Background Antibody-mediated rejection is caused in part by increasing circulation/production of donor-specific antibody (DSA). Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) is a key regulator of class switch recombination and somatic hypermutation of immunoglobulin in B cells, yet its role in antibody-mediated transplant rejection remains unclear. We show here that AID deficiency in mice enables suppression of allograft vasculopathy (AV) after aorta transplantation, a DSA-mediated process. Methods Splenocytes from C57BL/6 J (B6) AID−/− mice were used for determining in vitro proliferation responses, alloreactivity, cell surface marker expression, and antibody production. BALB/c mouse aortas were transplanted into B6 AID−/− mice with or without FK506 treatment. Blood and aorta grafts were harvested on day 30 after transplantation and were subjected to DSA, histological, and immunohistological analyses. Results The AID−/− splenocytes were comparable to wild type splenocytes in proliferation responses, alloreactivity, and expression of cell surface markers in vitro. However, they completely failed to produce immunoglobulin G, although they were not impaired in immunoglobulin M production relative to controls. Furthermore, BALB/c aorta grafts from B6 AID−/− recipient mice on day 30 after transplantation showed reduced signs of AV compared to the grafts from B6 wild type recipient mice which had severe vascular intimal hyperplasia, interstitial fibrosis, and inflammation. Treatment with FK506 produced a synergistic effect in the grafts from AID−/− recipients with further reduction of intimal hyperplasia and fibrosis scores. Conclusions The AID deficiency inhibits DSA-mediated AV after aorta transplantation in mice. We propose that AID could be a novel molecular target for controlling antibody-mediated rejection in organ transplantation.

Whole genome gene expression profiles were correlated with renal function and histology in a well-established animal model of chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN). Kidneys of F344 rats were transplanted into LEW recipients treated with a brief dose of FK506 (BFK). Blood and urine samples were collected weekly. Kidney grafts were harvested at an early (day 6) or late (days 30-90) phase after transplantation. BFK kidney grafts showed remarkable changes in function, histology, and gene expression profiles when compared to the isograft controls. In the early phase, renal function and histology were barely affected, yet the expression levels of 225 genes were significantly changed, reflecting both immune and non-immune pathways. In the late phase, however, 826 genes were affected in the BFK kidney grafts, including genes in the pathways of extracellular matrix and cell adhesion. Of these genes, 214 appear to be key factors for development of CAN, since they were affected at both early and late phases, including genes involved in the immune response, the inflammatory response, apoptosis, and metabolism. Kinetic studies with gene expression profiling can identify genes involved in the progressive development of chronic allograft rejection, leading to more detailed therapeutic approaches or useful biomarkers in clinical transplantation.

The novel immunosuppressant AS1387392 has been isolated from Acremonium sp. No. 27082. This compound showed a strong inhibitory effect against mammalian histone deacetylase and T-cell proliferation. Further, AS1387392 showed a good oral absorption, and its plasma concentration was higher than that of FR235222, an analog of AS1387392 that inhibited histone deacetylase previously reported. Given these findings, AS1387392 may represent an important new lead in developing immunosuppressant.

Background. Monocarboxylate transporter (MCT)-1, a member of a family of molecules, transports monocarboxylates such as lactate. Inhibiting MCT-1 leads to long-term graft survival in rodent heart transplantation and induces tolerance. We evaluated an MCT-1 inhibitor, AS2495674, in a rat heart transplant model and analyzed its underlying mechanism.Methods. AS2495674 was tested on rat lymphocytes to determine its effect on lactate accumulation, proliferation, and immunoglobulin production. The effect of AS2495674 on graft survival was tested on the Brown Norway to Lewis rat strain combination with a second heart transplantation to test donor-specific suppression. Histology and ex vivo analyses were done to examine the AS2495674 effects on the immune response.Results. In vitro, AS2495674 resulted in lactate accumulation, inhibited lymphocyte proliferation, and prevented immunoglobulin production. AS2495674 induced long-term allograft survival with little evidence of chronic rejection and induced donor-specific suppression. Evaluation of the allograft and peripheral T lymphocytes from the AS2495674 group compared with that of vehicle showed (1) decreased donor-specific T lymphocyte response, (2) more forkhead box P3(+) (Foxp3(+)) and CD45RA(+) cells in the allograft, (3) higher gene expression of chemokines and chemokine receptors in the allograft, and (4) preferential inhibition of Foxp3(+) cells with little or no effect on Foxp3(+) cells.Conclusions. AS2495674 prevents acute rejection, reduces features of chronic rejection, and induces tolerance. Our data suggest that the mechanism of AS2495674 involves generating a tolerogenic graft environment by preferentially targeting T effector cells while sparing the generation of T regulatory cells.

We screened actinomycetes capable of converting AS1387392 to AS1429716 and identified those strains capable of hydroxylation. Amycolatopsis azurea JCM 3275 was found to be a particularly efficient strain, capable of converting AS1387392 to AS1429716, with a yield of 44% after 9 h. This strain can metabolize not only the hydroxylation of phenylalanine at the meta and para positions but also the reduction of hydroxyketones, as shown by the isolation of bioconversion products. Examination of more suitable conversion conditions showed that pH 7.8 and 25 °C were the optimum pH and temperature for bioconversion, respectively. We also demonstrated the effect of carbon and nitrogen sources in the culture media on hydroxylation. Using this strain, we were able to efficiently produce AS1429716 as a chemical template. Further derivatization studies may provide more effective, safer immunosuppressants than those that are currently on-market.

Xu, X.; Wynn, C.; Pan, F.; Xia, G.; Yamada, T.; Tamura, K.; Jiang, H. Author Information

Carmen, W1; Erickson, L1; Pan, F1; Hong, I-C1; Yamada, T1; Wu, L1; Ding, J1; Crew, G1; Tamura, K1,2; Jiang, H1,2 Author Information

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) is a known modulator of gene transcription, and the immunosuppressive activity of HDAC inhibitors has been demonstrated in recent several reports. In this study, the HDAC inhibitor FR276457, a hydroxamic derivative, was found to have a similar inhibitory effect on all mammalian HDACs tested, but no isozyme selectivity. Both FR276457 and tacrolimus exerted an immunosuppressive effect on in vitro rat splenocyte proliferation stimulated with Concanavalin A. Next, the effect of FR276457 on allograft rejection when administered either as a monotherapy or in combination with tacrolimus was investigated in a rat heterotopic cardiac transplant model. Orally administered FR276457 prolonged the median survival times (MST) of the transplanted grafts in the vehicle group from 6 d to 17 or 21 d at doses of 20 or 40 mg/kg, respectively. Histopathological analysis showed the structures of the myocardium were not affected, but interstitial cellular infiltration could not be suppressed completely. Tacrolimus (0.032 mg/kg) prolonged allograft MST to 16 d. FR276457, when combined with tacrolimus, prevented allograft rejection at a dose lower than that of the monotherapy. The combination dose prolonged the MST in the groups treated with 10 and 20 mg/kg to >28 d, and cellular infiltration was suppressed completely. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the oral administration of HDAC inhibitor FR276457 can prevent allograft rejection as a monotherapy, and has additive or synergistic effects when combined with tacrolimus.

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors repress interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene expression in T cells and possess immunosuppressive activity in vivo. In addition to its immunosuppressive activity, HDAC inhibitors block GATA binding protein-1 (GATA-1) gene expression in megakaryocytes and elicit thrombocytopenia. In this report we state that for a given immunosuppressive dose of HDAC inhibitor, the ratio of GATA-1 reporter gene activity relative to IL-2 reporter gene assay (G/I ratio of measured IC(50)) can be predictive of a HDAC inhibitor's thrombocytopenic effect. This study utilized nine HDAC inhibitors at a minimal effective dose in a rat heterotopic cardiac transplantation model and the resultant G/I ratios and platelet depletion rates were highly correlated (r=0.933). These results indicate that calculation of G/I ratio can be a novel method for selecting immunosuppressive HDAC inhibitor having minimal thrombocytopenic effect which will benefit the search for new immunosuppressants of greater safety and efficacy.