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Review
. 2020 Feb;72(1-2):119-129.
doi: 10.1007/s00251-019-01140-x. Epub 2019 Nov 18.

PIRCHE-II: an algorithm to predict indirectly recognizable HLA epitopes in solid organ transplantation

Kirsten Geneugelijk  1 , Eric Spierings  2
Affiliations
Review

PIRCHE-II: an algorithm to predict indirectly recognizable HLA epitopes in solid organ transplantation

Kirsten Geneugelijk et al. Immunogenetics. 2020 Feb.

Abstract

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) mismatches between donors and recipients may lead to alloreactivity after solid organ transplantation. Over the last few decades, our knowledge of the complexity of the HLA system has dramatically increased, as numerous new HLA alleles have been identified. As a result, the likelihood of alloreactive responses towards HLA mismatches after solid organ transplantation cannot easily be assessed. Algorithms are promising solutions to estimate the risk for alloreactivity after solid organ transplantation. In this review, we show that the recently developed PIRCHE-II (Predicted Indirectly ReCognizable HLA Epitopes) algorithm can be used to minimize alloreactivity towards HLA mismatches. Together with the use of other algorithms and simulation approaches, the PIRCHE-II algorithm aims for a better estimated alloreactive risk for individual patients and eventually an improved graft survival after solid organ transplantation.

Keywords: Epitopes; HLA; Histocompatibility; Matching; PIRCHE-II; Solid organ transplantation; Transplantation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The UMCU has filed a patent application on the prediction of an alloimmune response against mismatched HLA. E.S. is listed as inventor on this patent. K.G. has no conflicts of interest to disclose. A 3-month free trial of the PIRCHE algorithm is available via: https://www.pirche.com.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Estimating the probability of finding a donor with low PIRCHE-II via the SOT RAMP module. SOT RAMP histogram graphs are shown of two patients. The x-axes represent the number of PIRCHE-II, whereas the y-axes represent the corresponding approximation of getting a donor for a specific patient. The blue bars indicate approximation of getting a donor for a certain PIRCHE-II range. The accumulated approximation is indicated by a red line. The colored squares indicate low (green), low-intermediate (yellow), intermediate (orange), and high PIRCHE-II (red) and the percentages reflect the percentage of potential donors in the different PIRCHE-II groups. The histogram graph of patient A (a), shows that probability of finding a donor with low PIRCHE-II is high for this patient. In contrast, the histogram graph of patient B (b) shows that probability of finding a donor with low PIRCHE-II is very low for this patient
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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