The transformative potential of artificial intelligence in solid organ transplantation.

Solid organ transplantation confronts numerous challenges ranging from donor organ shortage to post-transplant complications. Here, we provide an overview of the latest attempts to address some of these challenges using artificial intelligence (AI). We delve into the application of machine learning in pretransplant evaluation, predicting transplant rejection, and post-operative patient outcomes. By providing a comprehensive overview of AI's current impact, this review aims to inform clinicians, researchers, and policy-makers about the transformative power of AI in enhancing solid organ transplantation and facilitating personalized medicine in transplant care.

Interaction between cold ischemia time and Kidney Donor Profile Index on postrenal transplant outcomes.

We analyzed whether there is an interaction between the Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI) and cold ischemia time (CIT) in recipients of deceased donor kidney transplant (KTs). Adults who underwent KTs in the United States between 2014 and 2020 were included and divided into 3 KDPI groups (≤20%, 21%-85%, >85%) and 4 CIT strata (<12, 12-17.9, 18-23.9, ≥24 hours). Multivariate analyses were used to test the interaction between KDPI and CIT for the following outcomes: primary graft nonfunction (PGNF), delayed graft function (DGF), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 6 and 12 months, patient survival, graft survival, and death-censored graft survival (DCGS). A total of 69,490 recipients were analyzed: 18,241 (26.3%) received a graft with KDPI ≤20%, 46,953 (67.6%) with KDPI 21%-85%, and 4,296 (6.2%) with KDPI >85%. Increasing KDPI and CIT were associated with worse post-KT outcomes. Contrary to our hypothesis, howerver, the interaction between KDPI and CIT was statistically significant only for PGNF and DGF and eGFR at 6 months. Paradoxically, the negative coefficient of the interaction suggested that increasing duration of CIT was more detrimental for low and intermediate-KDPI organs relative to high-KDPI grafts. Conversely, for mortality, graft survival, and DCGS, we found that the interaction between CIT and KDPI was not statistically significant. We conclude that, high KDPI and prolonged CIT are independent risk factors for inferior outcomes after KT. Their interaction, however, is statistically significant only for the short-term outcomes and more pronounced on low and intermediate-KDPI grafts than high-KDPI kidneys.

Regulatory B Cells in Solid Organ Transplantation: From Immune Monitoring to Immunotherapy.

Regulatory B cells (Breg) modulate the immune response in diverse disease settings including transplantation. Despite the lack of a specific phenotypic marker or transcription factor, their significance in transplantation is underscored by their ability to prolong experimental allograft survival, the possibility for their clinical use as immune monitoring tools, and the exciting prospect for them to form the basis for cell therapy. Interleukin (IL)-10 expression remains the most widely used marker for Breg. Several Breg subsets with distinct phenotypes that express this "signature Breg cytokine" have been described in mice and humans. Although T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin family-1 is the most inclusive and functional marker that accounts for murine Breg with disparate mechanisms of action, the significance of T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin family-1 as a marker for Breg in humans still needs to be explored. Although the primary focus of this review is the role of Breg in clinical transplantation, the net modulatory effect of B cells on the immune response and clinical outcomes is the result of the balancing functions of both Breg and effector B cells. Supporting this notion, B-cell IL-10/tumor necrosis factor α ratio is shown to predict immunologic reactivity and clinical outcomes in kidney and liver transplantation. Assessment of Breg:B effector balance using their IL-10/tumor necrosis factor α ratio may identify patients that require more immunosuppression and provide mechanistic insights into potential therapies. In summary, current advances in our understanding of murine and human Breg will pave way for future definitive clinical studies aiming to test them for immune monitoring and as therapeutic targets.

Transitional B cell cytokines risk stratify early borderline rejection after renal transplantation.

Borderline rejection (BL) in renal transplantation is associated with decreased allograft survival, yet many patients with BL maintain stable graft function. Identifying patients with early BL at risk for shortened allograft survival would allow for timely targeted therapeutic intervention aimed at improving outcomes. 851/1187 patients transplanted between 2013-18 underwent early biopsy (0-4 mos). 217/851 (25%) had BL and were compared to 387/851 without significant inflammation (NI). Serial surveillance and for-cause biopsies and seven-year follow-up were used to evaluate histological and clinical progression. To identify high-risk patients, we examined clinical/histological parameters using regression and non-linear dimensionality reduction (tSNE) and a biomarker based on peripheral blood transitional-1 B cell (T1B) IL-10/TNFα ratio. Compared to NI, early BL was associated with increased progression to late acute rejection (AR; 5-12 mos), premature interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA) and decreased seven-year graft survival. However, decreased graft survival was limited to BL patients who progressed to late AR or IFTA, and was not influenced by treatment. Although tSNE clustered patients into groups based on clinical factors, the ability of these factors to risk stratify BL patients was modest. In contrast, a low T1B IL-10/TNFα ratio at 3 months identified BL patients at high risk for progression to AR (ROC AUC 0.87) and poor 7-yr graft survival (52% vs. 92%, p=0.003), while BL patients with a high ratio had similar graft survival to patients with NI (91%, p=NS). Thus, progressive early allograft inflammation manifested as BL that progresses to late AR in the first post-transplant year represents a high-risk clinical state for poor allograft outcomes. Such high-risk status can be predicted by the T1B IL-10/TNFα ratio before irreversible scarring sets in, thus allowing timely risk stratification.

Regulatory and transitional B cells: potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in organ transplantation.

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW: Regulatory B cells (Bregs) play a prominent role in various disease settings. While progress has been hindered by the lack of a specific Breg marker, new findings highlight their role modulating the alloimmune response and promoting allograft survival. RECENT FINDINGS: Herein, we focus on the recent advances in Breg biology and their role in transplantation. We review studies showing that T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 1 (TIM-1) is an inclusive and functional Breg marker in mice that may have human relevance. We highlight the utility of the B cell interleukin-10/tumor necrosis factor-alpha (IL-10/TNFα) ratio in identifying underlying immunological reactivity and predicting clinical outcomes in kidney transplantation. This may identify patients requiring more immunosuppression and provide insight into potential therapeutic approaches that can modulate the Breg: B effector cell (Beff) balance. SUMMARY: Emerging data support Bregs as potent modulators of immune responses in humans. Their ability to promote allograft survival must await development of approaches to expand Bregs in vitro/in vivo . The low IL-10/TNFα ratio reflecting decreased Breg/Beff balance, predicts acute rejection (AR) and poorer outcomes in renal transplantation. It remains to be determined whether this paradigm can be extended to other allografts and whether therapy aiming to correct the relative deficiency of Bregs will improve outcomes.

Antigen-specific B cells in kidney transplantation.

In this issue, Burton et al. describe a convincing method to identify and enumerate human leukocyte antigen-specific B cells and subsets using biotinylated human leukocyte antigen proteins. Importantly, they demonstrate that these antigen-specific B cells are found at a greater frequency in sensitized kidney transplant recipients when compared with healthy volunteers. Finally, using an indirect antigen-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assay, they uncover the complexity of B- and T-cell interactions and the influence of regulatory T cells on such interactions in vitro.

Transitional B cell cytokines predict renal allograft outcomes.

Early immunological biomarkers that predict rejection and chronic allograft loss are needed to inform preemptive therapy and improve long-term outcomes. Here, we prospectively examined the ratio of interleukin-10 (IL-10) to tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) produced by transitional-1 B cells (T1B) 3 months after transplantation as a predictive biomarker for clinical and subclinical renal allograft rejection and subsequent clinical course. In both Training (n = 162) and Internal Validation (n = 82) Sets, the T1B IL-10/TNFα ratio 3 months after transplantation predicted both clinical and subclinical rejection anytime in the first year. The biomarker also predicted subsequent late rejection with a lead time averaging 8 months. Among biomarker high-risk patients, 60% had early rejection, of which 48% recurred later in the first posttransplant year. Among high-risk patients without early rejection, 74% developed rejection later in the first year. In contrast, only 5% of low-risk patients had early and 5% late rejection. The biomarker also predicted rejection in an External Validation Set (n = 95) and in key patient subgroups, confirming generalizability. Biomarker high-risk patients exhibited progressively worse renal function and decreased 5-year graft survival compared to low-risk patients. Treatment of B cells with anti-TNFα in vitro augmented the IL-10/TNFα ratio, restored regulatory activity, and inhibited plasmablast differentiation. To conclude, the T1B IL-10/TNFα ratio was validated as a strong predictive biomarker of renal allograft outcomes and provides a rationale for preemptive therapeutic intervention with TNF blockade.

Regulatory B cells: TIM-1, transplant tolerance, and rejection.

Regulatory B cells (Bregs) ameliorate autoimmune disease and prevent allograft rejection. Conversely, they hinder effective clearance of pathogens and malignancies. Breg activity is mainly attributed to IL-10 expression, but also utilizes additional regulatory mechanisms such as TGF-ß, FasL, IL-35, and TIGIT. Although Bregs are present in various subsets defined by phenotypic markers (including canonical B cell subsets), our understanding of Bregs has been limited by the lack of a broadly inclusive and specific phenotypic or transcriptional marker. TIM-1, a broad marker for Bregs first identified in transplant models, plays a major role in Breg maintenance and induction. Here, we expand on the role of TIM-1+  Bregs in immune tolerance and propose TIM-1 as a unifying marker for Bregs that utilize various inhibitory mechanisms in addition to IL-10. Further, this review provides an in-depth assessment of our understanding of Bregs in transplantation as elucidated in murine models and clinical studies. These studies highlight the major contribution of Bregs in preventing allograft rejection, and their ability to serve as highly predictive biomarkers for clinical transplant outcomes.

Antigen-dependent interactions between regulatory B cells and T cells at the T:B border inhibit subsequent T cell interactions with DCs.

IL-10+ regulatory B cells (Bregs) inhibit immune responses in various settings. While Bregs appear to inhibit inflammatory cytokine expression by CD4+ T cells and innate immune cells, their reported impact on CD8+ T cells is contradictory. Moreover, it remains unclear which effects of Bregs are direct versus indirect. Finally, the subanatomical localization of Breg suppressive function and the nature of their intercellular interactions remain unknown. Using novel tamoxifen-inducible B cell-specific IL-10 knockout mice, we found that Bregs inhibit CD8+ T cell proliferation and inhibit inflammatory cytokine expression by both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Sort-purified Bregs from IL-10-reporter mice were adoptively transferred into wild-type hosts and examined by live-cell imaging. Bregs localized to the T:B border, specifically entered the T cell zone, and made more frequent and longer contacts with both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells than did non-Bregs. These Breg:T cell interactions were antigen-specific and reduced subsequent T:DC contacts. Thus, Bregs inhibit T cells through direct cognate interactions that subsequently reduce DC:T cell interactions.

Post-transplant donor specific antibody is associated with poor kidney transplant outcomes only when combined with both T-cell-mediated rejection and non-adherence.

Post-transplant donor specific antibody (DSA) is associated with poor renal allograft outcomes. However, variable timing of DSA assessment and inclusion of patients who undergo desensitization treatments have hindered our understanding of its consequences and limited its predictive value. Here we prospectively studied non-desensitized patients to determine factors associated with poor four-year outcomes in patients who developed post-transplant DSA. Using serial monitoring, 67 of 294 patients were found to develop DSA by one year. Compared to patients who do not develop DSA, those with DSA exhibit an increased incidence of both clinical and subclinical T-cell-mediated rejection (TCMR). The combination of TCMR plus DSA led to an almost three-fold increase in graft loss compared to either DSA or TCMR alone. Moreover, DSA was associated with higher Banff grade TCMR and chronic changes at one year. Antibody-mediated rejection was uncommon and always associated with TCMR. Amongst factors independently associated with DSA plus TCMR; non-adherence is potentially modifiable. Non-adherence, measured as intra-patient variability of calcineurin trough levels during the first post-transplant year, further risk-stratified patients with DSA plus TCMR such that about 75% of these patients had impending graft loss by four years, whereas adherent patients with DSA plus TCMR had outcomes comparable to other patient groups. Thus, early post-transplant DSA, especially in non-adherent patients, is associated with increased incidence of TCMR and represents a high-risk group of patients who might benefit from targeted therapeutic interventions.

High Calcineurin Inhibitor Intrapatient Variability Is Associated With Renal Allograft Inflammation, Chronicity, and Graft Loss.

BACKGROUND: High calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) intrapatient variability (IPV) has been associated with poor kidney allograft outcomes. However, the relationship between early allograft histological changes, their progression, and CNI-IPV is less well studied. Hence, we evaluated effect of CNI-IPV defined by the degree of fluctuation of CNI levels in all kidney transplant patients over 2 to 12 months posttransplant on early allograft inflammation, subsequent chronicity, and later clinical outcomes. METHODS: Two hundred eighty-six patients transplanted from January 2013 to November 2014 were enrolled with protocol and indication biopsies. The mean CNI-IPV was 28.5% and a quarter of our cohort had IPV of 35% or greater (high CNI IPV). Baseline demographic differences were similar between high and low CNI IPV groups. RESULTS: High CNI-IPV was associated with a higher incidence of acute rejection (AR) within 1 year (52% vs 31% P < 0.001), more persistent/recurrent AR by 1 year (18.2% vs 6.2%, P = 0.002), higher-grade AR (≥Banff 1B, 27.5% vs 7.3%, P < 0.001), and worse interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy (P = 0.005). High CNI-IPV was associated with increased graft loss (GL) and impending graft loss (iGL, defined as eGFR<30 ml/min and >30% decline in eGFR from baseline), regardless of donor-specific antibody, delayed graft function, rejection, or race. In a multivariate Cox Proportional Hazards Model, high CNI-IPV was independently associated with GL + iGL (hazard ratio, 3.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-5.9, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: High CNI-IPV within 1 year posttransplant is associated with higher incidence of AR, severe AR, allograft chronicity, GL, and iGL. This represents a subset of patients who are at risk for poor kidney transplant outcomes and potentially a modifiable risk factor for late allograft loss.

Regulatory and Effector B Cells: A New Path Toward Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets to Improve Transplant Outcomes?

B cells shape the alloimmune response through polarized subsets. These cells inhibit or promote immune responses by expressing suppressive or proinflammatory cytokines. Their summed activity dictates the influence of B cells on the alloimmune response. We review the evidence for regulatory B cells and effector B cells in mice and humans, discuss current limitations in their phenotypic identification, and discuss regulatory B cells as a signature for clinical renal allograft tolerance and predictive markers for allograft outcomes. We discuss the effects of therapeutic agents on regulatory B cells and potential approaches to augment their numbers as a therapeutic tool.

Early allograft inflammation and scarring associate with graft dysfunction and poor outcomes in renal transplant recipients with delayed graft function: a prospective single center cohort study.

Early histological progression that associates with delayed graft function (DGF) and its relationship to graft outcomes is less well-understood. We systematically evaluated early acute and chronic histological changes associated with DGF through serial biopsies (protocol: 3 and 12 months; for-cause) and related them to graft outcomes. 56/294 (19.04%) of our patients had DGF. DGF was associated with a progressive increase in both Banff 't' and 'i' scores from 2 weeks to 3 and 12 months with a resultant increase in T cell mediated rejection (TCMR) that was significantly greater than those with primary graft function (PGF). This increase in TCMR was predominantly sub-clinical TCMR diagnosed on protocol biopsy. Furthermore, TCMR in patients with DGF was recurrent/persistent at 12 months. Importantly, the combination of DGF and TCMR was associated with significantly worse interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA) and interstitial fibrosis with inflammation (IF + 'i') as early as 3 months and worse renal function. Finally, DGF with TCMR was associated with significantly worse graft loss. In this regard, DGF without TCMR had comparable chronic histology and outcomes to PGF. Thus, DGF with TCMR (predominantly sub-clinical), represents a high-risk patient group who may benefit from early novel immunosuppression augmentation strategies to improve graft outcomes.

Regulatory B cells and transplantation: almost prime time?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Regulatory B cells (Bregs) are potent inhibitors of the immune system with the capacity to suppress autoimmune and alloimmune responses. Murine transplant models showing that Bregs can promote allograft tolerance are now supported by clinical data showing that patients who develop operational tolerance have higher frequency of Bregs. Breg function has been widely studied resulting in improved understanding of their biology and effector mechanisms. However, our overall understanding of Bregs remains poor due the lack of specific marker, limited knowledge of how and where they act in vivo, and whether different Breg subpopulations exhibit different functions. RECENT FINDINGS: In this review we detail murine and human phenotypic markers used to identify Bregs, their induction, maintenance, and mechanisms of immune suppression. We highlight recent advances in the field including their use as biomarkers to predict allograft rejection, in-vitro expansion of Bregs, and the effects of commonly used immunosuppressive drugs on their induction and frequency. SUMMARY: Clinical data continue to emerge in support of Bregs playing an important role in preventing transplant rejection. Hence, it is necessary for the transplant field to better comprehend the mechanisms of Breg induction and approaches to preserve or even enhance their activity to improve long-term transplant outcomes.

Short-term adverse effects of early subclinical allograft inflammation in kidney transplant recipients with a rapid steroid withdrawal protocol.

The impact of subclinical inflammation (SCI) noted on early kidney allograft biopsies remains unclear. This study evaluated the outcome of SCI noted on 3-month biopsy. A total of 273/363 (75%) kidney transplant recipients with a functioning kidney underwent allograft biopsies 3-months posttransplant. Among those with stable allograft function at 3 months, 200 biopsies that did not meet the Banff criteria for acute rejection were identified. These were Group I: No Inflammation (NI, n = 71) and Group II: Subclinical Inflammation (SCI, n = 129). We evaluated differences in kidney function at 24-months and allograft histology score at 12-month biopsy. SCI patients had a higher serum creatinine (1.6 ± 0.7 vs 1.38 ± 0.45; P = .02) at 24-months posttransplant, and at last follow-up at a mean of 42.5 months (1.69 ± 0.9 vs 1.46 ± 0.5 mg/dL; P = .027). The allograft chronicity score (ci + ct + cg + cv) at 12-months posttransplant was higher in the SCI group (2.4 ± 1.35 vs 1.9 ± 1.2; P = .02). The incidence of subsequent rejections within the first year in SCI and NI groups was 24% vs 10%, respectively (P = .015). De novo donor-specific antibody within 12 months was more prevalent in the SCI group (12/129 vs 1/71, P = .03). SCI is likely not a benign finding and may have long-term implications for kidney allograft function.

Reduced human transitional B cell T1/T2 ratio is associated with subsequent deterioration in renal allograft function.

Human transitional B cells express relatively high IL-10 and low TNF-α levels, which correlate with B regulatory activity in vitro. Herein, we aim to further define B regulatory phenotype and determine whether B regulatory activity can serve as a prognostic marker for renal allograft dysfunction (graft loss or 2-fold fall in estimated glomerular filtration rate). Transitional B cells can be divided into T1 and T2 subsets based on surface phenotype. T1 cells express a significantly higher ratio of IL-10 to TNF-α than T2 cells or other B subsets. When analyzed in 45 kidney transplant recipients at the time of late for-cause biopsy, the T1/T2 ratio was independently associated with allograft dysfunction over the next 5 years. Next, the T1/T2 ratio was examined in an independent set of 97 clinically stable kidney transplant recipients 2 years after transplant. Again, the T1/T2 ratio was strongly and independently associated with allograft dysfunction over the ensuing 5 years. In these clinically quiescent patients, a low T1/T2 ratio identified a 41-patient subgroup in which 35% developed allograft dysfunction, with 25% losing their allografts. However, none of the 56 patients with a high ratio developed graft dysfunction. In both the initial study and validation groups, the T1/T2 ratio was a much stronger predictor of graft dysfunction than donor-specific antibodies or the estimated glomerular filtration rate. Thus, the T1/T2 ratio, a relative measure of expressing an anti-inflammatory cytokine profile, is a novel prognostic marker that might inform individualized immunosuppression.

Kidney Transplant Survival: Transforming Early Post-Transplant Opportunities to Long-Term Success.

Substantial strides have been made in improving the short-term success after kidney transplantation. Although there has been some progress, there has not been a robust improvement with respect to long-term outcomes. However, there remain many potentially modifiable transplant-specific risks to long-term patient and graft survival. In this chapter, we detail the current state of five important short-term transplant-specific clinical events. The early post-transplant events that negatively impact long-term survival discussed in this chapter are: acute T cell mediated rejection, acute antibody mediated rejection, delayed graft function, post-transplant viral infections, and recurrent and de novo diseases after transplantation. This chapter focuses on unmet needs and outlines important goals, specific to each of the topics, that hold promise for achieving better long-term graft survival in kidney transplant patients. Consistent across all five areas are: the need for better standardization and improvement in diagnosis and testing, identification of relevant clinical surrogate markers in the design of new studies, newer immunosuppressive agents, anti-viral agents and targeted therapy for certain diseases, and innovative newer clinical trials. A multifaceted approach will further enhance long-term kidney transplant survival.

Immunologic human renal allograft injury associates with an altered IL-10/TNF-α expression ratio in regulatory B cells.

Human B cells with immunoregulatory properties in vitro (Bregs) have been defined by the expression of IL-10 and are enriched in various B-cell subsets. However, proinflammatory cytokine expression in B-cell subsets is largely unexplored. We examined the cytokine profiles of human PBMCs and found that subsets of CD24(hi)CD38(hi) transitional B cells (TrBs), CD24(hi)CD27(+) memory B cells, and naïve B cells express IL-10 and the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α simultaneously. TrBs had the highest IL-10/TNF-α ratio and suppressed proinflammatory helper T cell 1 (Th1) cytokine expression by autologous T cells in vitro more potently than memory B cells did, despite similar IL-10 expression. Whereas neutralization of IL-10 significantly inhibited TrB-mediated suppression of autologous Th1 cytokine expression, blocking TNF-α increased the suppressive capacity of both memory and naïve B-cell subsets. Thus, the ratio of IL-10/TNF-α expression, a measure of cytokine polarization, may be a better indicator of regulatory function than IL-10 expression alone. Indeed, compared with TrB cells from patients with stable kidney graft function, TrBs from patients with graft rejection displayed similar IL-10 expression levels but increased TNF-α expression (i.e., reduced IL-10/TNF-α ratio), did not inhibit in vitro expression of Th1 cytokines by T cells, and abnormally suppressed expression of Th2 cytokines. In patients with graft dysfunction, a low IL-10/TNF-α ratio in TrBs associated with poor graft outcomes after 3 years of follow-up. In summary, these results indicate that B cell-mediated immune regulation is best characterized by the cytokine polarization profile, a finding that was confirmed in renal transplant patients.