Determination of unacceptable antigens by summation of anti-HLA eplet antibody strength (MFI) based on single antigen bead assays: Excellent correlation with negative cell based cross matches.

The reliability of single antigen bead (SAB) assays and their use in predicting a negative cell based cross match (CBXM) is essential in the era of expanded organ sharing. A wide range of accuracy (80-95%) in predicting negative CBXM has been reported. We hypothesized that in SAB assays an antibody against an HLA eplet that was common among a number of different HLA alleles would be distributed among all of the shared eplet positive SABs.

Moesin: A novel receptor on NK lymphocytes binds to TOMM40 on K562 leukemia cells initiating cytolysis.

Natural killer lymphocytes (NK cells) are the first line of defense (innate immunity) against viral infections and leukemia since they do not require activation to deliver a lethal hit to infected/aberrant cells. In contrast, T lymphocytes require stimulation by a foreign/neo - antigen, which may take days before they are active against the pathogen (adaptive immunity). A number of receptors on activated NK cells that kill the prototypical leukemia target cell line, K562, have been identified.

Antibodies to cryptic epitopes on HLA class I and class II heavy chains bound to single antigen beads: Clinically relevant?

Cell surface HLA class I consists of trimers, i.e., alpha - heavy chain, beta - 2 - microglobulin, and a peptide, termed closed conformers (CC) on non-activated lymphocytes.

HLA B53 is associated with a poor outcome in black COVID-19 patients.

A disproportionate incidence of death has occurred in African Americans (Blacks) in the United States due to COVID-19. The reason for this disparity is likely to be multi-factorial and may involve genetic predisposition. The association of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) with severe COVID-19 was examined in a hospitalized population (89% Black, n = 36) and compared to HLA typed non-hospitalized individuals (20% Black, n = 40) who had recovered from mild disease.

Correlation of Automated Chemiluminescent Method with Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Antibody Titers in Convalescent COVID-19 Plasma Samples: Development of Rapid, Cost-Effective Semi-Quantitative Diagnostic Methods.

Background: We investigated the utility of an automated chemiluminescent SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody assay platform in quantifying the amount of binding antibodies present in donated convalescent plasma.

Methods: A total of 179 convalescent plasma units were analyzed for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies using the Beckman-Coulter chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) platform. The equipment-derived numerical values (S/Co ratio) were recorded.

Administration of high titer convalescent anti-SARS-CoV-2 plasma: From donor selection to monitoring recipient outcomes.

Early in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, convalescent plasma (CP) therapy was proposed as a treatment for severely ill patients. We conducted a CP treatment protocol under the Mayo Clinic Extended Access Program at University Hospital Brooklyn (UHB). Potential donors were screened with a lateral flow assay (LFA) for IgM and IgG antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 S1 receptor-binding domain (RBD).

Plasma Nitration of High-Density and Low-Density Lipoproteins in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Receiving Kidney Transplants.

Background: Functional abnormalities of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) could contribute to cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease patients. We measured a validated marker of HDL dysfunction, nitrated apolipoprotein A-I, in kidney transplant recipients to test the hypothesis that a functioning kidney transplant reduces serum nitrated apoA-I concentrations.

Methods: Concentrations of nitrated apoA-I and apoB were measured using indirect sandwich ELISA assays on sera collected from each transplant subject before transplantation and at 1, 3, and 12 months after transplantation.

Randomized controlled trial of strain-specific probiotic formulation (Renadyl) in dialysis patients.

Background: Primary goal of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of Renadyl in end-stage renal disease patients was to assess the safety and efficacy of Renadyl measured through improvement in quality of life or reduction in levels of known uremic toxins. Secondary goal was to investigate the effects on several biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress.

Methods: Two 2-month treatment periods separated by 2-month washout and crossover, with physical examinations, venous blood testing, and quality of life questionnaires completed at each visit.

Poor kidney allograft survival associated with positive B cell - Only flow cytometry cross matches: a ten year single center study.

The presence of donor specific antibody (DSA) to class 1 or class 2 HLA as detected respectively in T cell or B cell - only flow cytometry cross matches (FCXMs) are risk factors for renal allograft survival, though the comparative risk of these XMs has not been definitively established. Allograft survival and FCXM data in 624 microcytotoxicity (CDC) XM negative kidney transplants were evaluated. Short and long term allograft survival was significantly less in recipients with T(-) B(+) FCXMs (1 year, 74%, 10 year, 58%) compared to T(+) B(+) FCXMs (1 year, 84%, 10 year, 68%) and to T(-) B(-) FCXM (1 year, 90%, 10 year, 85%).

Long-term outcomes of dual kidney transplantation-a single center experience.

The shortage of kidney donors has led to broadening of the acceptance criteria for deceased donor organs beyond the traditional use of young donors. We determined long-term post-transplant outcomes in recipients of dual expanded criteria donor kidneys (dECD, n = 44) and compared them to recipients of standard criteria donor kidneys (SCD, n = 194) and single expanded criteria donor kidneys (sECD, n = 62). We retrospectively reviewed these 300 deceased donor kidney transplants without primary non-function (PNF) or death in the first two wk, at our center from 1996 to 2003.

Haymaker gene expression in malignant and normal gynecologic tissues.

We previously reported that cell lines established from human carcinomas and leukemias/lymphomas expressed high levels of an intracellular membrane-bound protein, Haymaker, whereas cell lines derived from non-malignant connective tissue cells and lymphoid cells expressed low levels of this gene product. To determine whether these findings reflect neoplastic transformation or, alternatively, tissue specificity, we examined by immunohistochemical and molecular methods the expression of Haymaker in gynecologic organs with and without tumor. A highly specific, affinity-purified rabbit polyclonal antibody against a 25-mer Haymaker peptide was used for immunohistochemical staining and morphometric analysis of 85 tissue specimens.

Anti-inflammatory effects of phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) deficiency in mice.

We previously reported that phospholipid transfer protein-deficient (PLTP KO) mice exhibit a lower rate of atherosclerosis. We proposed two possible mechanisms: a reduction in hepatic apoB secretion (Nat Med 7 (2001) 847) and induction of lipoprotein anti-oxidation activity (J Biol Chem 277 (2002) 31850). We now hypothesized that PLTP KO mice may exhibit an anti-inflammatory state per se.

Difference in target cell recognition of naive and activated human natural killer cells: role of Haymaker (p38.5) in tumoricidal activity.

The human Haymaker gene, at 19q13.2 in the Leukocyte Receptor-Receptor-Related Complexes, encodes a 38.5-kDa non-MHC protein found on the plasma membrane of tumor cell lines that are highly susceptible to lysis by naive (unstimulated) natural killer (nNK) cells.

Circulating endothelial progenitor cells in multiple myeloma: implications and significance.

Angiogenesis governs the progression of multiple myeloma (MM). Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) contribute to angiogenesis and comprise mature ECs and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). The present study sought to characterize CECs and their relation to disease activity and therapeutic response in 31 consecutive patients with MM.