Go to The Journal of Clinical Investigation
  • About
  • Editors
  • Consulting Editors
  • For authors
  • Publication ethics
  • Publication alerts by email
  • Transfers
  • Advertising
  • Job board
  • Contact
  • Physician-Scientist Development
  • Current issue
  • Past issues
  • By specialty
    • COVID-19
    • Cardiology
    • Immunology
    • Metabolism
    • Nephrology
    • Oncology
    • Pulmonology
    • All ...
  • Videos
  • Collections
    • In-Press Preview
    • Resource and Technical Advances
    • Clinical Research and Public Health
    • Research Letters
    • Editorials
    • Perspectives
    • Physician-Scientist Development
    • Reviews
    • Top read articles

  • Current issue
  • Past issues
  • Specialties
  • In-Press Preview
  • Resource and Technical Advances
  • Clinical Research and Public Health
  • Research Letters
  • Editorials
  • Perspectives
  • Physician-Scientist Development
  • Reviews
  • Top read articles
  • About
  • Editors
  • Consulting Editors
  • For authors
  • Publication ethics
  • Publication alerts by email
  • Transfers
  • Advertising
  • Job board
  • Contact
Metabolite-enhanced normothermic machine perfusion improves kidney transplant viability
Jan Czogalla, Fabian Hausmann, Simon Lagies, Sydney E. Gies, Sabrina Christiansen, Nico Kaiser, Fabian Haas, Yusuke Okabayashi, Dominik Kylies, Smilla Hofmann, Rossana Franzin, Niklas Sabra, Sarah Bouari, Yitian Fang, Gisela Ambagtsheer, Ilka Edenhofer, Silvia Chilla, Anne K. Mühlig, Marina Zimmermann, Milagros N. Wong, Takashi Yokoo, Oliver Kretz, Maja Lindenmeyer, Florian Grahammer, Martin J. Hoogduijn, Ron de Bruin, Malte Kuehl, Sonja Hänzelmann, Bernd Kammerer, Loreto Gesualdo, Stefan Bonn, Robert C. Minnee, Tobias B. Huber, Victor G. Puelles
Jan Czogalla, Fabian Hausmann, Simon Lagies, Sydney E. Gies, Sabrina Christiansen, Nico Kaiser, Fabian Haas, Yusuke Okabayashi, Dominik Kylies, Smilla Hofmann, Rossana Franzin, Niklas Sabra, Sarah Bouari, Yitian Fang, Gisela Ambagtsheer, Ilka Edenhofer, Silvia Chilla, Anne K. Mühlig, Marina Zimmermann, Milagros N. Wong, Takashi Yokoo, Oliver Kretz, Maja Lindenmeyer, Florian Grahammer, Martin J. Hoogduijn, Ron de Bruin, Malte Kuehl, Sonja Hänzelmann, Bernd Kammerer, Loreto Gesualdo, Stefan Bonn, Robert C. Minnee, Tobias B. Huber, Victor G. Puelles
View: Text | PDF
Research Article Cell biology Metabolism Nephrology

Metabolite-enhanced normothermic machine perfusion improves kidney transplant viability

  • Text
  • PDF
Abstract

Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) has become a valuable tool to expand the pool of transplantable organs. However, the application of NMP to kidneys presents substantial challenges, mostly due to high variability in the composition of currently used perfusion solutions. Here, we provide a multimodal cross-species cellular atlas of kidney injury associated with NMP using a literature-based consensus buffer. This resource provided a systematic framework that was used to develop a metabolite-enhanced perfusion solution, which protected renal proximal tubular cells, improving cellular viability and transplantation outcomes across species, including human kidneys.

Authors

Jan Czogalla, Fabian Hausmann, Simon Lagies, Sydney E. Gies, Sabrina Christiansen, Nico Kaiser, Fabian Haas, Yusuke Okabayashi, Dominik Kylies, Smilla Hofmann, Rossana Franzin, Niklas Sabra, Sarah Bouari, Yitian Fang, Gisela Ambagtsheer, Ilka Edenhofer, Silvia Chilla, Anne K. Mühlig, Marina Zimmermann, Milagros N. Wong, Takashi Yokoo, Oliver Kretz, Maja Lindenmeyer, Florian Grahammer, Martin J. Hoogduijn, Ron de Bruin, Malte Kuehl, Sonja Hänzelmann, Bernd Kammerer, Loreto Gesualdo, Stefan Bonn, Robert C. Minnee, Tobias B. Huber, Victor G. Puelles

×

Figure 6

Pathology-oriented multiplexing reveals mechanisms of metabolic reprogramming via MEPS.

Options: View larger image (or click on image) Download as PowerPoint
Pathology-oriented multiplexing reveals mechanisms of metabolic reprogra...
(A) Tissue analysis after MEPS perfusion was performed using histopathology and pathology-oriented multiplexed imaging. (B) Histopathology showed partial reversal of deleterious effects seen with consensus buffer. Scale bar: 10 μm. TUNEL staining revealed significantly reduced apoptosis after MEPS perfusion. Scale bar: 30 μm. Data are shown as median with 95% CI. Unpaired student’s t test was used for statistical analysis. (C) Overview over the targets for multiplexed imaging. (D) Pixel-based cluster analysis identified 27 individual clusters. Scale bar: 50 μm. (E) Cluster 14 was defined by its top contributors, including Megalin, p62 (ubiquitin-binding protein 62), CalR, and LTL and provides a clear example of cellular processes preserved by MEPS. Data are presented as median with 95% CI. Scale bar: 50 μm. Brown-Forsythe and Welch ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. (F) Using the clusters, immediate proximity analysis predicted deleterious mitochondrial signals to negatively affect metabolism in PTs after NMP with consensus buffer but not with MEPS. (G) In summary, MEPS perfusion improved metabolite supply, reduced ER-and mitochondrial stress, and led to transcriptional regulation and spatial protein modulation, which in turn resulted in preserved organ viability. AP-1, Activating protein-1; BM, Basement membrane; CD, Collecting duct; CD41, Cluster of differentiation 41; ER met, Metabolism of the ER; Fib, Fibroblast; Leuk, Leucocyte; Mito, Mitochondria; Nuc, Nucleus; Podo, Podocyte; Prolif, Proliferation; PT, Proximal tubule; STAT3, Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3; TAL, Thick ascending limb of the Loop of Henle.

Copyright © 2026 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN 2379-3708

Sign up for email alerts