ATC Abstracts

American Transplant Congress abstracts

  • Home
  • Meetings Archive
    • 2022 American Transplant Congress
    • 2021 American Transplant Congress
    • 2020 American Transplant Congress
    • 2019 American Transplant Congress
    • 2018 American Transplant Congress
    • 2017 American Transplant Congress
    • 2016 American Transplant Congress
    • 2015 American Transplant Congress
    • 2013 American Transplant Congress
  • Keyword Index
  • Resources
    • 2021 Resources
    • 2016 Resources
      • 2016 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2016 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2015-2016
      • AST Board of Directors 2015-2016
    • 2015 Resources
      • 2015 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2015 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2014-2015
      • AST Board of Directors 2014-2015
      • 2015 Conference Schedule
  • Search

Novel Avenue of Allograft Monitoring: Direct Measurement of Donor-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Human Plasma

W. W. Woud, D. A. Hesselink, M. J. Hoogduijn, C. C. Baan, K. Boer

Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Meeting: 2022 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: 469

Keywords: Biopsy, FACS analysis, HLA antigens, Kidney

Topic: Basic Science » Basic Clinical Science » 17 - Biomarkers: Clinical Outcomes

Session Information

Session Name: Biomarkers: Clinical Outcomes I

Session Type: Rapid Fire Oral Abstract

Date: Tuesday, June 7, 2022

Session Time: 3:30pm-5:00pm

 Presentation Time: 4:30pm-4:40pm

Location: Hynes Veterans Auditorium

*Purpose: Extracellular Vesicles (EV) – regarded as “snapshots” of their cell of origin – represent promising liquid biomarkers to monitor allograft function post transplantation. Recently, we developed an imaging flow cytometry (IFCM) based protocol to identify and characterize EV ≤240 nm in molecularly complex samples such as human plasma without prior isolation of EV. Using this protocol, we measure allograft derived EV based on HLA phenotype as a first step to detect allograft specific EV in the circulation of kidney transplant (KTx) recipients.

*Methods: EDTA blood samples from kidney transplant donors (HLA-A2+, n=21) and recipients (HLA-A2-, n=33) were collected before transplantation as well as 3 days, 7 days, 6 months and during ‘for-cause’ biopsies (recipients only) after transplantation. Platelet-poor plasma (PPP) was stained with a donor-specific HLA antibody (HLA-A2) in combination with a common EV marker (tetraspanin CD9) and measured using standardized IFCM.

*Results: Quantification and comparison of CD9+/HLA-A2+ double-positive EV showed 1.1E7 ± 8.9E6 vs 3.5E5 ± 2.5E5 objects/mL for donor and recipient (pre-KTx) EV respectively, with recipients A2- EV concentrations representing background level of the machine. CV values for inter- and intra-assay variability were 16% and 11%, respectively. Serial dilution of A2+ PPP in A2- PPP (n=5) showed a linear reduction in the numbers of CD9+/HLA-A2+ EV according to the dilution rate whilst total CD9+ EV levels remained unchanged. The lower limit of detection of IFCM was defined as the dilution at which point CD9+/HLA-A2+ EV dropped below baseline (A2- PPP) and was determined to be ~1%. Measurement of longitudinally collected recipient samples revealed the detection of allograft derived EV as soon as 3 days – but up to at least 6 months – after KTx.

*Conclusions: Here we demonstrate for the first time the detection of allograft derived EV in the circulation of KTx recipients in unprocessed human plasma samples. Identification, quantification and characterization of these EV opens up the possibility to monitor these EV over time after transplantation, and may prove to be a minimally-invasive biomarker.

  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Woud WW, Hesselink DA, Hoogduijn MJ, Baan CC, Boer K. Novel Avenue of Allograft Monitoring: Direct Measurement of Donor-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Human Plasma [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2022; 22 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/novel-avenue-of-allograft-monitoring-direct-measurement-of-donor-derived-extracellular-vesicles-in-human-plasma/. Accessed May 9, 2025.

« Back to 2022 American Transplant Congress

Visit Our Partner Sites

American Transplant Congress (ATC)

Visit the official site for the American Transplant Congress »

American Journal of Transplantation

The official publication for the American Society of Transplantation (AST) and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) »

American Society of Transplantation (AST)

An organization of more than 3000 professionals dedicated to advancing the field of transplantation. »

American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS)

The society represents approximately 1,800 professionals dedicated to excellence in transplantation surgery. »

Copyright © 2013-2025 by American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Cookie Preferences