Harnessing Single-Cell Technologies to Understand and Diagnose Rejection in Clinical Face and Upper Extremity Transplantations
Abstract
Monitoring and immunosuppression of patients following vascular composite allograft (VCA) transplantation is currently based on protocols used in solid organ transplantation (SOT). However, VCAs pose unique immunological challenges because they contain a significant load of passenger donor immune cells. A deeper understanding of mechanisms underlying VCA rejection and identification of biomarkers that can reliably distinguish rejection from other skin inflammation are crucial for the development of more selective immunosuppression targeted specifically for VCA recipients. We will retrospectively study cryopreserved allograft skin biopsies from 7 face and 3 upper extremity transplant patients by single nucleus RNA sequencing(sNucSeq), to (1) identify the cell type, frequency and gene expression profiles (hence, their functional states and phenotypes)of graft-derived and infiltrating cells within VCAs during ACR and non-rejection, and (2) compare single nucleus gene expression profiles of ACR with that of non-transplant related skin inflammation to discover unique molecular changes occur within VCA transplants during ACR, which are distinct from non-rejection related skin inflammation. IRB approval for this project has been obtained and HRPO approval is pending.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1107548
Entities
People
- Rachael Clark
Organizations
- Brigham and Women's Hospital