Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
08:39
Reduced Complications after Arterial Reconnection in a Rat Model of Orthotopic Liver Transplantation
Published on: November 7, 2020
Reduced Histidine Metabolism Is Associated with Early Allograft Dysfunction Following Liver Transplantation
Alissa M Cutrone1,2,3, Thomas Agius2,3, Sofia Baptista1,2,3
1Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Metabolites
|July 27, 2026
Summary
Predicting early allograft dysfunction (EAD) after liver transplant is challenging. Histidine catabolism metabolites, particularly trans-urocanate, show promise as biomarkers for predicting graft function and resilience to injury.
Area of Science:
- Transplantation immunology
- Metabolomics
- Graft viability assessment
Background:
- Early allograft dysfunction (EAD) is a frequent complication post-liver transplant, impacting graft survival.
- Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) reduces EAD but predicting graft function pre-implantation remains difficult.
- Assessing peri-transplant metabolic profiles may improve prediction of liver graft outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To correlate peri-transplant energetic and metabolic profiles of liver grafts with post-transplant outcomes.
- To identify predictive biomarkers for early graft function in liver transplantation.
- To evaluate metabolic profiles in grafts preserved with static cold storage and NMP.
Main Methods:
- Sequential liver biopsies from 20 transplanted livers (10 immediate graft function [IGF], 10 EAD) were analyzed.
- Metabolomic analysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was performed pre-implantation and post-reperfusion.
- Energy charge and metabolite concentrations were correlated with EAD using univariate and ROC analyses.
Main Results:
- Hepatic adenine nucleotides and energy charge did not differ between IGF and EAD groups.
- Trans-urocanate and other histidine catabolism metabolites were significantly enriched in IGF grafts.
- Trans-urocanate demonstrated 80% sensitivity and 80% specificity in predicting EAD, outperforming >1600 metabolites.
Conclusions:
- Histidine catabolism is a novel metabolic pathway linked to early liver graft function.
- Trans-urocanate is a potential biomarker for predicting EAD and graft resilience.
- Metabolite-guided strategies, including histidine pathway analysis, may enhance graft viability assessment in the perfusion era.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Kidney Transplant I: Introduction
A kidney transplant is a surgical approach that involves replacing a non-functioning kidney with a healthy one from a donor. This procedure is often a treatment option for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. The method requires careful recipient selection, including evaluating various medical and psychosocial factors. These criteria vary between transplant centers but generally include assessments of the patient's overall health, adherence to medical recommendations, and lifestyle...
01:26Kidney Transplant II: Surgical Procedure
Preoperative ManagementThe primary goals of preoperative management in kidney transplantation are to optimize the patient’s metabolic state and prepare them for surgery through diet adjustments, necessary dialysis, and tailored medical treatment. This phase also involves comprehensive infection screening and patient education about the surgical procedure and postoperative care to improve outcomes and adherence.Medical ManagementA comprehensive evaluation is required for both the living donor...