SP 5
Analysis of peripheral tolerance signature early after transplantation to identify low risk patients
We could previously show that operational tolerant kidney transplant patients are characterized by a specific peripheral transcription profile associated with increased levels of non-activated B cells at later stages after transplantation.
Further preliminary analysis revealed that some patients alt-hough on immunosuppression develop this signature within the first year. Thus, it seems likely that the tolerance signature can be used for an early treatment optimization of kidney transplant patients.
Within e:Kid we will generate an RNA/cDNA biobank containing over 3.000 samples from kidney transplant patients. Furthermore, we will perform a qPCR profiling of those samples concentrating mainly on the described “tolerance signature” but also other previously identified gene markers with potential relevance for transplant outcome such as TCAIM or Foxp3. The generated data will be associated with clinical outcome to predict individual immune reactivity. Very importantly, biomarkers obtained by statistical analysis and mathematical modeling with the help of other project partners will be used for a subsequent prospective study on personalized immunosuppressive therapy in the second funding period.
Keywords: Transplantation, Tolerance, mRNA Expression, B cells, T cells