Normothermic Ex Vivo Kidney Perfusion for the Preservation of Kidney Grafts prior to Transplantation.

Kidney transplantation has become a well-established treatment option for patients with end-stage renal failure. The persisting organ shortage remains a serious problem. Therefore, the acceptance criteria for organ donors have been extended leading to the usage of marginal kidney grafts. These marginal organs tolerate cold storage poorly resulting in increased preservation injury and higher rates of delayed graft function. To overcome the limitations of cold storage, extensive research is focused on alternative normothermic preservation methods. Ex vivo normothermic organ perfusion is an innovative preservation technique. The first experimental and clinical trials for ex vivo lung, liver, and kidney perfusions demonstrated favorable outcomes. In addition to the reduction of cold ischemic injury, the method of normothermic kidney storage offers the opportunity for organ assessment and repair. This manuscript provides information about kidney retrieval, organ preservation techniques, and isolated ex vivo normothermic kidney perfusion (NEVKP) in a porcine model. Surgical techniques, set up for the perfusion solution and the circuit, potential assessment options, and representative results are demonstrated.

Introduction

Kidneys are the most frequently transplanted solid organs. For patients suffering from end-stage renal disease, kidney transplantation offers better life expectancy, and improved quality of life when compared to dialysis1-4. The persisting organ shortage represents a severe problem in the field of transplant medicine (Table 1) 5.

Table 1. Kidney Graft Shortage in US and Eurotransplant Region.

The outcome of kidney transplantation is negatively affected by the waiting time, with poorer outcome for patients subjected to prolonged dialysis6. This has triggered interest in marginal kidney grafts as an additional donor source, such as kidneys from older donors, donors with multiple comorbidities (extended criteria donors (ECD), and kidneys donated after cardiac death (DCD). Marginal donor kidneys that would have been declined in the past are now considered for transplantation7.

A major obstacle for the use of marginal kidney grafts is the preservation technique of cold anoxic storage. Currently, kidney grafts are stored statically on ice or perfused at 4 °C without oxygen. The cold anoxic preservation technique is associated with ongoing graft injury during kidney preservation and does not allow graft assessment because of the lack of metabolism and urine production. In particular, marginal kidney grafts tolerate cold storage poorly, resulting in significant kidney injury, and high rates of delayed graft function (DGF) 8,9. DGF is a prognostic factor for poor long-term graft function.

Extracorporeal kidney perfusion represents an alternative method for the preservation, assessment and repair of organs. In a porcine model, beneficial results were presented for kidneys perfused ex vivo under normothermic conditions10,11. The first clinical trial performed in 2013 demonstrated a lower rate of delayed graft function when kidneys retrieved from extended criteria donors were perfused for 1 hr immediately before transplant12.

This paper presents a model of normothermic ex vivo kidney perfusion (NEVKP). The goal of this study is to reduce the applied cold ischemia time to a minimum and extend the period of NEVKP. NEVKP is an alternative preservation method that aims to reduce the damage that can be caused by cold storage techniques.

Protocol

Note: A schematic overview of the study protocol is presented in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Study Protocol. This study protocol of normothermicex vivokidney perfusion is based on a porcine model. After surgical dissection of the vessels of the kidney graft and flushing with 500 ml of histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK), the graft can be retrieved. After cold storage (SCS) for 3 hrs, the kidney graft is perfused normothermic ex vivo (NEVKP) for multiple hours until the designated transplantation.

All animals received humane care in compliance with the ‘‘Principles of Laboratory Animal Care’’ formulated by the National Society for Medical Research and the ‘‘Guide for the Care of Laboratory Animals’’ published by the National Institutes of Health, Ontario, Canada. The Animal Care Committee of the Toronto General Research Institute approved all studies.

Use male Yorkshire pigs (27 - 33 kg) in this protocol.

Preoperative Procedure

House the male Yorkshire pigs in a research facility for at least one week to reduce their stress level. Fast the pigs for a minimum of 6 hrs before induction of the anesthesia.

Initiate anesthetization of the pig by an intramuscular injection of ketamine (25 mg/kg), atropine (0.04 mg/kg), and midazolam (0.15 mg/kg). Subsequently, transport the animal from the housing facility to the operating room (OR).

Place the pig in a supine position on the OR table. Let it breathe 2 L of oxygen with 5% of isoflurane spontaneously. After relaxation, expose the vocal cords with a laryngoscope and spray them with 2% lidocaine to prevent a spasm caused by intubation. After intubation with a 6.5 mm tube, block the cuff with 3 - 5 ml of air. Note: Capnometry reveals the correct position of the tracheal tube.

Lower the isoflurane gas to 2.5%. Set the ventilator to 14 - 16 breaths/min and the tidal volume to 10 - 15 ml/kg bodyweight. Monitor the pig closely. Heart rate and oxygen saturation are recorded by pulse oxymetry.

Under sterile conditions, introduce an 8.5 Fr. x 10 cm catheter into the jugular vein in Seldinger technique13. Therefore, use a needle to puncture the venous vessel. After introducing a wire, replace the needle with a catheter. Eliminate the wire and fix the catheter to the skin. Administer 200 ml of Ringer’s lactate solution per hour throughout the surgery.

Surgical Procedure

Following disinfection and coverage of the surgical field, perform a midline incision from xyphoid to pubic symphysis. To ameliorate the exposure, extend the surgical approach with a left lateral incision. Cover the large and small bowels with a towel and position them to the left side for optimal access to the right kidney.

Separate the inferior vena cava (IVC) from the abdominal aorta. Ligate aortic branches from the back of the aorta.

After complete aortic dissection to the back, pass a ligature around the aorta cranial to the renal branches. Additionally, place two ligatures cranial of the iliac bifurcation. Place a tie around the left renal artery.

Free the right kidney from its adherent tissue. Dissect the renal vein, artery, and ureter.

Open the diaphragm and administer 1,000 IU heparin per kg donor weight into the heart. For a DCD model, inject 40 mval of KCl intracardially 3 min after systemic heparinization to induce cardiac arrest. The cardiac arrest is valued as the starting point of warm ischemia.

Meanwhile, for collection of blood, connect the lines of CPDA bags (citrate, phosphate, dextrose, adenosine) to the catheter introduced to the left upper jugular vein. Perform a soft spin (1,500 x g without brake). Remove plasma and buffy coat under sterile condition (biosafety cabinet class II) and store the erythrocytes for transfusion.

Cannulate the aorta with an organ flush line above the iliac bifurcation. Tie the ligatures at the aorta and the left renal artery.

Flush the kidney with histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution with a pressure of 100 cm H2O. Clamp the thoracic cava and collect the blood via the jugular catheter. Cut the abdominal cava below the renal vein to secure an optimal flush of the kidney.

After a complete flush of the right kidney, retrieve the graft with a segment of the aorta. Cut the renal vein and leave the ureter long.

Back Table Preparation of the Kidney Graft for the Perfusion

Free the kidney from adherent tissue. Close the cranial part of the aorta with a tie and cannulate the lower part with a 1/4” x 3/8” reducer. Tie off smaller arterial branches coming from the aorta.

Cannulate the renal vein with a 1/4” x 3/8” reducer directly. Intubate the ureter with an 8 Fr. feeding tube.

Place the kidney on ice until the start of the NEVKP.

Preparation of the Perfusion Circuit The perfusion circuit consists of neonatal cardiopulmonary bypass equipment (Figure 2). Figure 2. Schematic Drawing of the Perfusion Circuit. The circuit consists of neonatal cardiopulmonary bypass technology. The perfusion solution is collected in the venous reservoir. A centrifugal pump propels the solution into the oxygenator, where it is enriched with oxygen and warmed to 37 °C. After passing the arterial bubble filter, the perfusate is driven with a pressure of 60 – 80 mmHg through the renal artery into the kidney. The venous outflow (0 - 3 mmHg) leads the perfusate back into the venous reservoir. Syringe and infusion pumps secure the supply with additional compounds. The urine is collected throughout the perfusion. Perfusion circuit characteristics are recorded continuously. Hourly venous and arterial blood gas samples, and kidney injury markers are analyzed.

Connect the custom made perfusion circuit to the kidney perfusion device.

Connect the tubing to the venous reservoir and oxygenator. Connect the arterial line tubing to the arterial outflow of the oxygenator and position the bubble filter in its holder. Connect the purge line. Connect the venous line tubing to the inlet of the venous reservoir.

For assessment during the perfusion, plug the temperature probe into the arterial outlet, connect the flow meter and the bubble sensor to the arterial line tubing, and connect the pressure lines. Connect the level sensor.

Connect the venous and arterial sample lines to the venous and arterial sample ports.

Position the organ chamber on a stand and introduce the venous and arterial tubing through the prepared holes. Fix the tubing to the table and chamber firmly.

Insert the suction tubing into the roller pump and position one end into the chamber to collect the fluids.

Connect the oxygen tubing to the gas tank containing 95% O2 / 5% CO2 and the oxygenator. Connect the heating unit tubing to the oxygenator and the organ chamber.

Use tubing clamps to close the venous and arterial outflow lines. Apply another tubing clamp to the outflow of the venous reservoir.

Preparation of Perfusion Solution, Additional Supplements, and Priming the Circuit

Use one infusion pump to replace the produced urine with Ringer’s lactate.

Use one syringe pump to administer nutrition (glucose 0.5 ml/hr, amino acids 0.5 ml/hr) and insulin (5 IU/hr) into the venous reservoir. Utilize a second syringe pump to infuse a vasodilator (verapamil, 0.25 mg/hr) directly into the arterial line.

Fill the venous reservoir with the perfusion solution. Therefore, pour Ringer’s Lactate (175 ml), STEEN solution (200 ml), dRO (27 ml), heparin (1,000 IU), sodium bicarbonate to adjust the pH, and calcium gluconate into the venous reservoir. Finally, add washed erythrocytes (125 ml).

Switch on the heart lung machine (HLM). Activate the pressure, temperature, level, and bubble sensor panels. Activate the Data Management System (DMS) to record the data throughout the perfusion. Activate the heating unit to warm the perfusion solution and the organ chamber to 37 °C. Open the O2 supply.

Open the tubing clamp behind the venous reservoir and free the centrifugal pump head from air completely. Start the centrifugal pump at 1,000 rpm and allow the solution to be propelled throughout the circuit. Clamp the tubing bypassing the arterial filter and release air from the arterial filter.

Zero the pressure lines. Activate the syringe and infusion pumps.

Kidney Graft Perfusion

Remove the kidney from the ice, and position the kidney on bedding in the organ chamber. Place the urine catheter into the urine collector. After ensuring that the venous and the arterial tubing are free of air, plug the connectors to the tubing.

Close the shortcut between the arterial and venous tubing lines. Set the arterial pressure to 75 mmHg by regulating the speed of the centrifugal pump.

Record pressures, arterial flow, temperature, and presence of bubbles continuously with the DMS. Observe the values carefully throughout the perfusion. During the perfusion, blood leaking into the chamber is collected via the suction tubing back into the venous reservoir.

Record the quantity of urine produced. Collect venous blood and urine samples hourly. Monitor the perfusion by taking venous and arterial blood gas samples and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate analysis.

At the end of perfusion, disconnect the tubing from the renal artery and vein, flush the graft with cold HTK, and store it on ice in a sterile organ bag until transplantation.

Representative Results

In the following the results of six experiments using a model of heart-beating kidney retrieval are presented. After in situ flush and kidney retrieval, the grafts were stored on ice for 3 hr (SCS) while the erythrocytes were prepared. For the clinical setting, this simulates the time required for the retrieval and the back table preparation. NEVKP was performed for 10 hr.

To maintain physiological conditions and simulate an in vivo surrounding for the kidney, the organ chamber should be heated and sealed. Perfusion and urine replacement solution should represent physiological values for blood gas analysis, oncotic pressure, and osmolarity. Normal values (baseline values) obtained from Yorkshire pigs in situ, are located in each figure description, respectively (Figures 3 - 13). The aim of NEVKP is to ensure that the graft is supplied with sufficient oxygen and nutrition. As ischemia causes vasoconstriction, thus increasing intrarenal resistance, achieving a constant flow with a stable pressure is a good indicator for adequate oxygenation. After the target graft temperature of 37 °C is reached via rewarming of the organ after SCS, flow values and intrarenal resistance remain stable with a constant physiological pressure of around 60-80 mmHg throughout the whole perfusion (Figures 3 and 4). The quantity of urine production depends mainly on the composition of the perfusion solution (Figure 5).

Hourly measurements of venous and arterial pO2 reveal the metabolic activity of the kidney. The oxygen consumption was calculated using the equation ((pO2art – pO2ven) x flow / weight) (Figure 6) 14. During the perfusion pH, HCO3, and electrolytes are stable without requiring interventions (Figures 7 - 10). Real-time AST and lactate measurements serve to monitor cellular damage. No increase of parameters of cell injury is detected during the NEVKP period (Figures 11 and 12). The osmolarity of the perfusion solution is stable (Figure 13). Histological assessment reveals minor changes (Figure 14 - 16).

Figure 3. Mean arterial flow with standard deviation (ml/min). Throughout the perfusion the flow remains in a physiological range. Porcine physiological values, measured in situ: mean art. flow: 170 ± 57 ml/min (range 83 – 325 ml/min).

Figure 4. Intrarenal resistance (IRR), mean and standard deviation (mmHg/ml/min). The mean arterial pressure (MAP) remains constant between 60 and 80 mmHg. The intrarenal resistance is below 0.5 mmHg/ml/min constantly.

Figure 5. Total urine volume, mean and standard deviation (ml). The total urine volume mainly depends on the composition of the perfusion solution. The higher the oncotic pressure and the osmolarity, the lower the urine production.

Figure 6. Oxygen consumption, mean and standard deviation (ml/min/g).

Figure 7. pH venous, mean and standard deviation. The pH remains constant in a physiological range without administration of bicarbonates. Porcine physiological values, measured in situ: pH 7.46 ± 0.06 (range 7.34 – 7.63).

Figure 8. HCO venous, mean and standard deviation (mmol/l). The HCO3 remains in a physiological range without administration of bicarbonates. Porcine physiological values, measured in situ: HCO3 30.3 ± 2.4 mmol/L (range 21.6 – 35.8 mmol/L).

Figure 9. Venous sodium concentration, mean and standard deviation (mmol/L). The sodium remains in a physiological range. Porcine physiological values, measured in situ: 137.1 ± 3.8 mmol/L (range 118.7 – 140.9 mmol/L).

Figure 10. Venous potassium concentration, mean and standard deviation (mmol/L). The potassium remains constant in a physiological range. Porcine physiological values, measured in situ: 3.85 ± 0.46 mmol/L (range 3.5 – 5.36 mmol/L).

Figure 11. Venous aspartate aminotransferase, mean and standard deviation (AST; U/L). In the ex vivo normothermic kidney perfusion, AST demonstrates a cell injury marker. AST values are low throughout perfusion.

Figure 12: Lactate, mean and standard deviation (mmol/L). In the ex vivo normothermic kidney perfusion, lactate represents a cell injury marker. The values are stable throughout the perfusion.

Figure 13: Osmolarity of the serum, mean and standard deviation (mosm/L). A constant osmolarity in the perfusion solution secures low but constant urine production. Porcine physiological values, measured in situ: 282 ± 1.7 mosm/L (range 279 – 283 mosm/L).

Figure 14: Histology (H&E). 50X / 200X magnification of corticomedullary junction showing mild tubular vacuolization. No signs of necrosis. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.

Figure 15: Histology (PAS). 50X / 200X magnification of corticomedullary junction showing mild tubular vacuolization. No signs of necrosis. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.

Figure 16: Histology (TUNEL staining). 25X / 200X magnification. Very occasionally nuclei are stained demonstrating very low rates of apoptosis. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.

Discussion

This study demonstrates that NEVKP with an erythrocyte-based solution can be performed with excellent results for a prolonged period of time in a porcine model. During the 10 hrs ex vivo perfusion the kidneys demonstrated stable perfusion parameters, active renal metabolism, homeostasis, and minimal renal injury.

Urine production and kidney injury depend on the composition of the perfusion solution. It is important to keep oncotic pressure and osmolarity of the perfusate within a physiologic range. In particular, a low oncotic pressure will result in an unphysiologically high urine production with significant kidney edema and increasing markers of kidney injury. STEEN solution containing albumin is chosen in this model to regulate the oncotic pressure and to simulate physiologic conditions for the kidney. Sodium bicarbonate and calcium gluconate are added to the system to achieve physiological values of pH, HCO3, sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride. The selection and dosage of the vasodilator is important to secure sufficient blood flow and oxygen supply.

The technique of normothermic ex vivo kidney perfusion has several limitations. Ex vivo perfusion is not associated with hormonal support of the kidney, which could negatively impact longer perfusion periods. In addition, the new technology, at this point in time, is associated with increased costs. Future improvements might simplify the technology and reduce the costs. The development of a portable kidney perfusion device might allow to completely avoid cold kidney storage in the future.

The severe and persisting organ shortage leads to an increased use of marginal organs (ECD or DCD kidney grafts) 7. Currently, organ preservation is based on static cold storage or hypothermic machine perfusion. As a prolonged cold ischemic time has a significant impact on the outcome of kidney function of standard criteria15 and marginal grafts8,9, new preservation techniques minimizing cold storage are of particular interest16-19.

A major obstacle to use marginal grafts more extensively is the inability to assess the quality and viability of organs prior to transplantation. Currently, only clinical parameters such as donor age, donor related diseases, and warm ischemia time of the grafts are used for the decision of whether an organ is accepted or declined for transplantation. By preserving the graft under normothermic conditions, graft assessment based on perfusion characteristics and data is possible. Real-time parameters such as renal vascular flow, pressure, intrarenal resistance, urine production, oxygen consumption, and kidney injury parameters (such as AST and lactate) are supposed to be useful parameters to assess the viability of the graft.

In addition, the active metabolism during NEVKP allows the application of repair strategies to improve marginal kidney grafts prior to transplantation. For example, inhibition of pro-inflammatory pathways, immunomodulation, gene transfer, as well as stem cell administration could be future techniques to modify kidney grafts during the preservation time and improve recipient outcome.

Disclosures

The authors have nothing to disclose.

	United States*	Eurotransplant region**
Patients on kidney transplant waiting list	101,563 (February, 2015)	10,689 (December, 2014)
Deceased donor kidneys transplanted in 2014	10,650	3,119
Median waiting time to deceased donor kidney transplant (in years)	Up to 5 years*	Up to 4 years**