Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nissrin Alachkar, Nada Alachkar
Summary: Diagnosing kidney allograft rejection is complex and subjective, but an automated Banff classification could make assessment easier and improve accuracy.
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Rania El Fekih, James Hurley, Vasisht Tadigotla, Areej Alghamdi, Anand Srivastava, Christine Coticchia, John Choi, Hazim Allos, Karim Yatim, Juliano Alhaddad, Siawosh Eskandari, Philip Chu, Albana B. Mihali, Isadora T. Lape, Mauricio P. Lima Filho, Bruno T. Aoyama, Anil Chandraker, Kassem Safa, James F. Markmann, Leonardo V. Riella, Richard N. Formica, Johan Skog, Jamil R. Azzi
Summary: The study demonstrates that urinary exosomal mRNA signatures are a powerful and noninvasive tool for screening kidney allograft rejection, with high predictive performance. The signatures can differentiate between different types of rejection and assist clinicians in therapeutic decision making.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Emilie Gaiffe, Mathilde Colladant, Maxime Desmaret, Jamal Bamoulid, Franck Leroux, Caroline Laheurte, Sophie Brouard, Magali Giral, Philippe Saas, Cecile Courivaud, Nicolas Degauque, Didier Ducloux
Summary: Unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis was performed on pre-transplant immunological phenotype in 1113 renal transplant recipients, identifying three immune profiles correlated with clinical phenotypes. The memory immune cluster was associated with older age and diabetes, while the activated immune cluster was associated with younger age and previous exposure to CMV. Both were associated with an increased risk of acute rejection.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Jeroen G. H. P. Verhoeven, Carla C. Baan, Annemiek M. A. Peeters, Marian C. Clahsen-van Groningen, Daan Nieboer, Marielle Herzog, Marc Eccleston, Dennis A. Hesselink, Karin Boer
Summary: In this pilot study, total circulating cell-free nucleosomes (H3) concentrations are increased during acute kidney transplant rejection. The high negative predictive value suggests that when a patient experiences loss of renal transplant function and total CCFN (H3) is not increased, causes other than acute rejection should be considered. Clinical implementation of total CCFN (H3) measurement may help avoid unnecessary and potentially harmful kidney transplant biopsies.
CLINICAL EPIGENETICS
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Martin Tepel, Subagini Nagarajah, Qais Saleh, Olivier Thaunat, Stephan J. L. Bakker, Jacob van den Born, Morten A. Karsdal, Federica Genovese, Daniel G. K. Rasmussen
Summary: The characterization of potential kidney transplant recipients using novel biomarkers can lead to improved outcomes after transplantation. This mini-review focuses on the current understanding of pretransplant recipients' characteristics, biomarkers, and immunology. Clinical characteristics and immunological risk assessment, such as histocompatibility leukocyte antigens (HLAs) and non-HLA antibodies, have been used to predict recipient and allograft survival. Recent studies have shown that pretransplant markers, such as plasma endotrophin levels and non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism mismatch, are associated with posttransplant complications and allograft loss. Integrating clinical characteristics and novel markers is important for making better diagnostic decisions tailored to individual patients.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Sami Alasfar, Lavanya Kodali, Carrie A. Schinstock
Summary: Despite advancements in immunosuppressive therapies, kidney transplant rejection remains a challenge. This article provides an overview of the diagnosis, current therapies, and management strategies for acute T-cell-mediated rejection (TCMR) and antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR). Corticosteroids are the primary treatment for TCMR, while plasmapheresis is commonly used for ABMR, although its efficacy is still debated. Optimizing immunosuppression and addressing adherence are crucial for managing both types of rejection, but further research is needed to explore newer therapeutics and evaluate their effectiveness.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Ashish Kataria, Dhiren Kumar, Gaurav Gupta
Summary: Recent years have seen significant growth in clinical research on the use of donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) in solid-organ transplants (SOT). While initially studied as a means of detecting allograft rejection, it is now considered more of an indicator of the severity of organ damage. Multiple studies suggest that dd-cfDNA is effective in diagnosing antibody-mediated rejection but less so for T-cell-mediated rejection.
Review
Immunology
Ashish Kataria, Dhiren Kumar, Gaurav Gupta
Summary: Recent years have seen a surge in clinical research on the use of donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) in solid-organ transplants, showing potential in diagnosing rejection reactions. While most studies have focused on kidney transplants, research on other organ transplants is ongoing. Findings indicate that dd-cfDNA can serve as a marker for assessing injury severity, but its specificity in relation to rejection reactions requires further exploration.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Torsten R. Goesch, Nancy A. Wilson, Weifeng Zeng, Bret M. Verhoven, Weixiong Zhong, Maya M. Coumbe Gitter, William E. Fahl
Summary: PrC-210 has shown potential to suppress kidney damage and inflammation caused by allograft kidney transplantation, reducing histologic damage, improving kidney function metrics, and decreasing levels of inflammatory cytokines and activated caspase.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Israa Sharaby, Ahmed Alksas, Mohamed Abou El-Ghar, Mona Eldeeb, Mohammed Ghazal, Dibson Gondim, Ayman El-Baz
Summary: Kidney transplantation is the preferred treatment for end-stage renal failure, but the limited availability of donors and the risk of immune rejection pose significant challenges. Early detection of acute renal rejection is crucial for the lifespan of the transplanted kidney. This review summarizes recent studies investigating various markers for differentiating between different types of acute kidney rejection, aiming to aid in the early detection and treatment of acute renal rejection for better outcomes in renal-transplant patients.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Hani Oweira, Ali Ramouz, Omid Ghamarnejad, Elias Khajeh, Sadeq Ali-Hasan-Al-Saegh, Rajan Nikbakhsh, Christoph Reissfelder, Nuh Rahbari, Arianeb Mehrabi, Mahmoud Sadeghi
Summary: Multiple factors influence graft rejection after kidney transplantation, including donor and recipient characteristics, as well as pre- and post-operative parameters. Identifying these risk factors helps reduce the risk of rejection and improve graft survival.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Xingqiang Lai, Xin Zheng, James M. Mathew, Lorenzo Gallon, Joseph R. Leventhal, Zheng Jenny Zhang
Summary: Despite advances in post-transplant management, the long-term survival rate of kidney grafts and patients has not improved significantly, as around four in ten transplants fail within ten years due to CKTR. Early detection and effective treatments for CKTR remain challenges, while the development of high throughput biotechnologies offers potential for rapid identification of new biomarkers for diagnosis. Emerging novel therapeutic strategies hold promise for improving long-term graft and patient survival.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Tara K. Sigdel, Paul A. Fields, Juliane Liberto, Izabella Damm, Maggie Kerwin, Jill Hood, Parhom Towfighi, Marina Sirota, Harlan S. Robins, Minnie M. Sarwal
Summary: In this study, researchers analyzed the T-cell repertoire in kidney transplant recipients and found that changes in the repertoire are associated with post-transplant rejection episodes. T-cell receptor sequencing may serve as a valuable tool for predicting rejection risk after transplantation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Palak Shah, Sean Agbor-Enoh, Pramita Bagchi, Christopher R. deFilippi, Angela Mercado, Gouqing Diao, Dave J. P. Morales, Keyur B. Shah, Samer S. Najjar, Erika Feller, Steven Hsu, Maria E. Rodrigo, Sabra C. Lewsey, Moon Kyoo Jang, Charles Marboe, Gerald J. Berry, Kiran K. Khush, Hannah A. Valantine, GRAfT Investigators
Summary: By analyzing and studying miR expression data in heart transplant patients, miR panels with high diagnostic accuracy for acute rejection can be developed, providing a new non-invasive method for clinical monitoring of heart transplant.
JOURNAL OF HEART AND LUNG TRANSPLANTATION
(2022)
Article
Transplantation
Yasar Caliskan, Gonca Karahan, Sebahat Usta Akgul, Safak Mirioglu, Yasemin Ozluk, Halil Yazici, Erol Demir, Ahmet B. Dirim, Aydin Turkmen, John Edwards, Fatma Oguz Savran, Mehmet S. Sever, Krzysztof Kiryluk, Ali Gharavi, Krista L. Lentine
Summary: The study revealed that recipients with the GG genotype of LIMS1 have a higher risk of TCMR after kidney transplantation, suggesting the importance of LIMS1 in allograft rejection. However, the GG genotype was not significantly associated with allograft loss.
NEPHROLOGY DIALYSIS TRANSPLANTATION
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Andrea M. McGrattan, Blossom C. M. Stephan, Oliver M. Shannon, Mohsen Mazidi, Mark Gilchrist, Miranda Smallwood, Paul Winyard, Nicholas McMahon, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Devi Mohan, Stefania Bandinelli, Louise Robinson, Luigi Ferrucci, Mario Siervo
Summary: This study investigated the associations between dietary sodium and nitrate intakes with cognitive function and blood pressure. The results showed that urinary nitrate excretion was associated with lower blood pressure, while sodium intake did not significantly correlate with cognitive performance. Further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCES AND NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Sotiris Kyriakou, Venetia Tragkola, Heba Alghol, Ioannis Anestopoulos, Tom Amery, Kyle Stewart, Paul G. Winyard, Dimitrios T. Trafalis, Rodrigo Franco, Aglaia Pappa, Mihalis I. Panayiotidis
Summary: This study chemically characterized and biologically evaluated watercress, finding that the edible part contained higher amounts of nutrients and phytochemicals compared to the non-edible part. The edible watercress showed higher cytotoxic potential against malignant melanoma cells, indicating its potential as an anti-cancer agent.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Rocky Strollo, Chiara Vinci, Y. K. Stella Man, Sara Bruzzaniti, Erica Piemonte, Ghadeer Alhamar, Silvia Irina Briganti, Ilaria Malandrucco, Flavia Tramontana, Chiara Fanali, James Garnett, Roberto Buccafusca, Perrin Guyer, Mark Mamula, Eddie A. James, Paolo Pozzilli, Johnny Ludvigsson, Paul G. Winyard, Mario Galgani, Ahuva Nissim
Summary: The study found that patients with type 1 diabetes had stronger antibody and T cell responses to insulin with oxidative post-translational modifications. Specific peptide segments induced stronger stimulation of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in type 1 diabetes patients, leading to more antibody responses.
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Kunihiko Aizawa, Alun D. Hughes, Francesco Casanova, Phillip E. Gates, David M. Mawson, Kim M. Gooding, Mark Gilchrist, Isabel Goncalves, Jan Nilsson, Faisel Khan, Helen M. Colhoun, Carlo Palombo, Kim H. Parker, Angela C. Shore
Summary: This study demonstrates that baseline reservoir pressure integral is associated with the decline in renal function in older adults, independently of conventional cardiovascular risk factors. This suggests that reservoir pressure integral may play a role in the functional decline of the kidneys.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Mark Gilchrist, Francesco Casanova, Jess S. Tyrrell, Stuart Cannon, Andrew R. Wood, Nicole Fife, Katherine Young, Richard A. Oram, Michael N. Weedon
Summary: By studying the data from UK Biobank, we found that the prevalence of Fabry disease-causing variants in an unselected population is higher than previously reported, particularly for late-onset cases, suggesting that the prevalence of late-onset Fabry disease may exceed current estimates.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Stuart Cannon, Rhian Clissold, Kittiya Sukcharoen, Marcus Tuke, Gareth Hawkes, Robin N. Beaumont, Andrew R. Wood, Mark Gilchrist, Andrew T. Hattersley, Richard A. Oram, Kashyap Patel, Caroline Wright, Michael N. Weedon
Summary: 17q12 microdeletion and microduplication syndromes are complex disorders with overlapping phenotypes, including diabetes, renal disease, and neurocognitive traits.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Manoj K. Valluru, Noelle K. X. Chung, Mark Gilchrist, Laura Butland, Jackie Cook, Anna Takou, Abhijit Dixit, Michael N. Weedon, Albert C. M. Ong
Summary: We report the finding of an unusual uromodulin (UMOD) variant in multiple pedigrees within the British population and demonstrate a shared haplotype indicative of an ancestral variant. This variant may be more common in white British ethnicity patients with kidney failure.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Stuart P. P. Cocksedge, Adam J. J. Causer, Paul G. G. Winyard, Andrew M. M. Jones, Stephen J. J. Bailey
Summary: This study investigated the effects of oral temperature and pH on the increases in salivary and plasma [NO2-] after dietary NO3- supplementation. The results showed that salivary [NO2-] increased when oral pH was elevated, regardless of oral temperature, while plasma [NO2-] increased to a greater extent at a higher oral pH.
Article
Plant Sciences
Sotiris Kyriakou, Kyriaki Michailidou, Tom Amery, Kyle Stewart, Paul G. Winyard, Dimitrios T. Trafalis, Rodrigo Franco, Aglaia Pappa, Mihalis I. Panayiotidis
Summary: Watercress, a rich source of secondary metabolites, contains various active compounds with disease-preventing and health-promoting properties. The content of these compounds differs in watercress flowers, leaves, and stems. The level of isothiocyanates is not only influenced by the bioconversion of individual glucosinolates, but also by other glucosinolates of the same group.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Emily J. Owen, Rachel A. Heylen, Kyle Stewart, Paul G. Winyard, A. Toby A. Jenkins
Summary: This review discusses the current understanding of the prevention and treatment of Incontinence Associated Dermatitis (IAD). It emphasizes the need for specific preventative measures targeting faecal/urinary irritants, including the use of urease inhibitors. The lack of internationally accepted diagnostic methods for IAD severity is identified, with current diagnosis relying on visual inspection. Non-invasive techniques, such as impedance spectroscopy, could potentially provide objective assessments of skin barrier function and aid in early detection and intervention.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS PART H-JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chenguang Wei, Anni Vanhatalo, Stefan Kadach, Zdravko Stoyanov, Mohammed Abu-Alghayth, Matthew I. Black, Miranda J. Smallwood, Raghini Rajaram, Paul G. Winyard, Andrew M. Jones
Summary: Dietary nitrate supplementation can increase nitric oxide bioavailability and lower blood pressure in humans. This study investigated the correlations between changes in NO biomarkers in different blood compartments and changes in blood pressure following acute nitrate ingestion.
NITRIC OXIDE-BIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Letter
Surgery
Mark Gilchrist, Kashyap Patel
CLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Faisel Khan, Isabel Goncalves, Angela C. Shore, Andrea Natali, Carlo Palombo, Helen M. Colhoun, Gerd Ostling, Francesco Casanova, Cecilia Kennbaeck, Kunihiko Aizawa, Margaretha Persson, Kim M. Gooding, David Strain, Helen Looker, Fiona Dove, Jill Belch, Silvia Pinnola, Elena Venturi, Michaela Kozakova, Jan Nilsson
Summary: This study used a combination of vascular imaging, risk factor assessment, and biomarkers to identify factors associated with changes in carotid disease severity in high-risk subjects. The results show that changes primarily occur in fibrotic plaques and are associated with increased levels of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF).
CELL REPORTS MEDICINE
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
R. Nice, J. R. Goodhand, N. Kennedy, T. Ahmad, P. Winyard, T. J. McDonald
JOURNAL OF CROHNS & COLITIS
(2022)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Naomi Fitzpatrick, Veronique Chachay, Joanna Bowtell, Sarah Jackman, Sandra Capra, Angela Shore, David Briskey
Summary: This review critically evaluates the effect of increasing dietary intake of lutein and zeaxanthin (L/Z) on macular pigment optical density (MPOD) in adults. The results of the included studies showed inconsistent relationships between dietary L/Z interventions and MPOD response. Limited monitoring of habitual dietary L/Z intake was identified as a major limitation of the studies.