Impact of Rituximab (RTx) Induction and Living Donation on Immunoregulation and Virus Control in Renal Transplantation

This project comprises immunological and virological analyses within a prospective clinical study of Rituximab (Rtx)-treated blood group incompatible living donor (LD) renal transplant recipients compared to blood group compatible LD recipients without Rtx induction, and of living donor compared to deceased donor renal transplant recipients treated with tacrolimus (Tacr)/mycophenolate sodium (MPS). Aim of this project is to assess short- and long-term effects of immunosuppressive therapy (Rtx induction) and of living donation on immunological and histological parameters of graft outcome and on viral replication (BK virus (BKV), JC virus (JCV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein Barr virus (EBV)) with the potential to improve long-term graft outcome and to enable risk estimation of virus disease.

Objective. Blood group incompatible (ABOi) LD renal transplantation represents a recognized treatment modality in Germany. In this setting, ethical considerations allow for a detailed study of short- and long-term immunological and virological effects of Rtx induction therapy, including sequential protocol biopsies. In the proposed project we will perform analyses on peripheral blood, iliac lymph nodes and protocol biopsies. Protocol biopsies are routinely obtained 3 and 12 months posttransplant at the Universities of Giessen and Freiburg. In this prospective, open pilot study, immunological parameters of graft outcome and control of polyomavirus, EBV and CMV replication will be compared between RTx-treated ABOi LD renal transplant recipients (n=25-30, group 1) and blood group compatible LD renal transplant recipients without Rtx induction (n=25-30, group 2) but otherwise comparable immunosuppressive treatment (MPS and Tacr, switch to Tacr-MR (modified release) within 2 weeks posttransplant; follow-up of 5 years). The same analyses will be done in DD renal transplant recipients treated with Tacr (switch to Tacr-ME) and MPS (n=25-30, group 3). This study design allows to analyze the impact of living donation on immunoregulation and virus control (groups 2 versus 3).

Background. There is growing evidence that humoral mechanisms play a major role in chronic allograft dysfunction, which was shown to be significantly associated with de-novo formation of donor-specific antibodies against human leucocyte antigens (HLA). However, B cells appear to act not only in humoral responses against the graft but may play a significant role in T-cell mediated antidonor responses due to their role as effective antigen-presenting cells. This is further suggested by the fact that Rtx is effective in primarily T-cell mediated diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis.

Hypothesis/specific aims. We hypothesize that Rtx induction may alter immunoregulation short- and long-term after renal transplantation with the potential to improve long-term outcome. Graft protective effects of Rtx induction may be provided by B cell depletion and the resulting effects on humoral as well as T cell responses, and also by altered responses after B cell repopulation. Possible negative effects of Rtx on polyomavirus and CMV control as well as protective effects on EBV replication, de-novo monoclonal gammopathy and regulation of lymphoma growth factors (interleukins 6 and 10 (IL-6, IL-10)) will be analyzed. Furthermore, B cell subset analysis in peripheral blood and the probably associated impact of Rtx on B cell depletion in graft draining iliac lymph nodes may enable us to establish an optimized Rtx dosage and thereby allow successful ABOi renal transplantation without the currently observed 15% drop outs.

Preliminary results. We have performed clinical studies showing the predictive power of immune parameters such as regulatory anti-Fab autoantibodies, sCD30, CD4 (cluster of differentiation 4) helper activity, and CD4 cell IL-4 (interleukin 4) and IL-10 (interleukin 10) responses on graft outcome. The long-term effect of Rtx induction therapy and of living donation on these parameters will be analyzed.

Previously, we found that patients at risk of polyomavirus nephropathy may be recognized early posttransplant by sequential reverse transcriptase polymerase chain (rt-PCR) assessment of polyomavirus replication in urine. Sequential rt-PCR testing of polyomavirus replication in urine and plasma will be used to analyze effects of Rtx induction on polyomavirus control.

Proposed methods. Immune parameters will be analyzed mainly pretransplant, 3 months and 1, 2 and 5 years posttransplant. Flow cytometry (including regulatory T cells, B cell subsets, expression of cytokine receptors, costimulatory and adhesion molecules), mitogen-stimulated allogeneic cocultures, protein-A plaque assay (B cell responses, CD4 helper activity), intracellular cytokine analysis of CD4+ and CD8+ (cluster of differentiation 8) T cells, B cells and monocytes, rt-PCR for virological studies (BKV, JCV, CMV, EBV) and immunofluorescent staining of iliac lymph nodes (obtained at time of transplantation) and protocol biopsies will be used. Donor-specific antibodies will be detected using lymphocytotoxicity, HLA class I and II ELISA and Luminex assays. Donor-specificity will be confirmed by T- and B-cell crossmatch with donor cells. Regulatory IgG (immunoglobulin G) and IgA (immunoglobulin A) anti-Fab autoantibodies, neopterin and sCD30 will be assessed by ELISA.

Expected results. We expect that Rtx induction will show an impact on immunological parameters of graft outcome, such as de-novo posttransplant antidonor HLA antibody formation. This pilot study may allow for improved long-term kidney graft outcome in recipients with immunologic risk parameters by virtue of patient-tailored immunosuppressive therapy. In ABOi renal transplantation, this study may prevent the current 15% drop out rates by allowing an optimized Rtx dosage based on the intended dose response analysis (B cell subset analysis in blood and graft draining lymph nodes). Furthermore, this study will allow risk estimation of Rtx administration with respect to CMV and polyomavirus replication, and may provide clues concerning protection against EBV replication and posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease. The latter point is of great clinical importance in patients with an enhanced PTLD (posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease) risk such as EBV negative recipients of EBV positive grafts.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* De-novo kidney transplantation
* Deceased donors (blood group compatible) and living donors (blood group incompatible / blood group compatible)
* First, second and third renal transplants
* Immunized and non-immunized graft recipients
* Age of recipients 18 years or older
* Negative pregnancy test before transplantation

Exclusion Criteria:

* Contra-indications to use Tacr and MPS, respectively
* Contra-indications to use Rtx in the group of ABOi LD transplants
* Chronic hepatitis B, C or HIV infection
* Recurrent infectious disease
* Previous hepatitis B, if no prophylactic antiviral therapy is used
* Previous tuberculosis
* Hemoglobin\<8,5g/dl, thrombocytes\<80.000/ul or leucocytes\<3000/ul
* Previous vaccination with a living vaccine \<4 weeks pretransplant
* Significant enterogastric disease such as diverticulitis (contra-indicates MPS treatment)
* Children and adolescents (age less than 18 years)
* Pregnancy and breast-feeding women
* Refusal of an effective contraception in women capable of bearing children
* Combined transplantations such as simultaneous islet/kidney transplants