Perfusion Disturbances and Local Infarctions After Experimental Kidney Transplantation Corralte With the Duration of Cold Ischemia Time

S. Rong,¹ R. Chen,¹ M. Meier,⁴ B. Hensen,² H. Haller,¹ K. Hueper,² F. Gueler.¹

¹Nephrology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
²Radiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
³Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
⁴Imaging Center, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.

Meeting: 2015 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: D101

Keywords: Inflammation, Kidney transplantation, Renal ischemia, Renal thrombosis

Session Information

Session Name: Poster Session D: Innate Immunity in Transplantation

Session Type: Poster Session

Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Session Time: 5:30pm-6:30pm

Presentation Time: 5:30pm-6:30pm

Location: Exhibit Hall E

Background: Kidney transplantation in mice is challenging but offers good translational models to study mechanisms of disease. In this study allogenic and isogenic kidney transplantation with different cold ischemia times was done and analysed for renal perfusion impairment.

Methods: In the acute rejection model C57Bl/6 donor kidneys were transplanted to Balb/C recipients; cold ischemia time (CIT) was 60min, warm ischemia time was 30min. This model is a combination of delayed graft function and acute T-cell mediated rejection. As comparison isogenic kidney transplantation was performed. For chronic allograft rejection Balb/C donor kidneys were transplanted to C57Bl/6 recipients (CIT: 30min). Histology for renal morphology and immunohistochemistry for inflammation (leukocyte subsets) and fibrosis (fibronectin) was done. Functional MRI was performed repetitively and analysed for renal perfusion impairment.

Results: Isogenic ktx histology revealed normal renal morphology 3 weeks after surgery and stable renal blood flow in functional MRI. Allogenic ktx in the acute model resulted in acute rejection (Banff IIA, IIB) with severe inflammation. 75% of the allografts had local infarctions with vessel occlusion partially in areas of heavy inflammation suggesting that infarction was secondary to inflammation. Infarcted areas without any leukocyte are suggestive for surgical complications. Infarcts were characterized by MRI signal alterations and perfusion defects. Functional MRI showed steadily declining renal perfusion with ongoing rejection also when excluding areas of infarction. Perfusion defects occurred mainly after allogenic kidney transplantation. Prolonged cold ischemia time enhances inflammation and the incidence of infarction (75% with 60min CIT, 25% with 30min CIT in the allogenic model). In the vicinity of occluded vessels fibrosis is markedly enhanced compared to the rest of the tissue.

Conclusion: The duration of cold ischemia time enhances the risk for partial infarction and accelerates rejection. Renal perfusion measurements by functional MRI correlate with rejection and offers non-invasive techniques to monitor inflammation and to assess graft pathologies.

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Rong S, Chen R, Meier M, Hensen B, Haller H, Hueper K, Gueler F. Perfusion Disturbances and Local Infarctions After Experimental Kidney Transplantation Corralte With the Duration of Cold Ischemia Time [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2015; 15 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/perfusion-disturbances-and-local-infarctions-after-experimental-kidney-transplantation-corralte-with-the-duration-of-cold-ischemia-time/. Accessed May 6, 2025.

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