Application of the multiplex cytokine analysis to monitor xenogeneic immune responses to the porcine islet graft in non-human primate.

Non-human primate studies must be conducted prior to the clinical trial of xenotransplantation. In order to develop clinically applicable immune-modulatory regimen through non-human primate studies, close monitoring of xenogeneic immune responses is required. We adopted multiplex cytokine analysis in assessment of the immune status during the course of pig-to-non-human primate islet transplantation. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of this multiplex cytokine assay in the development of immune-modulatory regimen. Using this assay, we were able to detect different cytokines with a minimal usage of blood samples, and this allowed us to detect various immunological situations in the recipients. Detection of TNF-α surge (347.8 pg/mL) guided us to block TNF-α in the early phase of transplantation. Supportive information for in vivo efficacy of cytokine neutralizing antibody could be speculated by in vitro neutralization assay (1,250 pg/mL → 0 pg/mL). In addition, periodic monitoring of cytokines in peripheral blood allowed the detection of the infection episode prior to other routine assays. These benefits of multiplex cytokine assay may be generally applied to other pre-clinical research, which is a prerequisite for clinical trials.

INTRODUCTION

To accomplish 'bench-to-bedside' translational medicine, novel therapeutic tools developed in basic research must be confirmed in non-human primates before their application to humans. Xenotransplantation, which is utilized to overcome the shortage of organ donors is not an exception in terms of this principle. 'First WHO Global Consultation on Regulatory Requirements for Xenotransplantation Clinical Trials, The Changsha Communiqué' declared that non-human primate testing for safety and efficacy is a prerequisite for clinical trials using xenotransplantation products (1). In the case of xenogeneic pancreatic islet transplantation, a successful non-human primate study that results in a stable maintenance of normoglycemia beyond 6 months is required (2). However, previous non-human primate studies showed that either porcine islets were promptly rejected, or potent immunosuppressants were required for their maintenance (3). Since detrimental regimen cannot be approved for clinical trials, clinically applicable immunosuppressive drug regimen must be developed (4). To develop appropriate combination of immune-modulatory agents, the effects of each agent should be evaluated by closely monitoring the immune status.

In this study, it was aimed to assessing the feasibility of multiplex cytokine analysis in the development of immune-modulatory regimen. Blood cytokine levels were monitored via multiplex cytokine assay during the course of pig-to-non-human primate islet transplantation. Changes in the level of various cytokines must be considered for different conditions of xenogeneic immune responses. By applying multiplex analysis, which requires just a single experiment, we were able to circumvent the requirement for large amount of samples to analyze the diverse cytokines. In addition, the immunological episodes in recipient monkeys were predicted by periodic evaluation of blood cytokine levels by incorporating this assay.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Animals

Rhesus macaque monkeys imported from China were used in this study. Seoul National University (SNU) miniature pigs were bred and maintained in a specific pathogen-free facility. All animal studies were performed after receiving approval of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) in Seoul National University Hospital (IACUC approval No. 13-2010-000-6).

Pig islet isolation and transplantation to Rhesus macaque monkeys

Total pancreas of SNU miniature pigs was obtained in a sterile operating room. Islet isolation was performed using the modified Ricordi method as previously described (5). Laparotomy was performed on diabetic recipient monkey under general anesthesia, and porcine islets were infused through a catheter which was inserted into the jejunal vein and approached near the portal vein.

Multiplex cytokine analysis

Peripheral blood obtained from monkeys was centrifuged to acquire plasma for cytokine analysis. Cytometric Bead Array (CBA) Non-human Primate Th1/Th2 Cytokine Kit (BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA, USA) was used to detect IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in a single sample. As the manufacturer's instruction, antibody-coated beads for each cytokines were mixed and incubated with plasma samples and PE-detection antibodies for 3 hr at room temperature. After washing, samples were acquired with a FACSCanto II (BD Biosciences) and analyzed with FACSDiva software (BD Biosciences). Cytokine concentration of each sample was calculated with the standard curve acquired with fixed concentrations of standard cytokine samples.

For in vitro neutralization test of anti-TNF-α antibody drug, Humira (AbbVie Inc. North Chicago, IL, USA), multiplex cytokine assay was conducted after 1 hr pre-incubation of standard cytokine sample with 20 µg/mL of Humira.

RESULTS

Application of multiplex cytokine assay to develop an effective immune-modulatory regimen

We attempted to set up an effective analytical method to develop clinically applicable immune-modulatory regimen to control xenogeneic immune responses to the porcine islets transplanted through the portal vein route in diabetic Rhesus macaque monkey. The multiplex cytokine assay provided supportive information for seeking the best combination of immune-modulatory agents. In a diabetic recipient monkey (R048), the blood glucose level was normalized shortly after the porcine islets transplantation, but became unstable at day 5 and eventually returned to a hyperglycemic state similar to pre-transplantation level on day 12 (Fig. 1A). Multiplex cytokine assay using periodic blood samples from this monkey clearly detected tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α surge through day 7 to 14 (Fig. 1B). When the porcine islets were completely rejected as revealed by the absence of porcine C-peptide and persistent hyperglycemia, TNF-α cytokine level was normalized to the basal level in the plasma of peripheral blood. Since this result implied a critical role of TNF-α in the acute rejection process, we decided to incorporate anti-TNF-α neutralizing antibody drug, Humira (Adalimumab) during the peri-transplant period in subsequent experiments.

Fig. 1

Detection of TNF-α surge in an episode of acute graft rejection. A recipient monkey of porcine islets was monitored for their diabetic status with blood glucose level, porcine c-peptide and exogenously injected insulin (A) and blood cytokine levels (B).

Ex vivo prediction of neutralizing antibody drug effect with the multiplex assay

Before using Humira in the porcine islet transplantation experiment, we explored the possibility of predicting in vivo neutralizing efficacy of Humira with multiplex cytokine assay. The cytokine standard provided by the manufacturer contained 6 different cytokines including TNF-α. Pre-incubation of cytokines with 20 µg/mL of Humira for 1 hr specifically blunted TNF-α signal in FACS diagram, and even the highest concentration of TNF-α (1,250 pg/mL) was completely neutralized (Fig. 2). Therefore, we predicted that in vivo neutralizing effect of TNF-α by Humira and further incorporation of Humira into the immune suppressive regimen on the day of transplantation would abrogate TNF-α-mediated detrimental effects towards the porcine islets.

Fig. 2

Ex vivo test for neutralizing efficacy of antibody drug, Humira. Multiplex cytokine assay was conducted with (left panel) or without (right panel) pre-incubation with 20 µg/mL of anti-TNF-α neutralizing antibody, Humira. Beads for each cytokines are discerned with discrete APC-fluorescence intensities. PE-intensities of beads captured with detecting antibodies are depicted.

Evaluation of peri-transplant immune status to predict result of re-transplantation

One recipient monkey (R042) which had rejected the porcine islets was selected as a subject for re-transplantation experiment. Before re-transplanting with porcine islets, basal immune status was assessed using multiplex cytokine assay. Interestingly, high concentrations of both IL-2 and IFN-γ were detected on the day before islet re-transplantation (Fig. 3A). Since IL-2 and IFN-γ are the typical cytokines of type 1 T helper (Th1) cells, it is likely that Th1 response associated with previous islet transplantation was not completely resolved. In line with this speculation, Th1 cells are considered as key players in graft rejection (6). Although we had used the same immunosuppressive regimen that had been successful in the naïve recipient, this recipient rejected porcine islets within 5 days after islet re-transplantation (Fig. 3B). Collectively, the multiplex cytokine assay can be used to predict potential detrimental outcome after transplantation by measuring indicative cytokines in basal state prior to transplantation.

Fig. 3

Prediction of peri-transplant immune response before the re-transplantation. (A) Cytokine levels detected in the blood of a recipient monkey before the re-transplantation of porcine islets are depicted. (B) Blood glucose levels and amounts of exogenously injected insulin are depicted.

Detection of infection episode by periodic monitoring of plasma cytokines

In one recipient monkey (R055), severe diarrhea and edema occurred on day 45 after porcine islet transplantation. Analysis of peripheral blood cytokines with multiplex cytokine assay from samples taken periodically during the follow-up period after transplantation showed sustained low levels of cytokines up to 34 days; however, an abrupt IL-6 surge appeared on day 46 (Fig. 4). Importantly, at that moment, systemic infection through the central venous catheter line was suspected. This IL-6 surge preceded renal and hepatic dysfunction which was confirmed by blood chemistry test and a significant increase of white blood cell count in complete blood count test (CBC) appeared on day 47 and day 51, respectively. The recipient eventually died on day 54 by septic shock, and abscess around the catheter was detected in autopsy. These results indicated that periodic monitoring of plasma cytokine by multiplex cytokine assay could predict the infection episode, exampled by infection through the central venous catheter line in case of the R055 monkey.

Fig. 4

IL-6 surge in an episode of septic shock. Periodic monitoring of blood cytokine levels was conducted in a recipient monkey, and IL-6 levels are depicted along with the timeframes in which other signs were shown.

DISCUSSION

In this study, the usefulness of multiplex cytokine analysis was revealed in various immunological episodes during the course of pig-to-non-human primate islet transplantation. Owing to the wide coverage of the multiplex cytokine assay, TNF-α surge during acute rejection phase, insufficient clearance of Th1 cytokines after previous transplantation and IL-6 surge in an infection episode could be detected efficiently.

In Fig. 1, TNF-α surge could be detected during acute rejection phase of xenogeneic porcine islet transplantation. TNF-α is a pro-inflammatory cytokine which regulates immunogenicity of transplanted tissue by amplification of major histocomaptibility complex gene expression (7), and provokes rejection by a direct cytotoxic effect or via T cell or macrophage action (8-10). Indeed, the expression of TNF-α which peaked on day 5, was observed in heart allograft (11). Furthermore, evaluation of plasma level of TNF-α could be used as allograft rejection marker (12). This study suggests predictive value of blood TNF-α surge for detection of acute rejection in xenotransplantation setting for the first time.

In Fig. 2, potent neutralizing efficacy of anti TNF-α antibody drug, Humira could be observed. Humira specifically blocked the binding of TNF-α to capturing beads not affecting other cytokines. According to this result, we could predict its efficient in vivo function to block TNF-α during the acute phase of pig-to-non-human primate islet transplantation.

Although various cytokines must be considered for different immunological changes, multiplex analysis can circumvent the requirement for large amount of samples to analyze the diverse cytokines. Since periodic monitoring may require frequent sampling of blood, the multiplex cytokine assay which requires a minimum volume of blood has a great advantage in pre-clinical and clinical settings.

Recently, the anterior chamber of the eye was suggested as a novel transplantation site for pancreatic islets (13, 14). This route of transplantation has benefits in terms of direct visualization of the engraftment and rejection processes of transplanted islets (15). Indeed, a pre-clinical allogeneic islet transplantation was conducted in a baboon monkey (16). This route must also be monitored for immune responses in the sequestered local environment of the anterior chamber. However, the volume of aqueous humor in the anterior chamber is only 200 µL in human (17), which may be less in smaller non-human primates. Therefore, efficient multiplex cytokine analysis requiring a minimum volume of aqueous humor has advantage in the assessment of the immune response.

This study revealed the usefulness of multiplex cytokine analysis during the course of xenogeneic islet transplantation in non-human primates in detecting various immunological changes. This benefit may be generally applied to pre-clinical research which must be conducted ahead of clinical trials. However, small case number and specific setting of xenogeneic islet transplantation may prohibit the generalization. Therefore, feasibility of this assay must be confirmed in other settings with increased case numbers. Additionally, this blood cytokine monitoring may provide supportive information in care of future human recipients for porcine islet xenotransplantation.