Itaconate supplementation leads to improvement in donor lung function after extended hypothermic preservation

Controlled hypothermic storage of donor organs at 10 °C is an emerging clinical standard in lung transplantation owing to its superior graft protective effects. Itaconate, a known regulator of cell immunometabolism, has been shown to be upregulated in donor lungs preserved at 10 °C for extended periods of static storage versus on ice. We hypothesized that itaconate may be an active agent in donor graft protection against ischemia-reperfusion injury rather than a byproduct of 10 °C graft metabolism.

We conducted cell-based screening of multiple formulations and concentrations of itaconate and its derivatives and identified 0.25 mM dimethyl itaconate (DI) as the most promising candidate for lung preservation. Lungs from Yorkshire pigs (n = 4/group) were randomized to be flushed with low potassium dextran solution with or without 0.25 mM DI, stored at 4 °C for 36 hours to limit endogenous itaconate production, then assessed using ex vivo lung perfusion.

Lungs preserved with DI had better function, as indicated by lower airway pressures, higher lung compliances, improved perfusate oxygenation, and less edema formation compared to controls. Perfusate proinflammatory cytokines were significantly lower with DI. Tissue IκBζ (inhibitor of κB-zeta) levels declined, and DI prevented tissue oxidative stress after reperfusion. High-resolution respirometry indicated no inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase with DI at 0.25 mM under either hypothermic or normothermic conditions.

DI safely modulated inflammation and improved lung physiologic performance on reperfusion, supporting itaconate's protective role in donor lung preservation.