Spousal and living related kidney transplantation: our center experience

Background Kidney transplantation is the most preferred type of renal displacement therapy for end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. More patients developed ESRD. The most important source is the donations from unrelated spouses. In this study, we aimed to compare the transplantation data obtained from the spouses of the patients with the transplantation data obtained from other relatives. Methods The data including 167 living kidney transplantations performed between January 2006 and December 2019 were retrospectively collected. The patients were divided into two groups; spousal donor group (n: 53) and living-related donor group (n: 114). Results There was no significant difference in delayed graft function in both groups. There were no patients with acute rejection proven by biopsy or considered biochemically in the spousal donor group. With regard to 3-year results in the living-related donor group the patient survival rate was 100%, while it was 98.2% in terms of graft survival. Conclusions In conclusion, similar patient and graft survival rates between spousal donor kidney transplantation and living-related kidney transplantation has made spousal donor kidney transplantation, with possible problems in terms of tissue compatibility, an acceptable alternative to donor supply.

Co-transplantation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells and peripheral blood stem cells in children and adolescents with refractory severe aplastic anemia

Objectives: The purpose of our study was to analyze the co-transplantation efficacy of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) and peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs), which is considered as a novel approach for refractory severe aplastic anemia (RSAA) in children and adolescents. Methods: Thirty-two children and adolescents with RSAA were retrospectively reviewed. According to the source of PBSCs, all patients were divided into two groups (matched sibling donor group and matched unrelated donor group). Engraftment, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. Results: No adverse events related to UC-MSCs infusion occurred in all patients. The median time for neutrophil engraftment was 13 (10~23) days and 15 (11~28) days for platelet. Grade Ⅰ ~ Ⅱ acute GVHD and moderate chronic GVHD were observed in 21.88% and 12.50% of the cases. No statistically significance was observed between the MSD and MUD group on engraftment, GVHD and complications including infection and hemorrhagic cystitis. The median follow-up time was 38.60 (1.37~140.83) months. To the date of October 31th 2021, 5 died and 27 (84.38%) survived. The 5-year OS rate was not statistically significant between the MSD and MUD group (84.8% ± 10.0% vs 82.4% ± 9.2%, P = 0.674). Conclusions: The application of UC-MSCs in the treatment of RSAA in PBSC transplantation is reliable and safe, which can significantly reduce the incidence of GVHD and severe transplantation-related complications and effectively improve patients’ life quality. Therefore, the method can be used as an active treatment option for patients with RSAA.

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (allo HSCT) in Patients with IPSS Low or Intermediate-1 Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS): A Prospective Multicenter Phase II Study Based on Donor Availability By the GFM & SFGM-TC "MDS-ALLO-Risk"

Background: Allo HSCT is a potentially curative treatment in MDS which, in higher risk (IPSS high and int 2) MDS demonstrated an overall survival (OS) advantage over conventional treatment (especially HMAs) in retrospective (Koreth et al., JCO 2013) and prospective (Robin et al. leukemia 2015) studies. Retrospective studies, on the other hand, suggested no OS advantage for allo HSCT in lower risk MDS (IPSS low and int 1), except possibly in the "poorest" lower risk MDS subsets, as classified by the WPSS (Alessandrino et al. AMJH 2013) However, about 25% of lower risk MDS patients are reclassified as higher risk by the R-IPSS and a proportion of other lower risk MDS can also harbor some higher risk features that compromise their outcome. MDS-ALLO-RISK trial (clinicaltrial.gov NCT02757989), was designed to assess outcome of lower risk MDS patients with some high-risk features after HLA-matched donor HSCT. Method: The primary objective of this study was to demonstrate an OS improvement in lower risk MDS patients with some high risk features with a donor compared with those without a donor (with a 3 year OS of 70% versus 40%, respectively) . Inclusion criteria were: IPSS low or int1 MDS with at least one of the following characteristics: 1) R-IPSS intermediate or higher 2) RBC transfusion dependent anemia and failure to two or more treatments (including EPO, Lenalidomide or HMA ); 3) platelets < 20 G/L requiring transfusions 4) ANC < 0.5 G/L with severe infection 5) no contra indication to allo HSCT 6) age <70 years 7) HLA identical donor (sibling or 10/10 unrelated) 105 inclusions were planned: 62 in group with a donor (group A) and 43 in group without a donor (group B). Recruitment began in June 2016 and stopped in March 2021 due to futility on the interim analysis. Median follow-up was 20 months. Data cut off analysis was June 2021. Results: 79 patients were included, 64 in group A and 15 in group B. Median age was 62.4 (IQR: 58-65) years in group A and 66 (IQR: 60.5-68) years in group B. Patients in group A were more frequently males (73 vs 40%, p=0.029), WHO was CMML in 8 (10%), MDS-SLD in 5 (8%), MDS-MLD in 9 (11%), MDS-EB1 in 41 (52%), MDS-RS in 12 (15%), unclassified in 4 (6%) without significant differences between the two groups. IPSS /IPSS-R was similar in both groups: IPSS low in 10% (11% in group A and 7% in group B) and Int-1 in 90%. IPSS-R: very low risk (6% vs 0%); low risk (25% vs 27%); intermediate (50% vs 47%); high (19% vs 27%); no very high risk. Among the 64 patients with a donor, 58 (92%) received HSCT, 2 died before HSCT; 2 had progressive disease and 2 are planned for HSCT. Transplanted patients received reduced intensity conditioning regimen with busulfan 6.4mg/kg, fludarabine 150mg/m2 and ATG (rabbit antithymocyte globulin therapy, grafalon®) 30mg/kg and cyclosporine-mycophenolate mofetil as GVHD prophylaxis. In group A, 21/64 had died, including 13 died from a non-relapse cause. In group B, 4/15 patients had died, 3 from MDS progression and one from CNS bleeding. Three-year OS was 60% (95%CI: 46.9-76.8) in group A and 64.2% (41.3-99.6) in group B (p=NS). At the time of analysis, 20 and 5 patients had progressed/relapsed in group A and B respectively. with a cumulative incidence of relapse/progression (from inclusion) of 27.4% (IC95%: 15;39.8) in group A and 41.7% (IC95%:9.2;74.2) in group B (p=0.71). Among the 58 transplanted patients, 11 (19%) died without disease progression, including one death from a solid tumor. 3 years non-relapse mortality in transplanted patients was 23.4% (IC95%:9.7;37). 3 years Incidence of grade 2 to 4 acute GVHD was 40.8% and 3 years chronic GVHD was 24.9%. Conclusion: In this, to our knowledge, first prospective study in IPSS lower risk patients with some unfavorable clinical or biological features, HLA identical donor (sibling or 10/10 unrelated) HSCT yielded a 3-year OS of 60%. Non relapse mortality was however 23%, and OS somewhat lower than expected (70% at 3 years) and similar to that observed in patients without a donor. Long-term follow-up is needed to better define subgroups of IPSS lower risk MDS that may benefit from allo HSCT. Disclosures Sebert: Abbvie: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy. Cluzeau: Pfizer: Other: travel, accommodations, expenses; Astellas: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Speakers Bureau; Agios: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: travel, accommodations, expenses, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Other: travel, accommodations, expenses; Jazz Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria; BMS/Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Loschi: AbbVie: Ended employment in the past 24 months, Honoraria; CELGENE/BMS: Honoraria; Gilead: Ended employment in the past 24 months, Honoraria; Novartis: Ended employment in the past 24 months, Honoraria; Servier: Ended employment in the past 24 months, Honoraria; MSD: Honoraria. Huynh: Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria. Ades: ABBVIE: Honoraria; NOVARTIS: Honoraria; CELGENE/BMS: Honoraria; CELGENE: Research Funding; JAZZ: Honoraria, Research Funding; TAKEDA: Honoraria. Fenaux: JAZZ: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene/BMS: Honoraria, Research Funding; Syros Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria. Robin: NEOVII MEDAC NOVARTIS: Research Funding.

Spousal and Living Related Kidney Transplantation: Our Center Experience

Background Kidney transplantation is the most preferred type of renal displacement therapy for ESRD patients. More patients developed end stage renal disease (ESRD). The most important source is the donations from unrelated spouses. In this study, we aimed to compare the transplantation data obtained from the spouses of the patients with the transplantation data obtained from other relatives. Methods The data including 167 living kidney transplantations performed between January 2006 and December 2019 were retrospectively collected. The patients were divided into two groups; spousal donor group (n: 53) and living-related donor group (n: 114). Results There was no significant difference in delayed graft function in both groups. There were no patients with acute rejection proven by biopsy or considered biochemically in the spousal donor group. With regard to 3-year results in the living-related donor group the patient survival rate was 100%, while it was 98.2% in terms of graft survival. Conclusions In conclusion, similar patient and graft survival rates between spousal donor kidney transplantation and living-related kidney transplantation has made spousal donor kidney transplantation, with possible problems in terms of tissue compatibility, an acceptable alternative to donor supply.

Novel variants in Krueppel like factor 1 that cause persistence of fetal hemoglobin in In(Lu) individuals

Beta-hemoglobinopathies become prominent after birth due to a switch from γ-globin to the mutated β-globin. Haploinsufficiency for the erythroid specific indispensable transcription factor Krueppel-like factor 1 (KLF1) is associated with high persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH). The In(Lu) phenotype, characterized by low to undetectable Lutheran blood group expression is caused by mutations within KLF1 gene. Here we screened a blood donor cohort of 55 Lutheran weak or negative donors for KLF1 variants and evaluated their effect on KLF1 target gene expression. To discriminate between weak and negative Lutheran expression, a flow cytometry (FCM) assay was developed to detect Lu antigen expression. The Lu(a−b−) (negative) donor group, showing a significant decreased CD44 (Indian blood group) expression, also showed increased HbF and HbA2 levels, with one individual expressing HbF as high as 5%. KLF1 exons and promoter sequencing revealed variants in 80% of the Lutheran negative donors. Thirteen different variants plus one high frequency SNP (c.304 T > C) were identified of which 6 were novel. In primary erythroblasts, knockdown of endogenous KLF1 resulted in decreased CD44, Lu and increased HbF expression, while KLF1 over-expressing cells were comparable to wild type (WT). In line with the pleiotropic effects of KLF1 during erythropoiesis, distinct KLF1 mutants expressed in erythroblasts display different abilities to rescue CD44 and Lu expression and/or to affect fetal (HbF) or adult (HbA) hemoglobin expression. With this study we identified novel KLF1 variants to be include into blood group typing analysis. In addition, we provide further insights into the regulation of genes by KLF1.

Utilization of HBV Surface Antigen Positive Grafts in Liver Transplantation: A Matched Study Based on a National Registry Cohort

Background and purposeDonor shortage has become worldwide limitation in liver transplantation. Use of HBsAg+ donors could be an alternative source of donor organs. This study aims to prove the safety and efficacy of liver transplantation using HBsAg+ liver grafts and its long-term outcome.MethodsThis was a retrospective study of adults liver transplantation registered in the database of the China Liver Transplant Registry between January 2015 and September 2018. By propensity score matching (1:1), 503 eligible patients who received HBsAg+ liver grafts were compared with 503 matched patients who received HBsAg- liver grafts.ResultsThe 1-, 3- and 4-year patient survival rates were 81.52%, 72.04% and 70.03% in HBsAg+ donor group, that were comparable to 83.93%, 77.27% and 75.52% in HBsAg- donor group (p=0.222). The 1-, 3- and 4-year graft survival rates were also comparable between the two groups (81.49%, 71.45% and 70.24% vs. 83.62%, 77.11% and 75.32%, respectively, p=0.243). Most main complications were not increased in HBsAg+ donor group except for the retaining of HBsAg positivity after liver transplantation. Furthermore, transplanting HBsAg+ liver grafts did not result in inferior outcomes either in HBsAg+ or HBsAg- recipients. The risk of tumor recurrence after liver transplantation was neither increased in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. ConclusionsThe outcomes of using HBsAg+ liver grafts were comparable with those of HBsAg- liver grafts. Our study provided strong evidence for the safe use of HBsAg+ grafts to expand the donor liver pool.

Novel variants in Krueppel Like Factor 1 that cause Persistence of Fetal Hemoglobin in In(Lu) individuals

Beta-hemoglobinopathies become prominent after birth due to a switch from γ-globin to the mutated β-globin. Haploinsufficiency for the erythroid specific indispensable transcription factor Krueppel-like factor 1 (KLF1) is associated with high persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH). The In(Lu) phenotype, characterized by low to undetectable Lutheran blood group expression is caused by mutations within KLF1 gene. These KLF1 variants often lead to KLF1 haploinsufficiency. We screened a donor cohort of 55 Lutheran weak or negative donors for KLF1 variants. To discriminate between weak and negative Lutheran expression, a flow cytometry (FCM) assay was developed to detect Lu polymorphisms. The Lu(a-b-) (negative) donor group, showing a significant decreased CD44 (Indian blood group) expression, also showed increased HbF and HbA2 levels, with outliers expressing >5% HbF. KLF1 exons and promoter sequencing revealed variants in 80% of the Lutheran negative donors. Thirteen different variants plus one high frequency SNP (c.304T>C) were identified of which 6 were novel. In primary erythroblasts, knockdown of endogenous KLF1 resulted in decreased CD44, Lu and increased HbF expression, while KLF1 over-expressing cells were comparable to wild type (WT). In line with the pleiotropic effects of KLF1 during erythropoiesis, distinct KLF1 mutants expressed in erythroblasts display different abilities to rescue CD44 and Lu expression and/or to affect fetal (HbF) or adult (HbA) hemoglobin expression.

Transfer of Conditionability Between Planaria Through DNA and RNA

This experiment examined whether the transfer of DNA or RNA from conditioned planaria could make the recipients more susceptible to similar conditioning. It has been shown in prior experiments that cephalization is not necessary for memory retention in planaria, so there must be another, non-neural mechanism for memory. Thus, changes in DNA or RNA may be responsible for memory retention, and introducing these changes to naive planaria could transfer the "memory" of the conditioned donor. This study included 3 groups of 11 planaria: the control group, the DNA receival group, and the RNA receival group. After the control group was conditioned, each planarian’s RNA and DNA were extracted and given to its genetically identical counterparts in the DNA and RNA receival groups. The number of trials it took to condition the planaria in each group was measured and compared to see if the transfer of RNA or DNA made the recipients more easily conditionable than the control donor group. The results show that the transfer of RNA and DNA made insignificant changes to the conditionability of recipients. However, further research may be able to identify the location of memory bearing molecules, which, if applied to experiments similar to this one, would ensure that the planaria received a high enough concentration of genetic material for any changes present to make a significant effect.