Effects of Donor and Recipient Genetic Expression on Heart, Lung, Liver, or Kidney Transplant Survival

Correlation of Donor Proinflammatory mRNA Profiles With Early Outcomes of Thoracic and Abdominal Transplantation

Activity of genes in donor tissues that are involved in inflammation are thought to be involved with early organ dysfunction, increased immune responses in transplant recipients, and organ rejection. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between genetic expression in donor and recipient tissue with transplant survival. Participants in this study will have received heart, lung, liver, or kidney transplants.

Inflammation and injuries to transplanted organs during the immediate post-operative period may be linked to early organ dysfunction and higher rates of transplant rejection in the recipient. Currently, mRNA expression of proinflammatory genes in donor tissues is thought to be a risk factor for early organ transplant dysfunction, increased expression of the recipients cell-mediated immunity genes, and organ rejection. The purpose of this study is to test the association between proinflammatory mRNA expression in donor samples and subsequent development of early organ dysfunction in kidney, lung, and liver transplant recipients. This study will also test the effects of proinflammatory mediators expressed in the transplanted organ pre- and post-reperfusion on organ rejection and genes expressed in cell mediated immune responses. This will be achieved by identifying the proinflammatory immune responses and their mechanisms.

This study will consist of up to 11 study visits over a period of 2 years. The baseline visit will occur 24 hours prior to organ transplantation. Follow-up visits will occur daily for Days 1 to 3 (for lung transplant recipients only) and on Day 7, Week 6, and Months 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 post-transplant. At the baseline visit, a physical exam, medical history, demographics, vital signs measurements, blood collection, and collection of donor tissue sample will occur. For most or all other study visits, medication and adverse events tracking and blood collection will occur. Depending on the transplant type, participants will undergo the following procedures:

• Heart: Participants will undergo a heart biopsy that is part of standard clinical care following a heart transplant. An echocardiogram and an electrocardiogram will occur at most visits.
• Kidney: Renal biopsies will be performed 1 hour after reperfusion at the time of surgery. Urine collection will occur at most visits.
• Liver: Liver biopsies will be performed at the time of procurement and within 1 hour of reperfusion.
• Lung: Participants will undergo bronchoalveolar lavage that is part of standard clinical care following a lung transplant. A chest x-ray, an arterial blood gas test, a pulmonary function test, and 6-minute walking test will occur at some visits.

Inclusion Criteria for all participants:

• Received single lung, heart, kidney, or liver transplant
• Specimens of donor tissues have been collected
• Parent or guardian willing to provide informed consent, if applicable

Inclusion Criteria for Kidney or Liver Transplant Participants:

• 70 years old or younger

Inclusion Criteria for Heart or Lung Transplant Participants:

• Between 16 and 70 years old

Exclusion Criteria for All Participants:

• Previous solid organ transplant
• Need for combined organ transplant
• HIV or hepatitis C virus infection
• Recipient of an organ from a hepatitis C virus-infected donor
• Clinical evidence of systemic bacterial infection in the recipient at the time of transplantation
• Living donor transplant recipient of either a kidney, liver, or lung