DAMPs in RCCs vary by manufacturing method. MtDNA and EV could be informative quality markers that may be relevant to RCC immunomodulatory potential.

Chronic inflammation may contribute to HIV persistence through a number of potential pathways. We explored the impact of immunosuppressant therapy on peripheral blood measures of HIV persistence following kidney transplantation. Stored plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells prior to transplantation and at weeks 12, 26, 52 and 104 post-transplant were obtained from 91 transplant recipients. In a multivariate model, higher pre-transplant plasma HIV RNA level (p<.0001) and a longer duration of follow-up post-transplant (p=0.09) were associated with higher post-transplant plasma HIV RNA levels. A higher baseline HIV DNA (p<.0001) was significantly associated with higher HIV DNA levels post-transplant, while higher CD4+ T cell count (p=0.001), sirolimus use (p=0.04) and a longer duration of follow-up (p=0.06) were associated with lower post-transplant HIV DNA levels. The association between sirolimus exposure and lower frequency of cells containing HIV DNA levels post-transplant suggest that the immune-modifying drugs may affect the level of HIV persistence during effect therapy. Future studies of sirolimus as a reservoir-modifying agent are warranted.

A differential sized amplicon real-time PCR assay of mitochondrial DNA effectively documents nucleic acid damage induced by Mirasol treatment of platelets. The use of the assay for plasma product pathogen reduction requires further investigation.

Microchimerism (MC), the coexistence of allogeneic populations of cells within a host, is well described in pregnancy and blood transfusion. To date, transfusion-associated MC (TA-MC) appears unique to patients transfused after severe traumatic injury. We sought to determine whether transfusion in the peripartum period results in enduring, high-level TA-MC. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 22 women who were newly transfused within 48 h of delivery. Two subjects showed evidence of transient TA-MC; however, MC was not detected at 6 weeks and 6 months. The negative findings suggest that enduring TA-MC does not occur in this population.