Feasibility and Potential of Transcriptomic Analysis Using the NanoString nCounter Technology to Aid the Classification of Rejection in Kidney Transplant Biopsies

Hilal Varol, Angela Ernst, Iacopo Cristoferi, Wolfgang Arns, Carla C Baan, Myrthe van Baardwijk, Thierry van den Bosch, Jennifer Eckhoff, Ana Harth, Dennis A Hesselink, Folkert J van Kemenade, Willem de Koning, Christine Kurschat, Robert C Minnee, Dana A M Mustafa, Marlies E J Reinders, Shazia P Shahzad-Arshad, Malou L H Snijders, Dirk Stippel, Andrew P StubbsJan von der Thüsen, Katharina Wirths, Jan U Becker, Marian C Clahsen-van Groningen

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Abstract

Background. Transcriptome analysis could be an additional diagnostic parameter in diagnosing kidney transplant (KTx) rejection. Here, we assessed feasibility and potential of NanoString nCounter analysis of KTx biopsies to aid the classification of rejection in clinical practice using both the Banff-Human Organ Transplant (B-HOT) panel and a customized antibody-mediated rejection (AMR)-specific NanoString nCounter Elements (Elements) panel. Additionally, we explored the potential for the classification of KTx rejection building and testing a classifier within our dataset. Methods. Ninety-six formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded KTx biopsies were retrieved from the archives of the ErasmusMC Rotterdam and the University Hospital Cologne. Biopsies with AMR, borderline or T cell-mediated rejections (BLorTCMR), and no rejection were compared using the B-HOT and Elements panels. Results. High correlation between gene expression levels was found when comparing the 2 chemistries pairwise (r = 0.76-0.88). Differential gene expression (false discovery rate; P < 0.05) was identified in biopsies diagnosed with AMR (B-HOT: 294; Elements: 76) and BLorTCMR (B-HOT: 353; Elements: 57) compared with no rejection. Using the most predictive genes from the B-HOT analysis and the Element analysis, 2 least absolute shrinkage and selection operators-based regression models to classify biopsies as AMR versus no AMR (BLorTCMR or no rejection) were developed achieving an receiver-operating-characteristic curve of 0.994 and 0.894, sensitivity of 0.821 and 0.480, and specificity of 1.00 and 0.979, respectively, during cross-validation. Conclusions. Transcriptomic analysis is feasible on KTx biopsies previously used for diagnostic purposes. The B-HOT panel has the potential to differentiate AMR from BLorTCMR or no rejection and could prove valuable in aiding kidney transplant rejection classification.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)903-912
Number of pages10
JournalTransplantation
Volume107
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This project has in part been financially supported by an Astellas project funding (M.C.C.v.-G.). This study is also supported by an intramural grant Köln Fortune (J.U.B.).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. All rights reserved.

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