Prediction of Chronic Allograft Nephropathy (Prefigur)

Early Prediction of Chronic Allograft Nephropathy by Non Invasive Monitoring of Urinary Cell mRNAs

The investigators have shown that epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers in early protocol biopsies of the renal allograft predicts the progression of fibrosis during the first year post-transplantation.

The investigators will develop a non-invasive approach for predicting fibrosis as a substitute for the invasive allograft biopsy procedure, by longitudinal assessment of the mRNA expression level of genes implicated in EMT/fibrogenesis and inflammation in urinary cells from kidney transplant recipients during the first year post-transplantation.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Kidney Failure, Chronic; Kidney Transplantation; Kidney Disease
• Intervention / Treatment: Genetic: mRNAs encoding genes

Detailed Description

mRNA profiling of urinary cells is fast evolving as a non-invasive substitute for invasive biopsy procedures employed for predicting renal allograft outcomes. This technique has been successfully used to develop biomarkers of acute rejection, but has not been evaluated for the diagnosis of allograft fibrosis.

The progressive scarring process of an allograft, called chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN), remains the chief cause of kidney transplant failure. We have shown by immunohistochemistry that epithelial changes suggestive of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in early protocol biopsies predict the progression of CAN during the first year post-transplantation. Our preliminary results suggest that the urinary cell mRNA profile is altered in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) with CAN.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate urine from KTRs during the first year post-transplantation to assess whether mRNA levels of genes involved in EMT/fibrogenesis can diagnose and predict CAN, and identify patients at risk of chronic allograft dysfunction.

The scientific underpinnings for our hypotheses are provided by (a) data showing that urinary cell mRNAs predict pathological changes (i.e., acute rejection) in renal allografts; and (b) our previous studies suggesting that CAN is characterized by altered urinary cell mRNA levels.

Our specific aims are to (1) investigate whether the levels of 21 mRNAs encoding genes involved in EMT/fibrogenesis and the alloimmune response are a sensitive and specific non-invasive diagnostic test for CAN in renal allografts; (2) determine whether mRNA profiles of sequential urine specimens can predict the development of CAN during the first year post-transplantation; and (3) determine whether mRNA profiles of sequential urine specimens predict the subsequent development of graft dysfunction as assessed by estimated GFR at 12, 24 and 36 months after transplantation.

Eligible patients will be consecutive KTRs from Necker Hospital during one year (n≈180). Urine samples will be collected at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months post-transplantation, and 21 mRNAs involved in EMT/fibrogenesis and the alloimmune response will be quantified by PCR. Allograft fibrosis will be quantified by image analysis, developed in our unit. Urinary cell mRNA profiles will be correlated with data from protocol biopsies (3 months and 1 year) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) at 1 and 3 years. Diagnostic and prognostic accuracy of mRNA levels will be determined.

The identification of molecular markers of CAN may allow for early diagnosis of CAN (before the onset of fixed renal injury) and thus the development of specific therapeutic interventions.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 300

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Paris, France, 75015
    • Necker Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Hospitalized patients from Necker Hospital

Description

Inclusion criteria :

• male and female adult recipients
• patients undergoing primary or re-do deceased-donor or living-donor kidney transplantation
• ability to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria :

• patients undergoing combined organ transplantation
• Contraindication to protocol allograft biopsy
• Inability or unwillingness of a participant to provide informed consent.
• HCV infected
• HIV infected

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Renal allograft nephropathy; To evaluate urine from KTRs during the first year post-transplantation to assess whether mRNA levels of genes involved in EMT/fibrogenesis can diagnose and predict CAN, and identify patients at risk of chronic allograft dysfunction	Genetic: mRNAs encoding genes; investigate whether the levels of 21 mRNAs encoding genes involved in EMT/fibrogenesis and the alloimmune response are a sensitive and specific non-invasive diagnostic test for CAN in renal allografts

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Renal allograft fibrosis	Renal allograft fibrosis at one year posttransplantation	2 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Renal allograft nephropathy	Progression of renal allograft fibrosis between 3 months and one year posttransplantation Renal allograft function at 3 year posttransplantation	4 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
• Collaborators: Fondation Centaure; ROTRF
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Dany Anglicheau, MD, PhD, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: June 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 19, 2012
• Study Completion (Actual): April 19, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 23, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 23, 2011
• First Posted (Estimate): June 27, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 14, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 13, 2021
• Last Verified: April 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Monitoring; Urine; Kidney Transplantation; Kidney failure; Allograft; Chronic allograft nephropathy
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urologic Diseases; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic; Kidney Diseases; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Renal Insufficiency
• Other Study ID Numbers: NI 09045