Natural Antibodies Are Associated With Rejection and Long-term Renal Allograft Loss in a Multicenter International Cohort

Abstract

Background. Potentially harmful nonhuman leukocyte antigen antibodies have been identified in renal transplantation, including natural immunoglobulin G antibodies (Nabs) reactive to varied antigenic structures, including apoptotic cells. Methods. In this retrospective, multicenter study, we assessed Nabs by reactivity to apoptotic cells in sera collected from 980 kidney transplant recipients across 4 centers to determine their association with graft outcomes. Results. Elevated pretransplant Nabs were associated with graft loss (hazard ratio [HR] 2.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-6.39; P  =  0.0232), the composite endpoint of graft loss or severe graft dysfunction (HR 2.40; 95% CI, 1.13-5.10; P = 0.0232), and T cell–mediated rejection (odds ratio [OR] 1.77; 95% CI, 1.07-3.02; P = 0.0310). High pretransplant Nabs together with donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) were associated with increased risk of composite outcomes (HR 6.31; 95% CI, 1.81-22.0; P = 0.0039). In patients with high pretransplant Nabs, the subsequent development of posttransplant Nabs was associated with both T cell–mediated rejection (OR 3.64; 95% CI, 1.61-8.36; P = 0.0021) and mixed rejection (OR 3.10; 95% CI, 1.02-9.75; P = 0.0473). Finally, elevated pre- and posttransplant Nabs combined with DSAs were associated with increased risk of composite outcomes (HR 3.97; 95% CI, 1.51-10.43; P = 0.0052) and T cell–mediated rejection (OR 7.28; 95% CI, 2.16-25.96; P = 0.0016). Conclusions. The presence of pre- and posttransplant Nabs, together with DSAs, was associated with increased risk of poor graft outcomes and rejection after renal transplantation.