Impact of Non-HLA Antibodies in Lung Transplantation Nancy L. Reinsmoen, Ph.D., D(ABHI) Director, HLA and Immunogenetics Laboratory (Retired) Cedars Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA Nancy L. Reinsmoen, Ph.D. D(ABHI) ELISA Reagents for the detection of antibodies to AT1R and ETAR for a Three Center Study on Non-HLA Antibodies in Lung Transplantation were supplied by One Lambda, Thermofisher, Inc. Objectives Discuss the studies correlating the detection of non-hla antibodies subsequent to cell death with graft outcome. Discuss the studies correlating the impact of anti-self and anti-gpcr antibodies acting alone or in concert with DSA to HLA. Describe immunological risk stratification using comprehensive antibody analysis: HLA and non-hla specific antibody profiling. 1
Cellular Sublocalization of Non-HLA Antigens Dragun et al. 2012 Non-HLA Specific Antigens: Autoantigens Collagen-V: Col-V K-α-1-Tubulin: Kα1T Non-HLA Specific Antigens: Autoantigens Collagen-V: Col-V Minor sequestered fibrillar collagen, incorporated within Collagen 1 fibrils. an immunogenic extracellular matrix protein (lung, skin, placenta). Expressed in small airway epithelial cells, perivascular, peribronchial tissue. Found to induce humoral responses in lung facilitating BOS and fibrogenesis. (Goers, JI, 2008; Burlingham, JCI, 2007; Tiriveedhi, CEI, 2012; Hachem, AJT, 2012; Tiriveedhi, JHLT, 2013). 2
Non-HLA Specific Antigens: Autoantigens Collagen-V: Col-V K-α-1-Tubulin (Kα1T): Common presence of both COL-V and Kα1T-abs in 67% of lung tx recips (Hachem, AJT 2012). 96% of pts with DSA had Col-V and Kα1T abs. Col-V and Kα1T abs present in cardiac tx recips with AMR and CAV (Nath, Transplantation, 2011). Anti-Kα1T found in the absence of anti-hla in lung pts with chronic rejection (Saini, JHLT, 2011; Goers, JI, 2008). Non-HLA Specific Antigens: Autoantigens Collagen-V and K α 1 Tubulin Hachem et al AJT 12:2164, 2012 Studied ab to self ags before and after antibody directed therapy and correlated the results with development of BOS. Found a correlation between the development of abs to self ags and DSA. When treated with ab therapy, those patients who cleared the abs were significantly less likely to develop BOS than those who had persistent abs. Those who cleared DSA but had persistent abs to self ags were significantly more likely to develop BOS than those who cleared these abs. Conclusion: Antibodies to self antigens are an important risk factor for the development of BOS. Non-HLA Specific Antigens: Autoantigens Collagen-V and K α 1Tubulin Tiriveedhi, JHLT 32:807, 2013. Determined the prevalence of pre-exiting abs to self ags and the association between these abs and the development of PGD and DSA in chronic rejection. In 317 lung recips, 22.71% had abs to self ags; recips with IPF and CF had the highest prevalence of abs to self ags. The incidence of the following was higher in recips with pretx abs to self ags. PGD (88% vs 54%); DSA (70% vs 45%); and BOS (90% vs 38%). Conclusion: Recipients with pre-existing abs to self antigens are at increased risk for development of PGD, DSA, and BOS. 3
Problem: clinically relevant humoral responses against many but not all of non-hla antigens occur secondary to cell death extracellular AT 1R MICA Collagen-V ET AR intracellular Myosin K-α-1-Tubulin Vimentin (intermediate filament) Actin filament Nucleus Dragun et al., Curr Opin Organ Transplant 2012 Clinical Impact of Non-HLA Specific Antibodies: Antibodies to G-Protein Coupled Receptors Non-HLA Specific Antigens: GPCRs Receptor Cell Surface Expression Angiotensin Type 1 Receptor(AT 1 R): G coupled protein. Abs associated with vascular remodeling and acute rejection independent of, and synergistic with, DSA-HLA. Endothelin Receptor(ET A R): G coupled protein. Abs induce endothelial cell activation and correlate with ACR, AMR and microvasculopathy. 4
AT 1 R Abstarget extracellular epitopes AT 1R-Ab binding sites (conformational epitopes) Ang II bindingsites Valsartan binding site Biacore: lower dissociation rates compared to natural agonist, Angiotensin II Dragun D et al., N Engl J Med 2005 Identification of AT 1 R-agonistic IgG in patients with HLA-Ab negative vascular rejection Bioassay for agonistic receptor-activity in cardiomyocytes 30 IgG agonistic effect is AT 1 R specific Increase in BPM 20 10 Patients IgG 0 Ang II AT 1R- Abs +losartan +PD 123319 AT 1R-IgG AT 1R-IgG vascular rejection 5/16 C4d positive Dragun D et al., N Engl J Med 2005 AMR Associated with High Levels of AT 1 R Specific Antibody in Patients with No Donor HLA Specific Antibodies Reinsmoen et al, Transplantation 90:1473, 2010 Acute Rejection High anti- AT 1 R (>17 units) antibodies Low anti- AT 1 R (<17 units) antibodies AMR 6 1 CMR 0 9 Total number of patients with no donor specific antibody to HLA or MICA = 63 P =09, Fisher s Exact Test Conclusions: - These results provide insight into the AMR process in the absence of DSA-HLA and with no PTC C4d deposition. - Assessing AT 1R antibody status along with the DSA HLA provides additional information to determine the immune risk for recipients. 5
Accelerated kidney transplant rejection and hypertensive encephalopathy in a pediatric patient associated with antibodies against AT 1 R and HLA class II. Kelsch et al. Transplantation 92: 57-59, 2011. Case study of a pediatric kidney recipient with a negative CDC crossmatch developed accelerated C4d positive rejection. Pretx AT 1 R levels >40U/mL. Donor HLA specific class II antibody developed on day 6, perhaps a secondary response but no prior transfusions or sensitizing events. Perhaps the hypertension acted as a danger signal enhancing the expression of HLA class II antigens. Hypothesis: There was a synergy of AT 1 R and HLA class II antibodies contributing to the exceptionally rapid and severe onset of rejection. Higher Risk of Kidney Graft Failure in the Presence of Anti- Angiotensin II Type-1 Receptor Antibodies Taniguchi et al., AJT 13:2577, 2013 Graft Survival of the Abnormal Biopsy Group (ABG) Patients (N = 134) Study of 351 kidney recipients Increased Impact of Anti-Angiotensin Type 1 Receptor Antibodies Together with De Novo Donor HLA Specific Antibodies on Graft Outcome in Heart Transplantation Reinsmoen et al, Transplantation 97:595, 2014 -Sera from 200 heart recipients transplanted between May 2007 and August 2011 were tested for DSA by Luminex single bead antigen assays and for AT 1 R-ab by ELISA. - Clinical parameters included 5 year pamr, pcmr, CAV and survival. -Both pamr and pcmr diagnoses (grades 2 and 3) were included since C4d negative AMR has been attributed to both DSA and AT 1 R- ab. (Berry et al, JHLT, 2012). 6
Increased Impact of Anti-Angiotensin Type 1 Receptor Antibodies Together with De Novo Donor HLA Specific Antibodies on Graft Outcome in Heart Transplantation Reinsmoen et al, Transplantation 97(5):595, 2014 FACTOR HR 95% CI * P-VALUE DSA at TX 19.2 5.8 63.8 <01 de novo DSA 7.1 2.5 20.0 <02 AT1R > 12 2.0 0.7 5.6 0.20 AT1R > 17 1.4 0.5 3.6 0.51 de novo DSA + AT1R > 12 10.5 3.7 30.0 <01 de novo DSA + AT1R > 17 8.0 2.3 27.9 <01 Freedom from AMR and/or CMR * CI = Confidence Interval Study of 200 heart recipients Three Center Study Investigating the Clinical Impact of Antibodies to Non-HLA Antigens in Lung Transplantation Transplantation, published ahead of print Cedars-Sinai Medical Center: Nancy L. Reinsmoen, James Mirocha and George Chaux. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center: Adriana Zeevi, Christopher Ensor, and Marilyn Marrari. Science Center, San Antonio: Deborah Levine. Three Center Study Investigating the Clinical Impact of Antibodies to Non-HLA Antigens in Lung Transplantation Reinsmoen et al, Transplantation, published ahead of print, 2017. Aim: The aim of our study was to determine the clinical impact of these antibodies to non-hla antigens on graft outcome in lung transplantation. Study: Pre and posttx sera from 162 lung recipients transplanted between January 1, 2011 and April 1, 2013 were tested for antibodies to AT 1 R, ET A R: Each center submitted complete HLA antibody profiles and clinical results: demographics, diagnosis, AMR, CMR, and BOS. 7
The Antibody Binding Levels to AT 1 R are Associated with the Antibody Binding Levels to ET A R 50 Anti- AT 1R Binding Levels Strong Intermediate 40 30 20 10 0 10 20 30 40 0 50 Binding Levels: 10 units, Intermediate 11-16 units, Strong 17 units Agreement: 53.1% Disagreement: 46.9% Spearman Correlation Anti-ETCoefficient AR Binding (on Levels the levels): r= 0.797, P<01 Using raw values: Spearman Correlation Coefficient: r= 0.923, P< 01 Survival Distribution Function Freedom from AMR by AT 1 R, ET A R Strong Binding Status and De Novo DSA Status AT 1 R Neg/Interm (n=88) Survival Distribution Function ET A R Neg/Interm (n=120) Survival Distribution Function De Novo DSA No De Novo DSA (n=118) Strong (n=74) Strong (n=42) De Novo DSA (n=36) p = 0.014 p = 5 p < 01 0 250 500 750 1000 1250 1500 1750 AMR = 5 All with de novo DSA, strong binding AT 1R-ab and 4/5 strong binding ET AR-ab. 0 250 500 750 10001250 1500 1750 Only 5/36 recipients with de novo DSA developed AMR, M=323 days. 3 class II (DQ) 1 class I and II 1 class I 0 250 500 750 1000 1250 1500 1750 Freedom from De Novo DSA by Pre-Transplant AT 1 R Antibody Binding Level Freedom from De Novo DSA by Pre-Transplant AT 1R Antibody Binding Level Intermediate (n=56) (n=17) Strong (n=71) Log-Rank P = 0.054 Wilcoxon P = 0.037 Log-Rank Trend Test P = 0.041 (2-sided) P = 0.021 (1-sided) 400 600 800 1000 1200 0 200 1400 8
Freedom from De Novo DSA by Pre-Transplant ET A R Antibody Binding Level Freedom from De Novo DSA by Pre-Transplant ET AR Antibody Binding Level (n=59) Intermediate (n=44) Strong (n=41) Log-Rank P = 0.012 Wilcoxon P = 9 Log-Rank Trend Test P = 3 (2-sided) P = 2 (1-sided) 400 600 800 1000 1200 0 200 1400 Freedom from De Novo DSA by Pre-Transplant HLA Antibody Status Freedom from De Novo DSA by Pre-Transplant HLA Antibody Status (n=71) Positive (n=72) Log-Rank P = 0.063 Wilcoxon P = 0.043 HR = 1.69 with 95% CI = 0.97-2.97 400 600 800 1000 1200 0 200 1400 Freedom from De Novo DSA by Double Hit Status (Pre-tx HLA-Ab + and Strong AT 1 R Ab): Increased Impact Freedom from De Novo DSA by Double Hit Status (Pre-tx HLA-Ab + and Strong AT 1R Ab): Increased Impact 400 600 800 1000 1200 0 200 1400 (n=108) Positive (n=35) Log-Rank P = 4 Wilcoxon P = 1 HR = 2.26 with 95% CI = 1.28-4.00 Cox P = 5 9
Freedom from De Novo DSA by Double Hit Status (Pre-tx HLA-Ab + and Strong ET A R-Ab): Increased Impact Freedom from De Novo DSA by Double Hit Status (Pre-tx HLA-Ab + and Strong ET AR-Ab): Increased Impact 400 600 800 1000 1200 0 200 1400 (n=124) Positive (n=19) Log-Rank P = 9 Wilcoxon P = 3 HR = 2.38 with 95% CI = 1.22-4.64 Cox P = 0.011 Impact of Non HLA Specific Antibody in Lung Transplantation An increased negative impact on antibody mediated rejection and/or cellular mediated rejection and lung recipients with high pretransplant levels of antibodies to AT 1 R and ET A R. Impact of non HLA specific antibodies on the development of BOS is being investigated. Immediate and Catastrophic AMR in Lung Transplant Recipients with anti-at 1 R and Anti-ET A R Antibodies Cozzi et al AJT 17:557, 2017. CF patient with no preexisting DSAs to HLA underwent lung tx and developed a severe and intractable pulmonary hypertension associated with right ventriular dysfunction with rapid deterioration in hemodynamics leading to death on post op day 5. Post mortem samples were consistent with AMR, evidenced by diffuse capillaritis, blood extravasation, edema, and microthrombi with foci of ACR (A3). Pre existing anti AT 1 R and ET A R antibodies (potent vasoconstrictors) were detected and found to rise slightly post tx. Conclusion: Pre existing anti-at 1 R and ET A R antibodies may have contributed to the onset of AMR and to the catastrophic clinical course of this patient. 10
Immunological Risk Stratification by Assessing Both HLA and non-hla Specific Antibodies The impact of GPCR-ab and other ab to self antigens, whether alone or in the presence of DSA-HLA point out the importance of investigating the presence of both antibodies to assess comprehensive immune status of the recipients. Pretx risk stratification includes: non-hla ab levels, DSA strength and function, and HLA mismatch to identify recipients at higher risk for early graft dysfunction. Risk stratification, even in the absence of DSA-HLA, may help identify early time points for intervention before the immune response is sufficient to reach rejection status. The appearance of the antibodies may be secondary to immune activation through multiple mechanisms such as DSA-HLA, non-hla-ab, stress, immune deregulation, or inflammatory events. Conclusions Recipients may present with multiple antibodies : both HLA and non-hla specific The ability to reliably detect and define these antibodies will provide insight into the comprehensive immune risk assessment of the recipients including: Immune mechanisms involved which could lead to more focused pharmacologic targeting of the non-hla antibodies. Modes of action of these antibodies. Possible synergy. Possible optimal interventions aimed at early treatment allowing for improved graft outcome. Synergistic Impact of Donor HLA-Specific and Non-HLA Specific Antibodies on Graft Outcome GRAFT DYSFUNCTION INFLAMMATION APOPTOSIS NEOANTIGEN UPREGULATION OF ANTIGENIC DETERMINANTS HLA-SPECIFIC NON-HLA SPECIFIC 11