Prevalence and significance of clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential in lung transplant recipients.

Background: Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), the age-related acquisition of somatic mutations that leads to an expanded blood cell clone, has been associated with development of a pro-inflammatory state. An enhanced or dysregulated inflammatory response may contribute to rejection after lung transplantation, however the prevalence of CHIP in lung recipients and influence of CHIP on allograft outcomes is unknown.

Methods: We analyzed whole-exome sequencing data in 279 lung recipients to detect CHIP, defined by pre-specified somatic mutations in 74 genes known to promote clonal expansion of hematopoietic stem cells.