Genetic polymorphisms of Leukocyte Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor B3 (LILRB3) gene in African American kidney transplant recipients are associated with post-transplant graft failure

Abstract

BackgroundAfrican American (AA) kidney transplant recipients exhibit a higher rate of graft loss compared to other racial and ethnic populations, highlighting the need to identify causative factors underlying this disparity.MethodWe analyzed RNA sequences of pretransplant whole blood from subjects followed in three kidney transplant cohorts to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with death censored graft loss (DCGL). We employed a meta-analysis to uncover key transcriptional signatures and pathways associated with the identified SNPs and used single cell RNA to define cellular specificity. We characterized SNP functions usingin vitroimmunological and survival assays and tested for associations between the identified SNPs and other immune-related diseases using a ∼30,100 subject, electronic health record (EHR)-linked database.ResultsWe uncovered a cluster of four consecutive missense SNPs in the Leukocyte Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor B3 (LILRB3, a negative immune response regulator) gene that strongly associated with DCGL. ThisLILRB3-4SNPs cluster encodes missense mutations at amino acids 617-618 proximal to a SHP-1/2 phosphatase-binding ITIM motif.LILRB3-4SNPs is specifically enriched within subjects of AA ancestry (8.6% prevalence vs 2.3% in Hispanic and 0.1% in European populations), is not linked toAPOL1G1/G2 alleles, and exhibited a strong association with DCGL. Analysis of PBMC and transplant biopsies from recipients withLILRB3-4SNPs showed evidence of enhanced adaptive immune responsiveness and ferroptosis-associated death in monocytes. Overexpression of the variant allele in THP-1 cells (macrophage line) induced augmented inflammation and ferroptosis, which were attenuated by a ferroptosis inhibitor, verifying a causal link. TheLILRB3-4SNPs also associated with multiple systemic and organ-specific immune-related diseases in AAs, consistent with conferring a broadly relevant immune function.ConclusiontheLILRB3-4SNPs represent a functionally important, distinct genetic risk factor for kidney transplant outcome and development/severity of other immune-related diseases in patients of AA ancestry. Pharmacological targeting of ferroptosis should be tested to prevent or treat these disease processes in AA recipients carryingLILRB3-4SNPs.

The Potential Role of the Leucocyte Immunoglobulin-Like Receptors in Kidney Transplant Rejection: A Mini Review

“…Interestingly, in African American transplant recipients, Sun and colleagues reported a potential association of the polymorphism in the LILRB3 gene with long-term allograft outcomes, suggesting that this receptor is crucial in the allogeneic context. In fact, this polymorphism could be a genetic risk factor for graft outcome in this population [ 39 ]. Furthermore, a disruption in the balance between LILRB and LILRA expression on recipients’ monocytes in response to interaction with donor cells may be decisive in modulating the immunological synapse.…”