KT.
Results: Correlation was found between NKG2A+ cells and serum creatinine (r2=0.28, p=0.03) and eGFR (r2=-0.32, p=0.052) in DSA patients, but not in patients with anti-HLA non-DSA or in patients without anti-HLA antibodies. A higher SCr and urinary protein to creatinine ratio (PCOR) was found in DSA patients with NKG2A+ ≥40% (n=30) vs in those with NKG2A+<40% (n=8) (1.82±0.83 vs 1.17±0.46 mg/dl, p=0.04 and 368±372 vs 209±124 mg/mg, p=0.057, respectively). No significant correlation was detected between NK profile and graft loss. Of 29/38 DSA patients with biopsies, 23 had antibody-mediated changes according to Banff/09 classification (Category 2), and showed significantly higher %CD3-CD56+NKG2A+ than 6 DSA patients without ABMR histological lesions (63.3% [IQR:45.4,72.4] vs 44.4% [IQR:33.9,51.6], p=0.03). We did not find correlation between NK-cell profile and C4d staining or chronic transplant glomerulopathy.
Conclusions: Our study shows that the percentage of circulating NKG2A cells in KT recipients with DSA correlate with graft function and histological damage, thus probably selecting a subgroup of patients with stronger histological injury or different mechanisms of graft damage.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Crespo M, Redondo D, Gimeno J, Yelamos J, Muntasell A, Faura A, Pérez-Sáez M, López-Montañes M, Torío A, García C, Mir M, Hernandez J, López-Botet M, Pascual J. NK-Cell Subset Distribution, Renal Function and Biopsy Findings in Kidney Transplant Recipients With HLA Donor-Specific Antibodies [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2015; 15 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/nk-cell-subset-distribution-renal-function-and-biopsy-findings-in-kidney-transplant-recipients-with-hla-donor-specific-antibodies/. Accessed November 2, 2024.« Back to 2015 American Transplant Congress