Transplant Immunology

Last updated: November 12, 2024
  • What is the biggest drawback to allograft survival
    • Graft Rejection
  • List the laboratory tests done before transplantation
    • HLA typing
    • HLA and Non-HLA antibody screening
    • T and B cell cross-matching
  • List the tests done under Tissue (HLA) typing
    • Serology – Complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) test
    • Molecular – Sequence specific Oligonucleotide (SSO) and Sequence Specific Primer (SSP) Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • List the tests done under HLA antibody screening
    • Serology
      • Complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC)
      • CDC-anti-human globulin (CDC-AHG)
    • Solid phase
      • ELISA
      • Flow cytometry or Luminex (Single-antigen beads)
  • List the tests done under T and B cell Cross-match
    • CDC assay
    • Flow-cytometry cross match
    • Luminex bead assay
  • Outline the procedure for the Complement Dependent Cytotoxicity (CDC) test
    • Donor’s cells (Buffy coat prep) are mixed with serum containig anti-HLA antibodies
    • Antibodies recognize and bind to HLA epitopes on donor cells
    • Binding activated complement lysing the donor cells
    • Donor cells take up tryptan blue dye
    • Positive reactions shows cells that have taken up dye on the microtitre plate
    • Negative reaction shows no uptake of dye on the microtitre plate
  • Outline the procedure for the Sequence Specific Probe and Sequence Specific Oligonucleotide PCR
    • Donor’s Template strand is denatured
    • Donor’s DNA is hybridized with fluorochrome-tagged locus specific primers
    • Donor’s DNA is amplified
    • Donor’s DNA is denatured
    • Cycle continues
    • PCR products are hybridized with HLA allele-specific probes coated with Luminex beads
    • Fluorochrome is detected by Luminex
  • What reagents are used in Antibody screening
    • Recipient serum with anti-HLA antibodies
    • Donor lymphocytes (for CDC)
    • Complement
    • Fluorescent-conjugated anti-human globulin
    • ELISA uses purified HLA antigens as the base (indirect-ELISA)
    • Luminex used Microbeads with HLA antigens as the base (detected by luminex)
  • Outline the procedure of a CDC cross-match
    • Recipient serum mixed with Donor lymphocytes
    • Recipient antibody recognizes HLA on donor lymphocytes
    • Complement activation, lysis, dye uptake
  • Outline the procedure of a Flow cytometry cross-match
    • Recipient serum mixed with donor lymphocytes and Fluorochrome-labelled anti-human antibodies
    • Recipient antibodies bind HLA on donor lymphocytes
    • Fluorochrome labelled secondary antibody binds and is detectable by flow
  • Outline the complications of transplantation
    • Graft related
      • Graft rejection
      • Graft vs host disease
    • Immunosuppression related
      • Opportunistic infections
      • Reactivation of latent infection (Polyoma virus)
      • EBV induced lymphomas
      • HPV induced SCC
      • Kaposi sarcoma
    • Post-transplant malignancy
      • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
      • Non-melanoma skin cancer (SCC)
      • Kaposi sarcoma
      • HCC
      • Anal or vulval carcinoma
  • What are the complications of Hematopoietic Stem Cell (HSC) transplant
    • Graft failure
    • Graft vs Host Disease
    • Immunosuppression related complications
      • Post-transplant infections
      • Post-transplant malignancy
    • Hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD)
    • Engraftment syndrome
  • List the types of Graft rejection
    • Hyperacute rejection
    • Acute rejection
    • Chronic rejection
  • Briefly describe Hyperacute rejection
    • Type II hypersensitivity
    • Preformed recipient antibodies against class I HLA molecules or ABO antigens of the donor – pregnancy, transfusion, previous rejected transplant
    • Activation of complement system and adhesion to cells (deposition)
    • Thrombosis of vessels (after endothelial damage)
    • Graft ischemia
  • What is seen on biopsy during Hyperacute rejection
    • Biopsy shows small vessel thrombosis, ischemia and necrosis
  • Briefly describe Acute rejection
    • Allorecognition – Direct (no processing) or indirect (need to be processed)
    • T-lymphocyte induced humoral or cellular immunity
    • Type IV hypersensitivity (Acute cellular rejection)
      • Donor MHC II antigens react with host CD4+ T cells (il-12, b7 cd28)
        • Differentiate into Th1 cells
        • Release of IFN-y
        • Macrophage recruitement
        • Parenchymal and endothelial inflammation
      • Donor MHC I reacts with host CD8+ T-cells
        • Direct cytotoxic damage
    • Type II hypersensitivity (Acute humoral rejection)
      • Pre-formed antibodies
      • B-cell activation and antibody secretion
      • Reaction against donor HLA-antigens
  • What is seen on biopsy during Acute rejection
    • Biopsy shows dense interstitial lymphocyte infiltration with vasculitis
      • Positive C4d staining = humoral rejection
      • Negative C4d staining = cellular rejection
    • Graft eosinophilia in liver transplant
  • Briefly describe Chronic rejection
    • Idiopathic Type II hypersensitivty and type IV hypersensitivity
    • Results in intimal fibrosis of graft vessels and graft atrophy
  • What is seen on biopsy during Chronic rejection
    • Biopsy shows
      • Arteriosclerosis
      • Interstitial fibrosis
      • Obstruction of vessels
      • Vascular smooth muscle proliferation
      • Graft atrophy
    • Organ-specific biopsy shows
      • Kidney = Glomerular sclerosis
      • Heart= Accelerated CAD
      • Liver = Vanishing bile ducts
      • Lungs = Bronchiolitis obliterans
  • Briefly describe Graft Vs Host disease (GvHD)
    • Damage to host as a result of systemic inflammation induced by T-lymphocytes in the graft typically after lymphocyte rich organ transplants in an immunodeficient recipient OR HLA mismatch (HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-DR)
      • Transfusion of non-irradiated blood products
      • Liver transplant
      • Allogenic HSC transplant – Graft vs Tumor effect
      • Small bowel transplant
  • How does Graft vs Host disease present
    • GIT manifestation: Diarrhea
    • Skin manifestation: Rash
    • Liver manifestation: Jaundice

In a tabular format, distinguish between Hyperacute vs Acute vs Chronic Graft rejection

HyperacuteAcuteChronic
Onset< 48 hours (immediate> 6 months> 6 months
Risk factorsABO incompatibility, HLA incompatibilityHLA incompatibility, Inadequate immunosuppressionPrevious acute rejection, Poor HLA match, Prolonged cold ischemia time, Hyperlipidaemia, Inadequate immunosuppression
FeaturesThrombosis of vessels and graft ischemiaPain in graft region, graft edema, feverSlow, progressive loss of organ function
TreatmentRemove graftChange or increase dose of immunosuppressantRemove graft
PreventionPre-op cross-match and ABO groupingPre-op cross-match and ABO grouping, HLA matching, ImmunosuppressionIrreversible with no known prevention

In a tabular format, distinguish between Acute vs Chronic Graft versus host disease

Acute GvHDChronic GvHD
Onset<100 days post-transplant>100 days post-transplant
PathophysiologyType IV hypersensitivity triggered by donor lymphocytesBoth cell mediated and humoral processes
  • List the sources of stem cell transplant
    • Bone marrow transplant
    • Peripheral blood stem cell transplant
    • Umbilical cord transplant
Reference Intervals
Biochemistry
ACTHP: <80 ng/L
ALTP: 5–35 U/L
AlbuminP: 35–50 g/L
AldosteroneP: 100–500 pmol/L
Alk. phosphataseP: 30–130 U/L
α-AmylaseP: 0–180 IU/dL
α-FetoproteinS: <10 kU/L
Angiotensin IIP: 5–35 pmol/L
ADHP: 0.9–4.6 pmol/L
ASTP: 5–35 U/L
BicarbonateP: 24–30 mmol/L
BilirubinP: 3–17 μmol/L
BNPP: <50 ng/L
CRPP: <10 mg/L
CalcitoninP: <0.1 mcg/L
Calcium (ionized)P: 1.0–1.25 mmol/L
Calcium (total)P: 2.12–2.60 mmol/L
ChlorideP: 95–105 mmol/L
CholesterolP: <5.0 mmol/L
VLDLP: 0.128–0.645 mmol/L
LDLP: <2.0 mmol/L
HDLP: 0.9–1.93 mmol/L
Cortisol AMP: 450–700 nmol/L
Cortisol MidnightP: 80–280 nmol/L
CK ♂P: 25–195 U/L
CK ♀P: 25–170 U/L
CreatinineP: 70–100 μmol/L
FerritinP: 12–200 mcg/L
FolateS: 2.1 mcg/L
FSHP: 2–8 U/L ♂; >25 menopause
GGT ♂P: 11–51 U/L
GGT ♀P: 7–33 U/L
Glucose (fasting)P: 3.5–5.5 mmol/L
Growth hormoneP: <20 mu/L
HbA1C (DCCT)B: 4–6%
HbA1C (IFCC)B: 20–42 mmol/mol
Iron ♂S: 14–31 μmol/L
Iron ♀S: 11–30 μmol/L
Lactate (venous)P: 0.6–2.4 mmol/L
Lactate (arterial)P: 0.6–1.8 mmol/L
LDHP: 70–250 U/L
LHP: 3–16 U/L
MagnesiumP: 0.75–1.05 mmol/L
OsmolalityP: 278–305 mosmol/kg
PTHP: 0.8–8.5 pmol/L
PotassiumP: 3.5–5.3 mmol/L
Prolactin ♂P: <450 U/L
Prolactin ♀P: <600 U/L
PSAP: 0–4 mcg/mL
Protein (total)P: 60–80 g/L
Red cell folateB: 0.36–1.44 μmol/L
Renin (erect)P: 2.8–4.5 pmol/mL/h
Renin (recumbent)P: 1.1–2.7 pmol/mL/h
SodiumP: 135–145 mmol/L
TBGP: 7–17 mg/L
TSHP: 0.5–4.2 mU/L
T4P: 70–140 nmol/L
Free T4P: 9–22 pmol/L
TIBCS: 54–75 μmol/L
TriglyceridesP: 0.50–2.3 mmol/L
T3P: 1.2–3.0 nmol/L
Troponin TP: <0.1 mcg/L
Urate ♂P: 210–480 μmol/L
Urate ♀P: 150–390 μmol/L
UreaP: 2.5–6.7 mmol/L
Vitamin B12S: 0.13–0.68 nmol/L
Vitamin DS: 50 nmol/L
Arterial Blood Gases
pH7.35–7.45
PaCO₂4.7–6.0 kPa
PaO₂>10.6 kPa
Base excess±2 mmol/L
Urine
Cortisol (free)<280 nmol/24h
Hydroxyindole acetic acid16–73 μmol/24h
Hydroxymethylmandelic acid16–48 μmol/24h
Metanephrines0.03–0.69 μmol/mmol cr.
Osmolality350–1000 mosmol/kg
17-Oxogenic steroids ♂28–30 μmol/24h
17-Oxogenic steroids ♀21–66 μmol/24h
17-Oxosteroids ♂17–76 μmol/24h
17-Oxosteroids ♀14–59 μmol/24h
Phosphate (inorganic)15–50 mmol/24h
Potassium14–120 mmol/24h
Protein<150 mg/24h
Protein/creatinine ratio<3 mg/mmol
Sodium100–250 mmol/24h
Haematology
WCC4.0–11.0 ×10⁹/L
RBC ♂4.5–6.5 ×10¹²/L
RBC ♀3.9–5.6 ×10¹²/L
Hb ♂130–180 g/L
Hb ♀115–160 g/L
PCV ♂0.4–0.54 L/L
PCV ♀0.37–0.47 L/L
MCV76–96 fL
MCH27–32 pg
MCHC300–360 g/L
RDW11.6–14.6%
Neutrophils2.0–7.5 ×10⁹/L (40–75%)
Lymphocytes1.0–4.5 ×10⁹/L (20–45%)
Eosinophils0.04–0.44 ×10⁹/L (1–6%)
Basophils0–0.10 ×10⁹/L (0–1%)
Monocytes0.2–0.8 ×10⁹/L (2–10%)
Platelets150–400 ×10⁹/L
Reticulocytes0.8–2.0% / 25–100 ×10⁹/L
Prothrombin time10–14 s
APTT35–45 s
Paediatric
Pulse Rate (bpm)
Neonate140–160
Infant <1yr120–140
1–5 years110–130
5–12 years80–120
>12 years70–100
Respiratory Rate (tachypnoea)
0–2 months≥60/min
2–12 months≥50/min
1–5 years≥40/min
>5 years≥30/min
Blood Pressure (mmHg)
Term65/45
1 year75/50
4 years85/60
8 years95/65
10 years100/70
Weight Formulas
3–12 months(a + 9)/2 kg
1–6 years2a + 8 kg
>6 years(7a − 5)/2 kg
Haemoglobin (g/dL)
Term newborn13–20
1 month11–18
2 months10–15
1–2 years10–13
>2 years11–14
MUAC (6 months–5 years)
Obese>17.5 cm
Normal13.5–17.4 cm
At risk12.5–13.4 cm
Moderate malnutrition11.5–12.4 cm
Severe malnutrition<11.5 cm
Developmental Milestones
Social smile1.5 months
Head control4 months
Sits unsupported7 months
Crawls10 months
Stands unsupported10–12 months
Walks12–13 months
Talks18 months
CSF WBC (/mm³)
Term newborn0–25
>2 weeks0–5
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