Functional Characterization of N297A, A Murine Surrogate for low-Fc Binding Anti-Human CD3 Antibodies

Several low- or non-FcR binding anti-human CD3 monoclonal antibodies have been under investigation for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. To model the mechanism of action of these anti-human CD3 mAbs in the murine system, an Fc-modified anti-mouse CD3 antibody (N297A) was generated. N297A exhibited similar biological effects as Fc-modified anti-human CD3 antibodies including rapid, reversible reduction in peripheral leukocyte numbers, differential modulation of activated versus resting T cells, and reduced levels of induced cytokine release compared to the non-Fc-modified parent antibody. In an in vivo model of colitis induced by adoptive transfer of IL–10-deficient cells, administration of N297A significantly reduced body weight loss. As N297A shared many functional characteristics of non-FcR binding anti-human CD3 mAbs both in vitro and in vivo, it provides a means to model the mechanisms of action of Fc-modified anti-human CD3 antibodies in mouse

Rare subtypes of BK virus are viable and frequently detected in renal transplant recipients with BK virus-associated nephropathy

BK virus-associated nephropathy (BKVN) occurs in up to 5% of kidney transplants and is a significant cause of graft loss. Four major subtypes of BKV have been described, with the vast majority of individuals persistently infected with BKV Type I (> 80% of the population). Sequencing of BKV isolates subcloned from BKVN patients revealed a high percentage of variants in the urine (40%) in the VP1 subtyping region. In vitro analysis of several viral variants revealed that all variants recovered from the urine of BKVN patients produced infectious viral particles and were replication competent in cell culture while some of the variants induced cytopathic changes in infected cells when compared to the major BKV subtype, VP1 Type I. These results suggest that rare BKV VP1 variants are more frequently associated with disease and that some variants could be more cytopathic than others in renal transplant recipients

High-Resolution HLA Typing for Sensitized Patients: Advances in Medicine and Science Require Us to Challenge Existing Paradigms

Transplantation and autoimmunit

Should HLA Mismatch Acceptability for Sensitized Transplant Candidates Be Determined at the High-Resolution Rather Than the Antigen Level?

Transplantation and autoimmunit