AIM2 deficiency in CD4 T cells promotes psoriasis-like inflammation by regulating Th17-Treg axis via AIM2-IKZF2 pathway.

Psoriasis vulgaris remains a common inflammatory skin disease globally. The imbalance between Th17 and Treg cells plays an integral role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis vulgaris, but the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. The role of AIM2 in Treg cell function in psoriasis is unclear.

CD5L up-regulates the TGF-β signaling pathway and promotes renal fibrosis.

Renal fibrosis is the common final pathway of progressive renal diseases, in which the macrophages play an important role. ELISA was used to detect CD5 antigen-like (CD5L) in serum samples from end-stage renal disease (ESRD), as well as in mice serum with unilateral ureteral occlusion (UUO). Recombinant CD5L was injected into UUO mice to assess renal injury, fibrosis, and macrophage infiltration.

Electrostimulation suppresses allograft rejection via promoting lymphatic regulatory T cell migration mediated by lymphotoxin - lymphotoxin receptor β signaling.

Conventional immunosuppressants that suppress allograft rejection cause various side effects. Although regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for allograft survival, the limited efficacy of Treg therapy demands improvement. Thus, it is imperative to seek new approaches to enhancing Treg suppression.

TREM2 deficiency aggravates renal injury by promoting macrophage apoptosis and polarization via the JAK-STAT pathway in mice.

The triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) is an immune receptor that affects cellular phenotypes by modulating phagocytosis and metabolism, promoting cell survival, and counteracting inflammation. Its role in renal injury, in particular, unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) or ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI)-induced renal injury remains unclear. In our study, WT and Trem2 mice were employed to evaluate the role of TREM2 in renal macrophage infiltration and tissue injury after UUO.

Inhibition of interferon regulatory factor 4 orchestrates T cell dysfunction, extending mouse cardiac allograft survival.

Background: T cell dysfunction, which includes exhaustion, anergy, and senescence, is a distinct T cell differentiation state that occurs after antigen exposure. Although T cell dysfunction has been a cornerstone of cancer immunotherapy, its potential in transplant research, while not yet as extensively explored, is attracting growing interest. Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) has been shown to play a pivotal role in inducing T cell dysfunction.

Role of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 in kidney diseases: A biomarker and potential therapeutic target.

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily. As an amplifier of the inflammatory response, TREM-1 is mainly involved in the production of inflammatory mediators and the regulation of cell survival. TREM-1 has been studied in infectious diseases and more recently in non-infectious disorders.

Mouse kidney transplantation model: Three novel methods.

Objectives: The mouse kidney transplantation model presents challenges in terms of surgical difficulty and low success rate, making it difficult to master. This study aims to provide a crucial model for transplantation immunology research by modifying and developing novel techniques for mouse kidney transplantation.

Methods: A total of 57 pairs of mice were used to establish and compare the modified and innovative surgical techniques for mouse kidney transplantation.

The status and influencing factors of fatigue in kidney transplant recipients based on the theory of unpleasant symptoms: A cross-sectional study in China.

Aims: This study describes the incidence of fatigue in kidney transplant recipients and analyses the relationship between physiological factors, psychological factors, situational factors and fatigue in kidney transplant recipients.

Background: Fatigue, as a common symptom after kidney transplantation, is affected by many factors, but the influence of some factors on the fatigue of kidney transplant recipients is still controversial.

Design: This cross-sectional study was designed based on the theory of unpleasant symptoms.

Determination of Maximum Tolerable Cold Ischemia Time in a Mouse Model of Cervical Heterotopic Uterus Transplantation.

Background: Uterus transplantation (UTx) is an emerging treatment for uterine factor infertility. Determining the maximum tolerable cold ischemia time is crucial for successful UTx. However, the limit for cold ischemia in the uterus is unclear.

Association between dietary vitamin E intake and chronic kidney disease events in US adults: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2009-2016.

Background: The relationship between vitamin E supplementation and the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is unclear. We discussed the relationship between vitamin E intake and CKD prevalence and further investigated the effect on different CKD risk strata.

Methods: We ultimately included 20 295 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database from 2009 to 2016.

Homoharringtonine promotes heart allograft acceptance by enhancing regulatory T cells induction in a mouse model.

Background: Homoharringtonine (HHT) is an effective anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-tumor protein synthesis inhibitor that has been applied clinically. Here, we explored the therapeutic effects of HHT in a mouse heart transplant model.

Methods: Healthy C57BL/6 mice were used to observe the toxicity of HHT in the liver, kidney, and hematology.

Clinical outcomes for kidney transplantation in 81 adults with IgA nephropathy.

Objectives: Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is one of the most common types of kidney disease, and kidney transplantation is the most effective treatment for end-stage renal disease. This study aims to analyze the clinical curative effect of renal transplantation for adults with IgAN and to discuss the efficacy and safety of kidney transplantation for IgAN at the perioperative period and medium- and long-term follow-up.

Methods: This retrospective study included the clinical and follow-up data of 81 adult patients with IgAN who underwent kidney transplantation at the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University from January 2018 to January 2022.

A murine groin site cardiac transplantation model-applicable tool for studying roles of peripheral lymph nodes in transplantation.

The murine heterotopic cardiac transplantation model has been widely used to study antigen-specific immune responses or new immunosuppressive agents, which have a strong correlation with peripheral lymph nodes. Thus, a new organ transplantation model that is applicable to related studies is needed. Here, we describe a groin-site murine heart transplantation model using a cuff technique, in which the donor aorta and pulmonary artery are anastomosed to the truncated femoral vessels of the recipient.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis secondary to virus infection and followed by lupus nephritis recurrence in a renal transplantation pediatric recipient: a case report.

Background: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare and life-threatening disorder characterized by systemic inflammation and organ failure as a result of dysregulated immune cell activation. HLH can be induced by a variety of factors including infection, tumours and autoimmune disease and can also occur in patients following solid organ transplantation. Occurrence of HLH and lupus nephritis (LN) successively within a short period of time after renal transplantation is uncommon.

DsbA-L deletion attenuates LPS-induced acute kidney injury by modulating macrophage polarization.

Disulfide bond A oxidoreductase-like protein (DsbA-L) drives acute kidney injury (AKI) by directly upregulating the expression of voltage-dependent anion-selective channels in proximal tubular cells. However, the role of DsbA-L in immune cells remains unclear. In this study, we used an LPS-induced AKI mouse model to assess the hypothesis that DsbA-L deletion attenuates LPS-induced AKI and explore the potential mechanism of DsbA-L action.

TIPE2 deficiency prolongs mouse heart allograft survival by facilitating immature DCs-induced Treg generation.

It has been reported that deletion of tumor necrosis factor-α-induced protein-8 like 2 (TNFAIP8L2, TIPE2) facilitates the activation of T-cell receptors. However, the role of TIPE2 in T-cell-mediated acute transplant rejection remains unclear. To illustrate the underlying cellular mechanisms, we transplanted BALB/c hearts into C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) or C57BL/6 mice deficient for TIPE2 (TIPE2) and found that TIPE2 recipient mice showed significantly prolonged survival of heart allografts and suppressed maturation of CD11c dendritic cells (DCs), which largely abolished the activation and proliferation of alloreactive T cells and their cytotoxic activity.

Drug-induced Fanconi syndrome in patients with kidney allograft transplantation.

Background: Patients after kidney transplantation need to take long-term immunosuppressive and other drugs. Some of these drug side effects are easily confused with the symptoms of Fanconi syndrome, resulting in misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis, and causing serious consequences to patients. Therefore, improving awareness, early diagnosis and treatment of Fanconi syndrome after kidney transplantation is critical.

Utilization of HCV Viremic Kidneys with Genotyping/Subtyping-Free Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir Treatment Strategy: Experience from China.

Background: Owing to the advent of pangenotypic direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment, utilization of HCV-infected deceased donor kidneys with simplified genotyping/subtyping-free sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL) treatment strategy is now becoming a promising strategy for expanding the organ donor pool.

Methods: This retrospective, comparative, single-center study included HCV viremic donor kidneys that were transplanted to 9 HCV-positive (HCV Ab-positive) recipients (D+/R+ group) and 14 HCV-negative recipients (D+/R- group) from May 2018 to January 2021. Both groups received prophylaxis with SOF/VEL treatment within 1-week posttransplant devoid of HCV genotyping/subtyping.

Novel immunosuppressive effect of FK506 by upregulation of PD-L1 via FKBP51 in heart transplantation.

The calcineurin inhibitor-FK506-is a first-line immunosuppressant that regulates T cell secretion of IL-2 and other cytokines. However, the mechanism of its protective effect on target cells and its role on tumour recurrence and interaction with anti-tumour immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as PD-L1 blocking, are still unclear. Here, in a murine heart transplantation model, we observed the upregulation of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression by FK506 in both dendritic cells (DCs) and allografts.

Leflunomide Inhibits rat-to-Mouse Cardiac Xenograft Rejection by Suppressing Adaptive Immune Cell Response and NF-κB Signaling Activation.

Xenotransplantation is a potential solution for the severe shortage of human donor organs and tissues. The generation of humanized animal models attenuates strong innate immune responses, such as complement-mediated hyperacute rejection. However, acute vascular rejection and cell mediated rejection remain primary barriers to xenotransplantation, which limits its clinical application.

Comparison of Outcomes of Kidney Transplantation From Extremely Low Body Weight ≤5kg Larger Body Weight Pediatric Donors.

Background: Kidney transplantation from donors who weigh ≤5 kg is performed at only a few transplant centers owing to the high complication and low graft survival rates associated with this approach.

Methods: We retrospectively compared the results of kidney transplantation at our center between January 2015 and December 2019 based on the following pediatric donor criteria: donor body weight ≤5 kg (n=32), 5 kg< donor weight ≤20 kg (n=143), and donor weight >20 kg (n=110). We also perform subgroup analysis of kidney transplantation outcomes from ≤5 kg donors, using conventional (dual separate and classic en-bloc KTx)/novel (en-bloc KTx with outflow tract) surgical methods and allocating to adult/pediatric recipients.

Combination of mesenchymal stem cells and FK506 prolongs heart allograft survival by inhibiting TBK1/IRF3-regulated-IFN-γ production.

Lifelong immunosuppression use presents many serious side effects to transplant recipients. Previous studies have shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) regulate the progress of inflammation and protect allograft function. However, the benefits of MSC combined with low-dose tacrolimus (FK506) has not been investigated in heart transplant recipients, and its mechanism deserves further investigation.

The Role of Regulatory B cells in Kidney Diseases.

B cells, commonly regarded as proinflammatory antibody-producing cells, are detrimental to individuals with autoimmune diseases. However, in recent years, several studies have shown that regulatory B (Breg) cells, an immunosuppressive subset of B cells, may exert protective effects against autoimmune diseases by secretion of inhibitory cytokines such as IL-10. In practice, Breg cells are identified by their production of immune-regulatory cytokines, such as IL-10, TGF-β, and IL-35, however, no specific marker or Breg cell-specific transcription factor has been identified.