Alloantibody Generation and Effector Function Following Sensitization to Human Leukocyte Antigen

Abstract

Allorecognition is the activation of the adaptive immune system to foreign human leukocyte antigen (HLA) resulting in the generation of alloantibodies. Due to a high polymorphism, foreign HLA is recognized by the immune system following transplant, transfusion, or pregnancy resulting in the formation of the germinal center and the generation of long-lived alloantibody-producing memory B cells. Alloantibodies recognize antigenic epitopes displayed by the HLA molecule on the transplanted allograft and contribute to graft damage through multiple mechanisms, including (1) activation of the complement cascade resulting in the formation of the MAC complex and inflammatory anaphylatoxins, (2) transduction of intracellular signals leading to cytoskeletal rearrangement, growth, and proliferation of graft vasculature, and (3) immune cell infiltration into the allograft via FcγR interactions with the FC portion of the antibody. This review focuses on the generation of HLA alloantibody, routes of sensitization, alloantibody specificity, and mechanisms of antibody-mediated graft damage.

Introduction

The immune response is designed to recognize antigens that are distinct from self – termed “non-self” or “altered self” – be they protein, lipid, or carbohydrate. Allorecognition is the activation of the transplant recipient’s adaptive immune response to foreign histocompatibility antigens following transplant (1, 2). This review focuses on the recognition of allogeneic human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and non-HLA molecules by the humoral immune response in the context of transplantation. We discuss the generation of alloantibodies, and how they mediate graft injury and rejection.

Human Leukocyte Antigen: Genomic Organization, Structure, Polymorphism, and Function

The human major histocompatibility complex (MHC), located on chromosome 6, is composed of highly polymorphic HLA class I genes (HLA-A, -B, and -C), HLA class II genes (HLA-DR, -DQ, and -DP), non-classical class I genes (HLA-E, -F, and -G), and class I-like genes (MICA and MICB) (3). The HLA class I molecules function to present peptide derived from intracellular antigens to CD8+ T lymphocytes and serve as ligands for receptors on natural killer (NK) cells. The HLA class II molecules present antigens from the extracellular space to CD4+ T cells.

Human leukocyte antigen molecules are heterodimers formed by polypeptides encoded by two distinct genetic loci (Figure 1) (3). The HLA class I molecule consists of one heavy β-chain that is non-covalently bound to a β₂-microglobulin (β₂m) light chain at the cell surface for stability. β2m is highly conserved and does not exhibit polymorphism. The HLA class II molecule is composed of two transmembrane glycoprotein chains – an α-chain and β-chain. The α-chain shared by all HLA-DR molecules (DRA1) has limited polymorphism (seven alleles identified to date, with only two different proteins/amino acid sequences; the amino acid polymorphism is V217L in the cytoplasmic domain) and is not a known target of humoral alloresponses. By contrast, both the α- and β-chains of HLA-DP and HLA-DQ are polymorphic (3, 4).

Figure 1.

HLA class I and II are heterodimeric transmembrane proteins. HLA Class I is made up of a heavy chain with three globular domains (a1, a2, and a3) non-covalently bound to β2m. HLA Class II is made up of two heavy chains (a-chain and b-chain) each with two globular domains (a1 and a2 or b1 and b2). The a1and a2 domains of HLA class I, and the a1 and b1 domains of HLA class II, make up the peptide-binding groove.

Globular domains of the HLA Class I and II molecules form the peptide-binding cleft that accommodates peptide antigens and interacts with the T cell receptor (TCR). The remarkable polymorphism of HLA Class I and II molecules allows for the presentation of a vast array of antigenic peptides within the human population. Each HLA molecule binds distinct peptides. At the protein level, HLA molecules are defined as antigens by either low-resolution (two digit, serologic level) or high resolution (four digit, allele level) nomenclature (Table 1). At the serologic level, there are about 20 HLA-A, 50 HLA-B, 10 HLA-Cw, 18 HLA-DR, and 7 HLA-DQ antigens. However, at the allele level of resolution, the number of HLA antigens in each serogroup is tremendously expanded due to genetic polymorphism within each serogroup – ~2000–3000 distinct proteins for each of HLA-A, B, and C, ~500–2000 for each of DRB1, DQB1, DPB1, and ~10–50 for each of DRB3 (DR52), DRB4 (DR53), DRB5 (DR51), and DQA1(4). Amino acid differences between HLA alleles enable presentation of a diverse array of peptides, and represent the basis for alloimmune recognition of non-self HLA by both T cells and antibodies (3).

Table 1.

Typing of HLA molecules can be at low or high resolution.

Level of typing resolution	Definition	Nomenclature
Low	Serologic/antigen	A2
High	Allele	A*02:01

Mechanisms of Allorecognition and Generation of Allospecific Antibodies

Three distinct pathways of allorecognition have been defined (Figure 2). The direct, indirect, and semidirect pathways can occur independently or simultaneously. Activation of the recipient’s CD4+ T lymphocytes is a pivotal step in the initiation of the immune response to alloantigen following transplantation leading to downstream activation of cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes and antibody-producing B cells.

Figure 2.

Indirect, semidirect, and direct allorecognition. In the indirect pathway, (1) donor alloantigens are processed by recipient B cells and (2) presented to recipient T follicular helper (T_FH) cells and CTL. Alloantibodies are generated when alloreactive B cells interact with CD4+ T cells. The semidirect pathway involves (3) intact donor HLA class I:peptide complexes that are presented on the DC of the recipient (through either membrane exchange or exosome uptake) to recipient CD8+ T cells (CTL). Simultaneously, (4) processed donor peptide is presented in the context of the recipient’s HLA class II to the recipient’s helper CD4+ T cells (Th). In the direct pathway, (5) allogeneic MHC class I and II antigens are presented to recipient CD4+ and cytotoxic CD8+ T cells (CTL) by donor APCs. Recipient cells, green. Donor Cells, blue.

Indirect Allorecognition

Indirect allorecognition is the activation of the transplant recipient’s CD4+ T cells by alloantigen that is processed and presented in the context of the recipients HLA as occurs with the normal immune response to foreign pathogen (2). Donor antigens, shed by the grafted organ, are processed and presented in the context of self-restricted HLA class II by the recipient’s B cells. The recipient’s follicular helper CD4+ T cells are then activated to provide help leading to the generation of alloreactive CD8+ effector T cells and antibody-producing B cells (1, 5, 6). The immune response engendered by this pathway is credited with driving chronic rejection and due to lower frequency of T cells with indirect allospecificity, and requirement for antigen processing, is physio-dynamically slower than the response to presentation through the direct pathway (7–10).

Direct Allorecognition

Direct allorecognition is the activation of the transplant recipient’s CD4+ T cells by donor HLA:peptide complexes (2). Antigen presentation is mediated by the donor’s dendritic cells that are transplanted as passengers with the organ. In the context of inflammatory signals subsequent to the transplantation surgery, the donor’s DC, presenting intact donor allo-histocompatibility antigens, migrate to the secondary lymph nodes of the recipient and present antigen to the recipients CD4+ T cells (11, 12). The strength of the immune response elicited by the direct allorecognition pathway correlates to the high frequency of recipient allogeneic T cells that become activated during the first few weeks following transplant (13, 14) mediating acute rejection. The immune response weakens as the passenger DC leave the graft (15, 16). CD4+ T cells activated through the direct pathway are capable of providing help to effector CD8+ T cells, therefore, promoting rejection of the transplanted organ (5). However, activation of B cells and production of alloantibody does not occur in the context of direct allorecognition as there is no cognate interaction between the T helper cell and B cell (5).

Semi-Direct Allorecognition

The semi-direct pathway of allorecognition is presented as a hypothesis to describe events of apparent overlap between the direct and indirect pathways. Evidence from animal models of transplant rejection indicate that indirect allospecific CD4+ T cells can provide help to direct allospecific CD8+ T cells (17, 18). In principle, this would require a “four cell” model in which CD4+ T cells activated via the indirect pathway by processed alloantigen in the context of self-restricted HLA class II provide help to effector CD8+ T cells activated via the direct pathway by donor passenger APC bearing intact HLA:peptide. The “four cell model” challenges the dogma of the “three cell” or “linked” model whereby the primary mechanism by which activated helper T cells provide help to effector CD8+ T cells is by providing signals to the APC that result in the upregulation of presented antigens (19–21). Helper CD4+ T cells, therefore, “license” APC to more effectively present peptide in the context of HLA class I. The “three cell” model requires that both antigenic determinants recognized by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells be presented on the same APC.

However, the mechanism underling the phenomena of semi-direct allorecognition more likely lies in the exchange of membrane proteins between immune cells (22). After transplantation, the recipients DC acquire intact donor HLA class I:peptide complexes from donor passenger DC or endothelial cells through either cell–cell interactions or by uptake of exosomes containing the antigen that are shed from donor tissue (23, 24). In following, the recipients DC now bears intact donor HLA class I molecules as well as recipient HLA class II molecules, and is capable of stimulating the recipients CD4+ and CD8+ T cells via the indirect and direct pathways in a “three cell” model. Soluble MHC class I can be taken up by DC in vitro, and then presented leading to the production of alloantibody (25). The work by Curry et al. implies that soluble alloantigen can be taken up and presented intact to direct B cells, and can simultaneously be processed and presented to indirect CD4+ T cells.

Generation of HLA Alloantibody

Conlon et al. (6) definitively showed that production of alloantibody occurs exclusively through the indirect pathway. In a murine heart allograft model, C57B/6 mice (H-2^b) lacking intact TCRs were transplanted with a BALB/c allograft (H-2K^d). Subsequent reconstitution with TCR transgenic CD4+ T cells engineered to specifically recognize an immunodominant BALB/c peptide (H-2K^d_54–68) processed and presented by MHC Class II resulted in a strong anti-H-2K^d IgG alloantibody response to the allograft. Furthermore, the adoptively transferred CD4+ T cells were found in germinal centers (GC), having acquired the phenotype of T follicular helper (T_FH) cells (CXCR5⁺CCR7⁻), and anti-H-2K^d plasma cells were found in the bone marrow. By contrast, direct-pathway CD4+ T cells were unable to provide help to allospecific B cells and alloantibody was not produced.

Formation of the Germinal Center and Generation of Long-Lived Memory

B cells residing in the secondary lymphoid organs can be exposed to small antigens directly through diffusion from the lymphatic system, or to large immune complexed antigens presented by follicular dendritic cells or by macrophages. Regulation of B cell immunity and generation of antibody-secreting plasma cells is primarily dependent on interactions with T_FH cells in the GC of the secondary lymphoid organs (26). Antigen-specific T_FH cells and antigen-primed B cells migrate to follicular regions of the secondary lymph nodes and form stable contacts through the signal lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM)-associated protein (SAP) (27). Integrins and the SLAM protein CD84 are also involved in the interaction between T_FH cells and pre-GC B cells (28). These interactions ultimately lead to significant proliferation of antigen-specific B cells and the formation of the GC. CD4+ T cells recognize their cognate peptide antigen presented in HLA class II by the B cell, and provide help through costimulation and cytokines to drive activation and clonal expansion of B cells.

In the GC, B cells make contact with T_FH cells that are both transient and stable resulting in selection of B cells that will that enter the long-lived memory component of the immune system (29, 30). Here, through somatic hypermutation, GC B cells that have high antigen affinity differentiate into memory B cells or antibody-producing long-lived plasma cells (31). Activated B cells differentiate into low-affinity antibody-producing plasmablasts, or undergo class-switch recombination and somatic hypermutation to form affinity matured, class-switched memory B cells or plasma cells. Long-lived plasma cells residing in the bone marrow contribute to much of the circulating antigen-specific immunoglobulin and can persist for decades. There is also evidence that memory B cells can be maintained in the circulation without a requirement for continuous antigen exposure (32), ready for rapid recall upon repeated stimulation with antigen.

Recent work has aimed at detection of circulating allospecific memory B cells to predict durable sensitization and anamnestic responses in patients awaiting transplantation. One recent report (33) found that circulating HLA-specific B cells were found only in patients with a history of sensitization, and were detectable in nearly half of such patients. Interestingly, patients with circulating HLA antibodies but no known sensitization event had no detectable circulating B cells. Transfusion also resulted in little to no detectable circulating anti-HLA memory B cells, consistent with the theory that transfusion is a less vigorous sensitizing event compared with pregnancy or transplantation (see below) (34). Snanoudj et al. were able to detect circulating B cells targeting prior donor antigens many decades after transplantation and even after graft removal (33), supporting the paradigm that memory B cells do not require persistent antigen for survival. Finally, and most notably, several patients had detectable HLA antibody secreting B cells in circulation but no detectable circulating antibodies in their sera.

Kinetics of Allorecognition

Direct pathway-activated donor-specific T cells are associated with acute T cell-mediated rejection in renal transplant patients (35). CD4+ T cells isolated from the recipient’s pre-transplant blood that were responsive to direct allostimulation with donor cells were also found to be predictive of early post-transplant outcomes (35, 36). However, T cells activated via the direct pathway were found to be predominantly hyporesponsive in patients with transplant coronary artery disease (TCAD), chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN), or chronic rejection following liver transplant indicating that these cells are not contributing to chronic rejection (7, 10, 37). In comparison, T cells primed by the indirect pathway are thought to mediate chronic rejection and are found in high frequency in patients with CAN, and in heart transplant patients with chronic rejection (7, 9, 10, 38).

Notably, T cells stimulated by the indirect allorecognition pathways are also capable of contributing to acute rejection during the early post-transplant period. Circulating allopeptide-reactive T cells were predictive of rejection in heart transplant patients studied during the first 10 weeks post-transplant (39). Furthermore, T cells responsive to allopeptide were found in significant quantities above that found in circulation when isolated from biopsies of graft tissue, suggesting that indirect pathway T cells can contribute directly to acute graft rejection (39).

Alloantibody Antigen Specificity

Antibody Structure and Function

Antibodies are heterodimers composed of a light chain and heavy chain encoded by distinct loci on different chromosomes. Each chain contains a constant region that is invariant, and a variable region that undergoes both recombination and somatic hypermutation to yield clonally unique sequences. The variable regions of both heavy and light chain form the antigen binding region (“complementarity determining region”), or paratope, which binds its cognate epitope on the antigen. Human immunoglobulins are divided into five isotypes (IgM, IgD, IgA, IgE, and IgG). Several of these isotypes are further divided into subclasses (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4; IgA1 and IgA2). Antibody isotype and subclass are determined by the constant region.

The subclasses were identified and numbered according to their predominance in circulation rather than order on the genome. Early in the GC reaction, IgM+ B cells class switch first to IgG3 or IgG1, then IgG2, and rarely IgG4 [immunoglobulin sequential class switching is described in Ref. (40, 41)].

Functionally, the subclasses of IgG are distinct. IgG1 has the highest concentration in circulation, and fixes complement well. IgG2 is the next most abundant in circulation and is not an efficient complement fixer. IgG3 is unique with its long hinge region that confers the highest affinity for C1q compared with other subclasses, making it a potent effector [extensively reviewed in Ref. (42)]. However, IgG3 has the shortest half-life in circulation and, being first in order of class switching, has typically the lowest affinity for antigen but is the most potent activator of complement (43). IgG1, IgG3, and IgG4 mostly recognize protein antigens, while IgG2 is canonically efficient at recognizing carbohydrate antigens (in the absence of T cell help) and allergens. It is thought that IgG2 and IgG4 appear later after class switching and affinity maturation, as they have higher affinity for antigen but generally less effective activation of Fc-mediated effector functions, to temporally limit the immune response (41).

Antibodies Are Specific for Antigenic Epitopes

Alloantibodies can be generated against any of the polymorphic loci, i.e., HLA-A, -B, -Cw, DRB1, DRB3 (DR52), DRB4 (DR53), DRB5 (DR51), DQB1, DQA1, DPB1, and DPA1. Antibodies recognize three-dimensional arrangements of amino acids on antigens, called epitopes. Fifteen to 25 amino acid residues form epitopes that are not necessarily adjacent in linear sequence, but are generally within 4 Å (44) (Figure 3). Many of the amino acid polymorphisms within HLA molecules lie within and around the peptide-binding groove at exposed residues on the alpha helices of the α1 and α2 chains of HLA class I, and on the α1 and β1 chains of HLA class II, enabling presentation of diverse peptides. The host–pathogen arms race is believed to have driven this polymorphism to prevent pathogen immune escape and protect populations from epidemics (45). Interestingly, antibody reactivity may also be influenced by the bound peptide (46), which can alter the overall three-dimensional conformation of HLA.

Figure 3.

Cartoon structure of antibody engaging epitope on HLA class I. Theoretical locations of polymorphisms impacting peptide binding are indicated in blue on the beta sheet of HLA class I. Locations of polymorphic amino acid residues available for recognition by antibodies on the alpha helices are highlighted in red. Red box, epitope.

Immunogenicity of HLA

Alloantibodies recognize three-dimensional amino acid epitopes on non-self HLA molecules. Because of the evolution of the HLA system, these epitopes can be shared by many different antigens, leading to broad antibody sensitization after exposure to a limited repertoire of non-self HLA. Antibodies are also sensitive enough to recognize single amino acid differences, resulting in intra-allele antibody production (47). Furthermore, molecular differences between HLA antigens can affect expression levels at the surface of the cell. Below, we describe in greater detail the mechanisms governing these various aspects of alloantibody recognition of epitopes.

Cross-Reactive Antibody Groups

The diversity of HLA has been driven by several genetic processes during positive selection. One major mechanism is gene conversion via homologous recombination. Gene conversion results in large segments of genetic material being shared between alleles, giving rise to multiple proteins with the same or similar amino acid epitopes that can be recognized by the alloantibody response (48). This epitope sharing also results in cross-reactive antibody groups (CREGs), and indeed phylogenetic grouping of HLA based on nucleotide sequences generally mirrors serological cross-reactivity (49). Broad sensitization against many HLA antigens can, thus, occur even when the immune system is only exposed to a single non-self HLA antigen. For example, exposure to HLA-A11 may result in the generation of an antibody that is specific to an epitope carried by multiple HLA antigens belonging to the A1 CREG including HLA-A1, A3, A23, A24, A36, and A80 as well as A11 (50, 51). In another example demonstrating inter-locus reactivity, sensitization to HLA-Cw can lead to antibody production to antigens of HLA-B (52) as HLA-B and HLA-Cw are more closely related to one another than to HLA-A. Similarly, DP antigens share epitopes with DR (53).

An extreme example of broad sensitization is in response to the mutually exclusive public epitopes Bw4 and Bw6, which are present on many different HLA-B (as well as some HLA-A, for Bw4) antigens. An individual exposed to a Bw6 positive antigen, such as B7, may produce antibodies against the Bw6 epitope that react with more than 20 different HLA-B antigens, carried by more than 50% of the population. These determinants, as well as C1 and C2 determinants on HLA-Cw molecules, are critical for NK cell receptor (KIR) binding, and so have likely been conserved through co-evolution of HLA and KIR receptors to prevent loss of self recognition (54).

In seminal work, Parham and McLean (55) described serological reactivity in relationship to known amino acid sequence data, first raising the idea of molecular matching. Differences in epitopes or “structural compatibility” between self and potential donor HLA antigens, also known as “eplets,” could portend the likelihood of an antibody response. HLA typing for solid organ transplantation is generally reported at the serologic (two digit) level. However, epitope matching is best accomplished with higher resolution HLA typing such that amino acid sequences that may be different within serologically equivalent groups are defined. Several groups have advocated for the use of structural epitope or eplet matching strategies in organ allocation, over serologic level matching (56, 57). For example, Wiebe et al. reported a lower incidence of de novo DSA production in patients who were HLA class II epitope matched (58), and immunogenicity of HLA-DP (59) also appears to be strongly based on epitope recognition.

Allele-Specific Antibodies

Antibodies can be produced against epitopes within antigens that differ from self by as little as one amino acid. Therefore, in addition to antibodies against serologic level HLA molecules, individuals can produce antibodies to other alleles of “self” antigens, if amino acid sequences in key positions are sufficiently disparate. For example, a patient who displays HLA-DQ6 at the serologic level may also be defined through higher resolution typing methods as DQB1*06:01 at the allele level. The patient may become sensitized to other alleles of DQ6 and display allele-specific antibodies to alleles, such as DQB1*06:04, that are distinct from self (60).

Epitopes Formed by Specific DQA1/DQB1 Pairings

It is also possible for individuals to make antibodies against an epitope that is formed by the pairing of specific DQα1 and DQβ1 chains (61). The majority of HLA-DQ reactive antibodies recognize the DQβ chain, while a minority (<20%) bind DQα chain or a combination epitope formed by specific DQα/β pairings (61). Importantly, such antibodies do not produce positive crossmatches against donors who carry only one of the DQα or DQβ alleles in a different pairing (62), emphasizing the specificity of such antibodies.

Molecular Contributions to Immunogenicity

Differences in antigen availability may necessarily influence immunogenicity. Cell surface expression levels are known to vary among different loci, and even different alleles, of HLA. Certainly, expression of HLA-Cw (63, 64) and HLA-DP (65) is less abundant than proteins of other loci on endothelial cells that make up the vascular walls of the transplanted organ. In addition, HLA-A was found to be more highly expressed than HLA-B in HEK293T cells as it is hypothesized to form a more stable interaction with β2m throughout the terminal region of the alpha 2 domain and the entire alpha 3 domain (66) of the molecules.

Furthermore, Ramsuran et al. recently reported wide variation in mRNA levels between different antigens of HLA-A; for example, individuals homozygous for HLA-A24 had higher expression of HLA-A than those homozygous for HLA-A3, which was attributed to polymorphic CpG sites and increased DNA methylation in the lower expressing alleles (67). Finally, lower expression of HLA-Cw may be the result of reduced affinity for β2 microglobulin, resulting in less stable protein at the cell surface (68, 69), increased degradation of mRNA (63), or differential regulation by miRNA (70). Accordingly, sensitization to HLA-Cw is reportedly less frequent compared with other HLA class I molecules (71).

Sensitizing Events Leading to HLA Immunization: Routes and Rates of HLA Sensitization

Antibody responses to allogeneic HLA molecules can occur after any exposure to non-self tissues, such as transfusion, pregnancy, or transplantation. However, the durability and nature of the sensitization may vary depending on the alloimmunizing event.

Transfusion

Interestingly, the incidence of alloimmunization in the general population with a history of prior transfusion is less than 2% (72, 73), while in comparison Hyun et al. (74) reported that one-third of transplant candidates with a history of transfusion were sensitized. The discrepancy indicates that transplant patients may have a more robust response to sensitization via transfusion, or may have more transfusions compared with non-transplant candidates.

Transfusion alone is considered poorly immunogenic. Sensitization to HLA antigens via transfusion requires very large blood volumes or multiple events to induce persistent HLA allosensitization in otherwise non-sensitized individuals (34). Paradoxically, a protective “transfusion effect” was reported in the early transplantation literature (75, 76), initially suggesting that donor-specific transfusion is immunomodulatory and improved graft outcomes. Animal models have suggested that graft passenger leukocytes are important in this process, thus, providing tolerance prior to transplant (77). However, transplant recipients sensitized by third party transfusion have poorer 1-year survival compared with non-sensitized recipients (78). A modern meta-analysis of that era concluded that higher rates of HLA sensitization are found in patients with a history of transfusion compared with those without, and that there is a neutral to negative effect on allograft outcome after sensitization by transfusion (79).

Pregnancy

Both full-term pregnancy and spontaneous miscarriage induce alloantibodies (80). Anti-paternal alloantibodies appear around or after the 28th week of gestation during pregnancy (80). Sensitized women have higher rates of parity (pregnancy) compared with non-sensitized patients (81). One-third to half of women develop HLA immunization after delivery during their first pregnancy (73, 74, 82), and immunization frequency increases with parity (82). Antibodies to HLA class I were slightly more frequent than those to class II, although both were produced.

Female patients receiving kidney allografts from their male partners or their offspring experienced higher rejection rates (83), pointing to increased immunological risk in women upon re-exposure to paternal antigens on the allograft. Generally, antibodies induced by pregnancy declined in the circulation over time. Even so, post-transplant antibody increases occurred in the pregnancy cohort even decades after the last pregnancy (84).

Transplantation

Transplantation itself is a significant alloimmunizing event (81), and previously non-donor sensitized solid organ transplant recipients develop de novo donor-specific HLA antibodies at a rate of about 8–10% in the first year for liver and renal transplants (85, 86), and 15–25% of renal and cardiac transplant by 10 years post-transplant (85, 87, 88). Removal (transplantectomy) of failed renal-allografts appears to stimulate a large increase in circulating DSA (89), whether from increased immune activation in response to surgical trauma, removal of the antigen “sink” provided by the allograft and/or immunosuppression, is unclear.

When evaluating a patient for re-transplantation, it is important to consider the presence of donor-specific alloantibodies that were formed via sensitization to the first allograft in relationship to the donor antigens carried by the second potential donor – the so-called “repeat mismatches.” Repeat mismatched donor HLA antigens against which a recipient has preformed alloantibody, particularly to HLA-DR, were found to have a detrimental effect on renal-allograft survival (90–92). While Farney et al. did not uncover a deleterious effect on graft survival of retransplantation with donors who shared mismatches in the presence of alloantibodies with prior donors (93), a more recent study found that re-exposure to mismatched HLA class I antigens increased the risk of early graft loss in renal transplant recipients (94). Typically, repeat HLA mismatches in donors against which a recipient has made antibodies are avoided by transplant programs (95).

Allografts are also used for vascular reconstruction in many forms of congenital heart disease and have been demonstrated to cause persistent sensitization to HLA antigens (96). These findings have implications for those in whom heart transplant is considered late in the clinical course.

Ventricular Assist Devices

Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs) are associated with increased production of HLA antibodies. The current paradigm is that the VAD provides a continual antigenic or inflammatory stimulus that promotes generation of de novo HLA antibodies when patients are exposed to blood and/or platelet transfusions or heightens existing HLA antibody levels. In a recent study, we observed that patients implanted with the older pulsatile VAD (BiVad) showed increased HLA sensitization vs. patients implanted with the Heart MateII Axial VAD suggesting the older, pulsatile devices had greater sensitization potential (97).

Natural Antibodies

It has been suggested that HLA antibodies may be formed by means other than the typical routes of sensitization discussed above. Antibodies to HLA are found in non-transfused males at a rate of nearly 50% in one study (98) and often react with a restricted subset of HLA antigens that are uncommon in the general population. There is some evidence pointing to cross-reactivity of pathogens (especially viral) with HLA by T cells (99–102). The abundant viral-specific memory T cell repertoire may, therefore, contribute to alloantibody production. Viral cross-reactivity with HLA may also occur at the protein level. For example, antibodies to HIV-1 may recognize HLA (103), and immunization with the HepB vaccine caused HLA antibody positivity in approximately half of previously negative, healthy adults 1 month after vaccination (104).

It has been proposed that “natural antibodies” against the non-classical HLA-E molecule can cross-react with HLA class I molecules (105). Alternatively, it is possible that antibodies detected are false-positive reactions with denatured antigen, a known limitation of the single-antigen bead assay commonly used to identify HLA antibodies in the sera (106–108). Additional evidence shows these antibodies do not often react with native antigen on cells (108, 109), and the clinical significance and durability of such natural antibody responses remain unclear (110, 111).

Non-HLA Antibodies

Non-HLA antibodies can be directed toward either alloantigens, such as the major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related gene A (MICA) or B (MICB), or tissue-specific autoantigens, such as vimentin, cardiac myosin (CM), collagen V (Col V), agrin and angiotensin II receptor type I (AT1R). Additional non-HLA targets recently identified by Jackson et al. include anti-endothelial cell targets, including endoglin, EGF-like repeats, Fms-like tyrosine kinase-3 ligand, and ICAM-4. The principle antigenic targets of non-HLA antibodies are expressed on cells of the allograft, including endothelium and epithelium. Therefore, donor cells are in direct contact with the recipients circulating peripheral blood lymphocytes, and have been shown to be the major immunological targets for the pathogenesis of allograft rejection. Prevalence of anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) among renal recipients was nearly one quarter in pre-transplant sera (112). AECAs correlated with post-transplant HLA DSA and AMR. Sun et al. observed that anti-endothelial cell antibodies were found in patients pre-transplant, but that they did not correlate with outcome or rejection; by contrast, de novo development of AECAs was significantly associated with early and severe acute rejection, but not C4d (113). AECA were implicated as the cause of acute antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) in 30% of heart transplant recipients without DSA to HLA (114).

Mechanisms of Graft Damage by HLA Antibodies

High-titered pre-transplant DSA directed against HLA class I antigens can cause catastrophic hyperacute rejection and immediate graft loss (115), whereas high titer class II DSA mediate graft rejection 2–4 days after transplant, upon re-expression of HLA class II antigens on the endothelium of the allograft (116–118). By contrast, pre-transplant DSA of low titer are often associated with development of acute AMR during the first 3 months after transplantation and/or lower long-term graft survival (119). If left untreated, patients with AMR are at risk of graft loss and/or markedly shortened overall graft survival time. Patients producing de novo anti-HLA antibodies against their donor following transplantation are also at increased risk of graft failure unless their response can be controlled or abrogated (120).

There are three major effector functions carried out by antibodies that can impact the graft. First, bivalent IgG can dimerize or crosslink its target upon binding. Collective studies indicate that IgG binding to HLA agonistically crosslinks HLA molecules and triggers downstream activation of the target cells. Second, antibodies can activate the classical complement cascade through binding to the Fc fragment to trigger production of potent anaphylatoxins, chemoattractants, opsonins, and cell-damaging factors. Thirdly, HLA IgG bound to target cells can engage Fc receptors on myeloid and lymphoid cells, to employ a host of Fc receptor-mediated effector functions, including antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent phagocytosis, and augment recruitment. These effector functions work in concert, and there is substantial interplay between them, as we will discuss below.

HLA Antibody-Induced Signaling in Graft Vascular Cells

Antibodies are capable of agonistically crosslinking their protein targets at the cell surface [recently reviewed in Ref. (121)]. In vascular cells, crosslinking of HLA induces intracellular signaling cascades that lead to functional changes, such as increased cell migration, cytoskeletal rearrangement, growth and proliferation, endothelial activation and exocytosis, and increased recruitment of leukocytes. These functional changes parallel the histological findings in clinical AMR, including microvascular inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, expansion of the neointima, and infiltration of mononuclear cells (Table 2).

Table 2.

Function of HLA antibodies leading to histological manifestations of AMR.

Histological manifestation	Antibody function
C4d deposition	Activation of complement
Endothelial cell swelling	HLA crosslinking leading to cytoskeletal changes
Mononuclear cell infiltration	HLA crosslinking increases P-selectin and chemokines, monocyte, and neutrophil adherence
	Antibody Fc regions interact with FcγRs
Neointimal thickening	HLA crosslinking increases endothelial and smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration

HLA class I and II do not have intrinsic kinase activity and, therefore, partner with other proteins to transduce intracellular signals. Ligation of HLA class I with antibodies increases its association with integrin β4 which, in turn, activates intracellular signaling cascades (122). Integrin β4 is an important cell adhesion protein regulating cell adhesion, proliferation, ­migration, and survival. Blockade of integrin β4 impairs HLA antibody-stimulated signal transduction. Protein(s) that partner with HLA class II to transduce signaling are not yet reported. However, ligation of either HLA class I or class II with antibodies activates mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling through the SRC/FAK–PI3K–AKT pathway and increases Akt-dependent cell survival signaling, through upregulation of Bcl-2 and HO-1 (123–125). Furthermore, activation of key signaling proteins in endothelium, including S6K, S6RP, and ERK, demonstrated in human cardiac allografts with AMR and in murine models of MHC antibody-mediated injury (126–128) suggests pro-survival signals that may increase endothelial persistence, stress fiber formation (129, 130), and resistance to complement-induced cell death (125), contributing to neointimal formation during chronic rejection. Additional work by Galvani et al. points to a direct effect of MHC antibodies on smooth muscle cells. Crosslinking of HLA I with antibodies provokes mitogenic signaling through matrix metalloproteinases in vitro, and contributes to neointimal thickening of human arterial grafts in vivo in murine recipients (131, 132). An additional feature of alloantibody crosslinking of HLA is increased intracellular calcium levels, leading to exocytosis of endothelial Weibel–Palade body vesicles and increased cell surface P-selectin (133–135). P-selectin captures neutrophils and monocytes (133, 134), facilitating recruitment of immune cells into the allograft.

Complement

The complement system is an ancient form of innate immunity that relies on proteolytic cleavage of active components. Complement proteins are always present in the circulation, but become rapidly activated upon exposure to target molecules. There are three main pathways of complement, which differ by the activating stimulus. The lectin pathway becomes activated upon recognition by mannose binding lectin (MBL) of pathogen-specific glycan residues on the surface of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The alternative pathway of complement is initiated at the surface of non-host cells due to the presence of such factors as lipopolysaccharides on Gram-negative bacteria, zymosans on fungi and yeast, and other pathogen-associated molecules. Complexed human immunoglobulin has also been shown to activate the alternative pathway. The classical complement pathway is initiated exclusively by antigen-bound antibody through binding of the Fc portion of certain isotypes and subclasses to C1q. All of these pathways rely on sequential enzymatic reactions that produce active split products involved in inflammation, and all of these pathways converge on the terminal component C5.

Activation of complement by antibodies was one of the earliest methods used to detect donor-specific HLA antibodies, and positive cytotoxic crossmatch is still often considered to be a contraindication to transplant, as antibodies detected by this method can mediate hyperacute rejection of solid organ transplants (115). Although the end result of complement activation, namely deposition of MAC and cell cytotoxicity, has been a focus, it is now thought to be a rare event (136). Endothelial cells express complement regulatory proteins (CD55/DAF, CD59, Crry) that antagonize complement activation by inactivating split products. C3d and C4d are generated by such inhibitory receptors and mark early complement activation. Attention has turned to the activity and predictive value of other complement proteins. Products of complement activation, in particular C4d, have proven histological utility in detecting donor-specific antibody bound to the graft (137, 138). Other split products, including C4a, C3a, and C3b, are potent inflammatory signals that promote immune cell recruitment and opsonization.

FcγR-Bearing Immune Cells

Many cells express surface receptors that can interact with the constant region heavy chain (Fc) of antibodies. The human Fc receptor system consists of several classes that can bind to IgG (FcγR, CD64, CD32, CD16), IgA (FcαR, CD89), and IgE (FcϵR, CD23). The human receptor for IgM (FcμR) had been elusive until relatively recently (139). Fc receptors serve to bridge the humoral and cellular arms of the immune system, and provide innate immune cells with a target, and are critical for a variety of functions, including antibody-dependent cell-mediated phagocytosis (ADCP), antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), cell–cell tethering and degranulation.

Given that IgG is thought to be the most clinically relevant isotype of HLA antibodies, we will focus on Fc-gamma receptors (FcγR) that bind to this isotype of immunoglobulins. FcγRs are expressed broadly in both the myeloid and lymphoid compartments. There are three major classes of FcγRs, FcγRI (CD64), FcγRII (CD32), and FcγRIII (CD16). FcγRII and FcγRIII are further composed of several functionally disparate isoforms, most of which are dimorphic in the human population (140, 141). Polymorphisms in human FcγRs influence susceptibility to autoimmune disease and response to anti-tumor therapeutics (142–146), and may also influence susceptibility of transplant recipients to rejection (147, 148), although a thorough evaluation of the role of different FcγR alleles in antibody-mediated transplant rejection has not been reported.

Due to their lower affinity, the majority of FcγRs do not bind monomeric IgG very efficiently. Only the high-affinity FcγRI (CD64) is the exception, and cells with this receptor have been shown to carry monomeric IgG in circulation. FcγRs do bind to antigen-associated IgG, however, such as in immune complexes or immobilized on a (cell) surface. Once bound, FcγRs become crosslinked as they physically colocalize at high antibody-antigen density. This promotes intracellular signaling in the FcγR-bearing cell leading to activation and maturation, and mediates effector functions such as phagocytosis or cytotoxicity.

The relevance of FcγR-bearing innate immune cells to antibody-mediated graft injury is reflected in the diagnostic criteria and histological manifestations of AMR. For example, infiltration of CD68+ macrophages is included in the AMR diagnostic criteria in cardiac transplantation (149), where macrophage staining is found intravascularly (150, 151). Indeed, increased macrophage burden is correlative with worse prognosis (152). Although not currently included in the AMR diagnostic criteria for renal transplantation, macrophage infiltration during rejection is also predictive of worse outcome in kidney allografts (153, 154). Our recent studies are consistent with these clinical findings and show that monocyte recruitment to HLA-Ab-activated endothelium is mediated by HLA-induced Weibel–Palade exocytosis and P-selectin expression (134). Blockade of P-selectin potently inhibited leukocyte recruitment to the allograft during AMR underscoring its therapeutic potential (134). Furthermore, HLA-Ab augmented monocyte recruitment by the interaction of monocyte FcγRs with the Fc portion of the HLA-Abs (135). This interaction was IgG subclass dependent and influenced by monocyte FcγRIIa allelic variants. Monocytes from donors carrying the high-affinity FcγRIIa-H131 allele had greater FcγR-dependent adhesion to ECs activated with HLA-Abs of both IgG1 and IgG2 subclasses compared with monocytes expressing only FcγRIIa-R131. These results are clinically relevant and suggest that recipients producing DSA and carrying high-affinity FcγR alleles may be pre-disposed to acute AMR accompanied by increased monocyte infiltration.

Summary

Taken together, antibodies to donor proteins, including HLA, can cause graft damage through three major mechanisms, including direct activation of endothelial, smooth muscle, and epithelial cells to promote proliferation and inflammation; activation of the complement system to generate inflammatory split products; and engagement of FcγRs on NK cells, monocytes, and neutrophils.

Conclusion

Allorecognition by the humoral immune system results in formation of antibodies to HLA and a variety of non-HLA proteins, and occurs after exposure to non-self tissues through pregnancy, transfusion, or transplantation. Alloantibody formation is dependent upon T cell interactions and is primarily driven by indirect allorecognition by T cells. In addition, “natural” antibodies or anti-viral antibodies may cross-react with HLA, although the clinical significance of such antibodies is not clear. Antibodies to donor HLA mediate allograft injury through Fc-dependent as well as Fc-independent mechanisms, which closely reflect the diagnostic criteria for AMR. Non-HLA antibodies can be against polymorphic proteins, such as MICA, or against autoantibodies, and also associate with worse graft outcome, although their etiology is less clear than for HLA DSA.

Author Contributions

MH was responsible for outlining, research, and writing of the manuscript. NV was responsible for outlining, research, and writing of the manuscript. ER reviewed and critically examined the manuscript and shaped its final version.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Funding

NV is supported by a Histocompatibility Laboratory Director Trainee Fellowship from the UCLA Department of Pathology. ER is supported by NIH RO1 AI042819.