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Biomedical subjects

B R Rosengard

Publications and source records attributed to B R Rosengard.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Myocardial tissue engineering and regeneration as a therapeutic alternative to transplantation.

Ischemic cardiomyopathy leading to congestive heart failure remains the leading source of morbidity and mortality in Western society and medical management of this condition offers only palliative treatment. While allogeneic heart transplantation can both extend and improve the quality of life for patients with end-stage heart failure, this therapeutic option is limited by donor organ shortage. Even after successful transplantation, chronic cardiac rejection in the form of cardiac allograft vasculopathy can severely limit the lifespan of the transplanted organ. Current experimental efforts focus on cellular cardiomyoplasty, myocardial tissue engineering, and myocardial regeneration as alternative approaches to whole organ transplantation. Such strategies may offer novel forms of therapy to patients with end-stage heart failure within the near future.

Animals↗

Multiparameter flow cytometric approach for simultaneous evaluation of T lymphocyte-endothelial cell interactions.

Since vascular endothelium is now recognized as an immunologically active tissue, a better understanding of the relationship between endothelial cells and T lymphocytes is critical to the field of solid organ transplantation. Investigations of endothelial cell-T cell interactions have been limited by methodology. We developed a flow cytometric method allowing for concurrent investigation of multiple cell populations within the same culture that can be applied to these complex interactions. Allogeneic CD8+ or CD4+ T cells labeled with 5,6-carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) were added to a murine endothelial cell monolayer, in which endothelial proliferation was not inhibited by irradiation or addition of a cell cycle-blocking agent. At specific time points, the coculture was analyzed by flow cytometry. T-cell proliferation could be detected by gating on the T-cell subset and evaluating the CFSE fluorescence peaks. By directly analyzing cellular division, we minimized erroneous interpretation of the data encountered by previous studies, which utilized (3)H-thymidine incorporation as sole measure of proliferation. Further subgating on cells that divided facilitated the study of CD8+ lymphocyte activation, differentiation, and acquisition of effector function. By gating on the endothelial cell population, phenotypic changes such as upregulation of surface MHC molecules or immune-mediated apoptosis could be detected. In conclusion, we present a flow cytometric approach that could have important applications for clinical immunological monitoring in allogeneic or xenogeneic transplantation, and might provide the requisite information to better tailor immunotherapy to prevent chronic rejection.

Animals↗

A simple method for culturing mouse vascular endothelium.

Vascular endothelium is an important site for a wide array of immunological processes such as inflammation, atherosclerosis and allograft rejection. Culture methods of mouse vascular endothelium would provide an important in vitro correlate to immunological murine in vivo models. We describe a simple method to culture mouse vascular endothelium from thoracic aorta. Our cultured cells express typical phenotypic (CD105, CD31, CD106), morphological and ultrastructural (intercellular junctions, Weibel-Palade bodies) markers of vascular endothelium. They also possess functional receptors for uptake and processing of acetylated low-density lipoproteins. The mouse vascular endothelium within our system expresses high levels of MHC class I and MHC class II after activation with IFN-gamma. In addition, these cells express the accessory molecules CD80 and CD54, while they lack constitutive expression of CD86 and CD40, providing them the means to function as antigen presenting cells. Alloreactive CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes demonstrate evidence of DNA synthesis after co-culture with activated vascular endothelium indicating their commitment to proliferation. In conclusion, we describe a simple culture system to isolate and grow mouse vascular endothelium, which provides a powerful tool to study biological interactions in vitro.

Animals↗

Emergent lung retransplantation after discovery of two primary malignancies in the donor.

A 50-year-old woman underwent single lung transplantation for advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Shortly after the procedure, it was discovered that the donor suffered from both a renal cell carcinoma and a spindle-cell sarcoma of the ascending aorta, which had metastasized to the spleen. The patient was emergently listed for a retransplantation and underwent bilateral lung transplantation after a new donor became available 4 days after the initial transplantation procedure. After 24 months, the patient is without evidence of malignancy. This case illustrates the role of immediate retransplantation for patients who have inadvertently received thoracic organs from donors harboring occult malignancies.

Adult↗

Application of "double bridge mechanical" resuscitation for profound cardiogenic shock leading to cardiac transplantation.

BACKGROUND: In patients with acute profound cardiogenic circulatory failure unresponsive to conventional resuscitation, we instituted immediate aggressive application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to restore circulatory stability. Long-term hemodynamic support was accomplished with an early "bridge" to ventricular assist device (VAD) before definitive treatment with cardiac transplantation. METHODS: A respective review of ECMO and VAD data registries was instituted. RESULTS: From May 1996 to July 2000, 23 patients were placed on ECMO support for profound cardiogenic circulatory failure. Eleven patients (47%) were withdrawn from support due to severe neurologic injury or multisystem organ failure. Three patients (13%) were weaned off ECMO with good outcome. Nine patients (39%) were transferred to a VAD. Two patients expired while on VAD support, and 7 of the VAD-supported patients (78%) survived to transplantation. Overall survival was 43%. CONCLUSIONS: Emergent ECMO support is a salvage approach for cardiac resuscitation once conventional measures have failed. In neurologically intact patients, the early transfer to a VAD quickly stabilizes hemodynamics, avoids complications, and is essential for long-term circulatory support before definitive treatment with cardiac transplantation.

Adolescent↗

Bronchogenic carcinoma complicating lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Malignancy is a well-recognized complication of solid-organ transplantation. Although a variety of malignancies have been reported in lung transplant recipients, a paucity of information exists regarding the incidence and clinical course of bronchogenic carcinoma in this patient population. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of our lung transplant experience at the University of Pennsylvania. RESULTS: We identified 6 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma detected at the time of, or developing after, transplantation. The incidence of bronchogenic carcinoma was 2.4%. All patients with lung cancer had a history of smoking, with an average of 79 +/- 39 pack-years. A total of 5 patients had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and 1 had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Lung cancers were all of non-small-cell histology and first developed in native lungs. Three patients had bronchogenic carcinoma at the time of surgery. The remaining 3 patients were diagnosed between 280 and 1,982 days post-transplantation. Of the 6 patients, 4 presented with a rapid course suggestive of an infectious process. The 1- and 2-year survival rates after diagnosis were 33% and 17%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Lung transplant recipients are at risk for harboring or developing bronchogenic carcinoma in their native lungs. Rapid progression to locally advanced or metastatic disease commonly occurs, at times mimicking an infection. Bronchogenic carcinoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pleuroparenchymal processes involving the native lung.

Carcinoma, Bronchogenic↗

Characteristics and outcomes of patients with sarcoidosis listed for lung transplantation.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To characterize the course of patients with advanced sarcoidosis who have been listed for lung transplantation and to identify prognostic factors for death while they are on the waiting list. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary-care university hospital. PATIENTS: Forty-three patients with sarcoidosis who have been listed for lung transplantation at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center. METHODS: A multivariable explanatory analysis using a Cox proportional hazards model was performed to determine risk factors that are independently associated with mortality while patients await transplantation. RESULTS: Twenty-three of the 43 patients (53%) died while awaiting transplantation. The survival rate of listed patients (as determined by the Kaplan-Meier method) was 66% at 1 year, 40% at 2 years, and 31% at 3 years. In a univariate analysis, the following factors were significantly associated with death on the waiting list: PaO(2) < or = 60 mm Hg (relative risk [RR], 3.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2 to 9.3); mean pulmonary artery pressure > or = 35 mm Hg (RR, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.1 to 9.5); cardiac index < or = 2 L/min/m(2) (RR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.2 to 6.6), and right atrial pressure (RAP) > or = 15 mm Hg (RR, 7.6; 95% CI, 3.0 to 19.3). Multivariable analysis revealed that RAP > or = 15 mm Hg was the only independent prognostic variable (RR, 5.2; 95% CI, 1.6 to 16.7; p = 0.006). Twelve patients underwent lung transplantation. Survival after transplantation determined by the Kaplan-Meier method was 62% at both 1 and 2 years, and 50% at 3 years. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with advanced sarcoidosis awaiting lung transplantation have a high mortality rate with a median survival of < 2 years. Mortality is most closely linked to elevated RAP. While earlier referral may diminish the mortality rate of patients on the waiting list for transplantation, further improvements in posttransplantation outcomes will be necessary to ensure that this procedure truly bestows a survival benefit.

Adult↗

Immune monitoring in xenotransplantation: the multiparameter flow cytometric mixed lymphocyte culture assay.

Xenotransplantation requires monitoring of complex cellular interactions in vitro. A tool to monitor cell proliferation in detail would be instrumental in understanding these cellular interactions in heterogeneous xenogeneic lymphocyte cultures and in patients after xenotransplantation. To accomplish this, we used a fluorescent cell proliferation marker, 5,6-carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE), in combination with flow cytometry. CFSE, a green fluorescent molecule, binds covalently to intracellular macromolecules. Each cell division reduces the fluorescent intensity per cell by half and shows a characteristic multipeak pattern in flow cytometric analysis. For this study, human lymphocytes were labeled with CFSE and cultured in the presence of irradiated porcine lymphocytes. Cell proliferation was detected in CFSE-labeled lymphocytes in both a single and a multiparameter flow cytometry setting. Concurrently, tritiated ((3)H) thymidine incorporation, a common method to measure gross cell proliferation, was assessed. The kinetics of CFSE-labeled cell proliferation correlated with (3)H-thymidine incorporation in that both methods showed a lag phase for days 1-3 and a log phase for days 4-7. Multiparameter flow cytometric monitoring of mixed lymphocyte cultures allowed phenotyping and assessment of viability of proliferating populations in heterogeneous xenogeneic stimulated human lymphocyte cultures and complemented the classical (3)H-thymidine incorporation assay. The use of this technique will allow a wide array of immunologic parameters to be measured in a heterogeneous xenogeneic mixed lymphocyte culture. The information gained from these assays is essential to understanding the biological significance of xenogeneic cellular interaction and for monitoring the immune status of the xenotransplanted patient.

Cell Division↗

Replacement of graft-resident donor-type antigen presenting cells alters the tempo and pathogenesis of murine cardiac allograft rejection.

BACKGROUND: Graft-resident antigen presenting cells (APCs) are potent stimulators of the alloresponse. To test whether replacement of graft-resident donor-type APCs with those of recipient-type alters allorecognition and the pathogenesis of both acute and chronic rejection, we created chimeric hearts for transplantation into naive recipients. METHODS: To replace donor-type APCs with those of recipient-type, chimeric animals were created by bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in fully allogeneic mouse and rat strain combinations. The degree of APC replacement in chimeric organs was assessed phenotypically and functionally. Chimeric hearts were transplanted heterotopically into untreated recipients. RESULTS: Flow cytometric and immunohistochemical analysis did not detect residual bone marrow recipient-type APCs in mouse BMT chimeras. Although semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction detected 0.001-0.01% residual cells, APCs isolated from chimeric organs were functionally unable to stimulate donor-type cells. When transplanted into naive recipients, chimeric mouse hearts had significantly prolonged survival but were nevertheless rejected acutely. Similar results were obtained in the ACI --> LEW rat strain combination. However, in the PVG --> DA rat model, the majority of chimeric hearts survived >100 days and all long-surviving hearts developed cardiac allograft vasculopathy. CONCLUSIONS: BMT leads to near complete replacement of organ-resident APCs. The virtual absence of donor-type APCs in chimeric hearts delays or prevents acute rejection in a strain-dependent manner. In contrast, this type of graft modification does not prevent cardiac allograft vasculopathy. This suggests that, although the CD4+ direct pathway may play a role in acute rejection, it is not essential for the development of chronic rejection in rodent cardiac allografts.

Acute Disease↗

Detection of anti-HLA antibody by flow cytometry in patients with a left ventricular assist device is associated with early rejection following heart transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Patients with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) as a bridge to heart transplantation (HT) often have elevated levels of panel reactive antibodies (PRA). The clinical significance of anti-human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies detected by flow cytometry in PRA negative patients remains unclear. METHODS: Eighteen patients who underwent LVAD placement as a successful bridge to HT had standard anti-human globulin complement-dependent cytotoxicity and retrospective flow cytometry assays performed to detect class I anti-HLA antibodies. A positive flow result was defined as a fluorescent ratio of 23:1 versus a negative control. RESULTS: Six patients had anti-HLA antibodies detected by flow cytometry. Univariate analysis demonstrated more moderate-severe rejection episodes (ISHLT > or = IIIA) at 2 months (0.83+/-0.75 vs. 0; P=0.04) and a trend toward decreased time to first rejection (61+/-17 vs. 225+/-62 days; P=0.06) in these patients. No differences were observed in donor-recipient HLA mismatch or 1 year Kaplan-Meier survival between patients with or without anti-HLA antibodies. CONCLUSION: Despite a negative PRA, LVAD patients with class I anti-HLA antibodies detected by flow cytometry have a greater incidence of moderate-severe rejection in the first 2 months after HT. Flow cytometry may be a useful clinical tool in screening PRA negative LVAD patients before transplantation. Patients with positive anti-HLA antibody screening by flow cytometry may require more intensive immunosuppression in the early post-HT period.

Adult↗

Bilateral versus single lung transplantation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: intermediate-term results.

BACKGROUND: There is controversy regarding the transplant procedure of choice in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We reviewed our intermediate-term outcomes with single lung transplantation (SLT) versus bilateral lung transplantation (BLT). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 130 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: 84 underwent SLT, 46 BLT. The mean age was 51.1 +/- 1.2 years for those who underwent BLT and 56.2 +/- 0.7 years for those who underwent SLT (p < 0.0001). Male patients represented 65% of the BLT group and 46% of the SLT group (p = 0.04). Spirometry and 6-minute walk tests were obtained preoperatively and at 3- to 6-month intervals. Posttransplant survival and survival from time of onset of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method. The mean follow-up was 32.4 months. RESULTS: The 90-day mortality rate was 13.0% For BLT and 15.5% for SLT (p = 0.71). Actuarial survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 82.6%, 74.6%, and 61.9% for BLT and 72.2%, 63.4%, and 57.4% for SLT; the favorable survival trend with BLT did not achieve statistical significance. There were no differences in preoperative spirometry or 6-minute walk tests. The improvements in forced expiratory volume in one second, forced vital capacity (FVC), and 6 MWT were significantly greater following BLT. The incidence of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome was 22.4% in SLT and 22.2% in BLT; survival following onset of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome was similar. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, BLT is associated with superior lung function, exercise tolerance, and a trend toward enhanced survival. Younger candidates may be best suited for BLT. Given the limited donor lungs, SLT remains the preferred alternative for all other patients.

Bronchiolitis Obliterans↗

Donor antigen-presenting cells are important in the development of obliterative airway disease.

OBJECTIVE: Obliterative airway disease, which resembles obliterative bronchiolitis histologically, develops in murine heterotopic tracheal allografts. Chimeric tracheas were used to examine whether donor-type antigen-presenting cells are important in the development of obliterative airway disease. To separate the contributions of CD4(+) and CD8(+) direct pathways, we transplanted tracheas from knockout mice lacking major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I or II antigens. METHODS: Chimeric tracheas were created via bone marrow transplantation in fully MHC-mismatched combinations. Tracheas from naive B6, autologously reconstituted B6, chimeric B6 bearing recipient-type C3H antigen-presenting cells, MHC class I knockout B6 (B6(I-)), MHC class II knockout B6 (B6(II-)), or C3H mice were transplanted into C3H recipients. The tracheas were harvested at days 14 and 28. RESULTS: At day 28, isografts showed no occlusion, normal respiratory epithelium, and minimal infiltrates. Naive or autologously reconstituted B6, B6(I-), and B6(II-) tracheas showed minimal occlusion at day 14 but contained intraepithelial infiltrates. By day 28, the naive or autologously reconstituted B6 tracheas had occlusion of 69.5% +/- 11.6% (mean +/- standard error of the mean), and in comparison, B6(I-) and B6(II-) tracheas had occlusions of 53.0% +/- 16.3% and 52.2% +/- 15.9%, respectively (P =. 20,.19). In chimeric B6 tracheas, minimal occlusion was seen at day 14 and remained 33.6% +/- 16.2% (P =.039) at day 28. Subtle epithelial changes and minimal infiltrates were seen. CONCLUSIONS: Obliterative airway disease appears to involve donor-type antigen-presenting cells and develops in the absence of either MHC class I or II antigens. These findings suggest that either CD8(+) or CD4(+) direct allorecognition is important in the development of obliterative airway disease.

Animals↗