Intragraft Gene Expression in Positive Crossmatch Kidney Allografts: Ongoing Inflammation Mediates Chronic Antibody-Mediated Injury

We studied intragraft gene expression profiles of positive crossmatch (+XM) kidney transplant recipients who develop transplant glomerulopathy (TG) and those who do not. Whole genome microarray analysis and quantitative rt-PCR for 30 transcripts were performed on RNA from protocol renal allograft biopsies in 3 groups: 1) +XM/TG+ biopsies before and after TG; 2) +XM/NoTG; and 3) negative crossmatch kidney transplants (control). Microarray comparisons showed few differentially expressed genes between paired biopsies from +XM/TG+ recipients before and after the diagnosis of TG. Comparing +XM/TG+ and control groups, significantly altered expression was seen for 2,447 genes (18%) and 3,200 genes (24%) at early and late time points, respectively. Canonical pathway analyses of differentially expressed genes showed inflammatory genes associated with innate and adaptive immune responses. Comparing +XM/TG+ and +XM/NoTG groups, 3,718 probe sets were differentially expressed but these were over-represented in only 4 pathways. A classic accommodation phenotype was not identified. Using rt-PCR, the expression of inflammatory genes was significantly increased in +XM/TG+ recipients compared to control biopsies and to +XM/NoTG biopsies. In conclusion, pre-transplant DSA results in a gene expression profile characterized by inflammation and cellular infiltration and the majority of XM+ grafts are exposed to chronic injury.

56

Dean PG, Park WD, Cornell LD, Gloor JM, Stegall MD