Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lucia Canamero, Adalberto Benito-Hernandez, Elena Gonzalez, Clara Escagedo, Maria Rodriguez-Vidriales, Maria del Mar Garcia-Saiz, Rosalia Valero, Lara Belmar, Maria Angeles de Cos, Maria Victoria Francia, Juan Carlos Ruiz, Emilio Rodrigo
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the relationship between Torque Teno Virus (TTV) load and exposure to immunosuppressive drugs in kidney transplantation (KTx) patients. The results showed that TTV load was not related to the exposure to maintenance immunosuppression drugs such as mycophenolic acid (MPA) and tacrolimus. However, TTV load could be a useful marker for predicting the risk of opportunistic infections after KTx.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Floriane Gallais, Benjamin Renaud-Picard, Morgane Solis, Elodie Laugel, Eric Soulier, Sophie Caillard, Romain Kessler, Samira Fafi-Kremer
Summary: This study investigated the antibody response after three doses of mRNA vaccine in lung transplant recipients (LTR) and found that COVID-19-naive LTR have a poor response to three doses of mRNA vaccine, especially those with high TTV VL. Future studies could further evaluate TTV VL as a biomarker for vaccine strategies.
JOURNAL OF HEART AND LUNG TRANSPLANTATION
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Phoebe Uhl, Andreas Heilos, Gregor Bond, Elias Meyer, Michael Boehm, Elisabeth Puchhammer-Stoeckl, Klaus Arbeiter, Thomas Mueller-Sacherer, Dagmar Csaicsich, Christoph Aufricht, Krisztina Rusai
Summary: TTV viral load is associated with the strength of immunosuppression in kidney-transplanted patients, making it a potential tool for monitoring IS in order to evaluate clinical outcomes.
PEDIATRIC NEPHROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Alexandre Mendes Batista, Matheus W. Caetano, Maria A. Stincarelli, Ana C. Mamana, Rodrigo Melim Zerbinati, Dmitry J. S. Sarmento, Marina Gallottini, Rafael A. Caixeta, Jose Medina-Pestana, Bengt Hasseus, Louise Zanella, Tania R. Tozetto-Mendoza, Simone Giannecchini, Paulo H. Braz-Silva
Summary: This study investigated the correlation between TTV viral load and immune function in paired saliva and plasma samples from kidney transplant patients. Results showed higher TTV-DNA viral load in plasma compared to saliva, suggesting that saliva samples could be a fast non-invasive option to assess immune functionality in SOT populations.
JOURNAL OF ORAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Yu Xie, Qing Xue, Weike Jiao, Jianhui Wu, Yan Yu, Lili Zhao, Yu Xu, Xinyu Deng, Guiju Fang, Yali Zheng, Zhancheng Gao
Summary: The viral load of TTV DNA is associated with lung function and disease severity in COPD patients, serving as a novel indicator. TTV DNA was detected in most COPD patients and showed positive correlation with RV/TLC and negative correlation with FEV1/pre and FEV1/FVC.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Virology
Morgane Solis, Ilies Benotmane, Floriane Gallais, Sophie Caillard, Samira Fafi-Kremer
Summary: Transplant recipients, especially kidney transplant recipients, show poor responses to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines. A retrospective study found that high viral load of Torque teno virus (TTV), a ubiquitous virus reflecting global immune response levels, is associated with nonresponse to two or three doses of the vaccine in kidney transplant recipients.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dirk Stefani, Balazs Hegedues, Stephane Collaud, Mohamed Zaatar, Till Ploenes, Daniel Valdivia, Carina Elsner, Barbara Bleekmann, Marek Widera, Ulf Dittmer, Clemens Aigner
Summary: This study showed that TTV plasma DNA levels in lung cancer patients are influenced by age, and different stages of lung cancer do not significantly impact TTV load. There was no clear pattern in the kinetics of TTV load before surgery, after surgery, and at discharge.
Article
Virology
Celine Imhof, Lianne Messchendorp, Debbie van Baarle, Ron T. Gansevoort, Coretta Van Leer-Buter, Jan-Stephan F. Sanders
Summary: Kidney transplant recipients (KTR) with impaired immune function show a decreased immune response to COVID-19 vaccination. Torque teno virus (TTV) may serve as a marker for immune function. This study found that TTV load is negatively associated with the humoral response after COVID-19 vaccination, with reduced predictive value as time after transplantation increases.
Article
Virology
Irene Goerzer, Frederik Haupenthal, Fabrizio Maggi, Fanny Gelas, Dorian Kulifaj, Ludovic Brossault, Elisabeth Puchhammer-Stoeckl, Gregor Bond
Summary: This study demonstrates that quantification of TTV load using a commercial PCR can be used to predict the risk of graft rejection and infection post kidney transplantation. The commercial PCR showed a high correlation with the in-house PCR, but there was a slight difference in results. The results showed that for every 1 log10 increase in TTV load, the risk of graft rejection decreased by 25% and the risk of infection increased by 6%. Therefore, quantification of TTV load using a commercial PCR is of significant value for risk stratification of graft rejection and infection in the first year post kidney transplantation.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
N. S. Reyes, G. Laham, N. Boccia, G. Garcia, R. Jara, E. Hermida, C. Ricarte, C. Diaz, G. Soler Pujol, F. A. Poletta, M. Echavarria
Summary: This study aimed to determine the correlation between a Home-Brew TTV PCR and a commercial PCR (R-GENE®PCR); the TTV viral load kinetics in renal transplant recipients and the association with graft rejection. The results showed a high agreement and correlation between the two PCR methods. TTV viral load reached a peak at 3 months post-transplantation and remained significantly higher than the initial baseline at 6 months. Patients with graft rejection had significantly lower TTV viral load at 181-270 days post-transplantation.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Natalia Redondo, Isabel Rodriguez-Goncer, Patricia Parra, Eliseo Albert, Estela Gimenez, Tamara Ruiz-Merlo, Francisco Lopez-Medrano, Rafael San Juan, Esther Gonzalez, Angel Sevillano, Amado Andres, David Navarro, Jose Maria Aguado, Mario Fernandez-Ruiz
Summary: The minor G allele of CD209 (rs4804803) may have a protective effect against TTV infection in non-immunocompromised patients, but no associations were observed between the analyzed SNPs and post-transplant kinetics of TTV DNAemia. The findings suggest that post-transplant TTV replication is mainly influenced by immunosuppressive therapy rather than genetic predisposition, emphasizing its clinical application as a biomarker of adaptive immunity.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Carsten T. Herz, Oana C. Kulterer, Dorian Kulifaj, Fanny Gelas, Bernhard Franzke, Frederik Haupenthal, Gerhard Prager, Felix B. Langer, Rodrig Marculescu, Alexander R. Haug, Florian W. Kiefer, Gregor Bond
Summary: Obese individuals have higher TTV load, potentially indicating compromised immune function and serving as a risk stratification factor for unfavorable outcomes in infectious diseases including COVID-19 among this population. Further analysis of TTV-based risk assessment in obese individuals in the context of infectious disease outcomes is warranted based on our data.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Natalia Redondo, David Navarro, Jose Maria Aguado, Mario Fernandez-Ruiz
Summary: New reliable biomarkers are needed to predict immune-related complications after organ and stem cell transplantation. Torque Teno Virus (TTV) shows promise as a functional surrogate for monitoring immunosuppression, with high prevalence rates and stable viral loads. Studies suggest that increasing TTV DNA levels are associated with infectious complications, while decreasing levels are associated with acute rejection. However, the interpretation in stem cell transplant recipients is complicated by various factors. Standardization of PCR methods and ongoing trials evaluating a TTV load-guided strategy are expected in the future.
TRANSPLANT INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Virology
Antonin Bal, Gregory Destras, Marina Sabatier, Maxime Pichon, Hadrien Regue, Guy Oriol, Yves Gillet, Bruno Lina, Karen Brengel-Pesce, Laurence Josset, Florence Morfin
Summary: This study analyzed respiratory samples from children with acute respiratory infections of unknown etiology and found a high prevalence of Torque teno mini virus (TTMV) in these samples, as well as in samples with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or influenza infection. Larger studies are needed to explore the role of TTMV in childhood respiratory diseases.
Review
Transplantation
Salwa M. Elwasif, Ahmed Abdelfattah Denewar, Nora Khreba, Hussein Sheashaa
Summary: Solid-organ transplant is the preferred treatment for end-stage diseases, but immunosuppressive treatment increases the risk of infections and malignancies. Torque teno virus could serve as a biomarker for immune function in transplantation, but further research is needed to confirm its validity.
EXPERIMENTAL AND CLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION
(2022)
Editorial Material
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Alberto Benazzo, Konrad Hoetzenecker
JOURNAL OF THORACIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Surgery
Anna E. Frick, Christiaan T. Gan, Robin Vos, Stefan Schwarz, Felix Kraft, Daria Kifjak, Arne P. Neyrinck, Dirk E. Van Raemdonck, Walter Klepetko, Peter Jaksch, Erik A. M. Verschuuren, Konrad Hoetzenecker
Summary: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a rapidly progressive lung disease with high mortality, and the use of lung transplantation (LTx) for treating ARDS remains controversial. However, based on the findings from this study, LTx in carefully selected ARDS patients has shown promising survival rates, offering a potential life-saving option in the absence of alternative treatments.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION
(2022)
Article
Respiratory System
Martin L. Watzenboeck, Anna-Dorothea Gorki, Federica Quattrone, Riem Gawish, Stefan Schwarz, Christopher Lambers, Peter Jaksch, Karin Lakovits, Sophie Zahalka, Nina Rahimi, Philipp Starkl, Doerte Symmank, Tyler Artner, Celine Pattaroni, Nikolaus Fortelny, Kristaps Klavins, Florian Frommlet, Benjamin J. Marsland, Konrad Hoetzenecker, Stefanie Widder, Sylvia Knapp
Summary: Lung transplantation is the ultimate treatment option for patients with end-stage respiratory diseases, but the mortality rate is high due to chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). The mechanisms leading to CLAD are not well understood due to insufficient understanding of post-transplant adaptation processes. This study analyzed bronchoalveolar lavage samples from lung recipients and donors, and found that recipient-specific and environmental factors shape the long-term lung microbiome. Certain bacterial strains were found to be correlated with underlying lung diseases even after transplantation. Machine learning techniques accurately predicted future changes in lung function, with the microbial profiles showing high predictive power. The study highlights the importance of understanding lung adaptation processes and the role of microbiome in predicting allograft function.
EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Alberto Benazzo, Lukas Bajorek, Annika Morscher, Lore Schrutka, Eva Schaden, Walter Klepetko, Konrad Hoetzenecker
Summary: Early implementation of continuous renal replacement therapy for perioperative volume management does not impair long-term kidney function in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension lung transplant recipients.
JOURNAL OF THORACIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Surgery
Michael D. Parkes, Kieran Halloran, Alim Hirji, Shane Pon, Justin Weinkauf, Irina L. Timofte, Greg I. Snell, Glen P. Westall, Jan Havlin, Robert Lischke, Andrea Zajacova, Ramsey Hachem, Daniel Kreisel, Deborah Levine, Bartosz Kubisa, Maria Piotrowska, Stephen Juvet, Shaf Keshavjee, Peter Jaksch, Walter Klepetko, Philip F. Halloran
Summary: The study revealed that CLAD primarily reflects severe parenchymal injury-induced changes and dedifferentiation rather than inflammation. Fibrillar collagen genes were increased in CLAD, indicating matrix changes, and normal transcripts were decreased.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION
(2022)
Article
Surgery
Claus Neurohr, Nikolaus Kneidinger, Alessandro Ghiani, Victor Monforte, Christiane Knoop, Peter Jaksch, Jasvir Parmar, Piedad Ussetti, Amparo Sole, Joachim Mueller-Quernheim, Romain Kessler, Hubert Wirtz, Gerhard Boerner, Oliver Denk, Stefanie Prante Fernandes, Juergen Behr
Summary: The study investigated the effects of locally augmented immunosuppression with liposomal cyclosporine A for inhalation (L-CsA-i) for the prevention of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) in lung transplant recipients. Despite not meeting the primary endpoint in the overall study population, there was a potential treatment difference observed in single lung transplant recipients. The results suggest further investigation of L-CsA-i in lung transplant recipients is warranted.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Ilhan Inci, Jonas Peter Ehrsam, Dirk Van Raemdonck, Laurens Joseph Ceulemans, Thorsten Krueger, Angela Koutsokera, Marco Schiavon, Eleonora Faccioli, Mario Nosotti, Lorenzo Rosso, Frank D'Ovidio, Miguel Leiva-Juarez, Clemens Aigner, Alexis Slama, Waleed Saleh, Khaled Manaa Alkattan, Pascal Alexandre Thomas, Geoffrey Brioude, Alberto Benazzo, Konrad Hoetzenecker
Summary: This study investigated the outcomes of recipients bridged to a first-time retransplantation (ReTx) by extracorporeal life support (ECLS). The results showed that the overall survival of the ECLS-ReTx group was significantly worse compared to the regular-ReTx and index-Tx groups. Risk factors such as recipient age, intertransplant interval, primary graft dysfunction as transplant indication, and type of ECLS were identified as significant factors affecting mortality in ECLS-ReTx recipients.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CARDIO-THORACIC SURGERY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Peter Jaksch, Konrad Hoetzenecker
JOURNAL OF THORACIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Stefan Schwarz, Nina Rahimi, Daria Kifjak, Florian Frommlet, Alberto Benazzo, Peter Jaksch, Walter Klepetko, Konrad Hoetzenecker
Summary: The use of organs from polytrauma donors for lung transplantation yields similar short- and long-term outcomes as transplantation from nontrauma donors. The radiologic signs of lung contusion at the time of offer have no impact on primary graft function and long-term survival.
JOURNAL OF THORACIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Sara Bozzini, Claudia Del Fante, Monica Morosini, Hatice Oya Berezhinskiy, Sophia Auner, Elena Cattaneo, Matteo Della Zoppa, Laura Pandolfi, Rosalia Cacciatore, Cesare Perotti, Konrad Hoetzenecker, Peter Jaksch, Alberto Benazzo, Federica Meloni
Summary: This study found that specific miRNAs, such as miR-155-5p and miR-23b-3p, were significantly regulated in the circulation of BOS patients treated with extracorporeal photopheresis. The upregulation of miR-155 may be correlated with immune system regulation, and SMAD4 may be a potential target for miR-155-5p.
Article
Immunology
Selma Tobudic, Alberto Benazzo, Maximilian Koblischke, Lisa Schneider, Stephan Blueml, Florian Winkler, Hannah Schmidt, Stefan Vorlen, Helmuth Haslacher, Thomas Perkmann, Heinz Burgmann, Peter Jaksch, Judith H. Aberle, Stefan Winkler
Summary: This prospective cohort study found that lung transplant recipients had reduced humoral and cellular immune responses compared to healthy controls after two doses of COVID-19 mRNA vaccination during a 6-month follow-up. A third dose of the vaccine may be beneficial.
Article
Oncology
Liliane Borik-Heil, Georg Endler, Walther Parson, Andreas Zuckermann, Lisa Schnaller, Keziban Uyanik-Uenal, Peter Jaksch, Georg Boehmig, Daniel Cejka, Katharina Staufer, Elisabeth Hielle-Wittmann, Susanne Rasoul-Rockenschaub, Peter Wolf, Raute Sunder-Plassmann, Alexandra Geusau
Summary: Due to life-long immunosuppression, organ transplant recipients are prone to skin cancer development. Cumulative UV burden, actinic keratosis, and certain MC1R genotypes increase the risk of skin cancer. Skin aging is only connected with a higher number of tumors, not with the development of skin cancer per se.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lei Fang, Wei-Chih Chen, Peter Jaksch, Antonio Molino, Alessandro Saglia, Michael Roth, Christopher Lambers
Summary: Treprostinil was found to reduce mitochondrial damage and improve mitochondrial function in IPF cells, which may explain its therapeutic effects in IPF patients.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
