Drug Therapy Using Enzyme from Lethal Bacteria Could Significantly Reduce Organ Rejection in Kidney Transplants Skip to main content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close 03 August 2017 01:00 AM America/Los_Angeles Drug Therapy Using Enzyme from Lethal Bacteria Could Significantly Reduce Organ Rejection in Kidney Transplants Contact Jane Engle [email protected] Los Angeles - Aug. 3, 2017 - An experimental treatment derived from a potentially deadly microorganism may provide lifesaving help for kidney transplant patients, according to an international study led by investigators at Cedars-Sinai. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that treating patients with the drug IdeS® before transplantation significantly reduced, and in most cases eliminated, donor-specific antibodies that can cause rejection or failure of the new organ. These antibodies represent an often-impenetrable immunologic barrier to transplantation. IdeS is derived from an enzyme in the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes, which causes disorders ranging from sore throats to life-threatening infections. Stanley C. Jordan, MD, medical director of the Cedars-Sinai Kidney Transplant Program, said the enzyme is the only one that can completely remove organ-rejecting antibodies and allow kidney transplantation to take place. He noted that, one hour after infusion of the enzyme, antibodies declined drastically. "We found that IdeS could immediately cut patient antibodies in half, making them powerless to attack and injure a newly transplanted kidney," said Jordan, the study's lead author. "We can put a new kidney in a patient without it being rejected." All people have human leukocyte antigens (HLA), proteins that are key to the immune system's defense against bacteria, viruses and other potentially harmful invaders. Patients develop antibodies to foreign HLA due to failed organ transplants, transfusions or pregnancy. These antibodies persist over a patient's lifetime, causing their body to perceive a newly donated organ as a threat and so attack it. This response prevents patients from having a successful kidney transplant, and they often remain on dialysis for years with diminished quality and length of life. The study of IdeS involved two coordinated investigations, with a total of 25 patients treated in the U.S. and Sweden. Twenty-four of the patients were transplanted successfully after receiving the investigational therapy. The special enzyme is produced by Hansa Medical of Sweden. "IdeS could change the way we treat antibody rejections overall," said Jordan, who also directs the Human Leukocyte Antigen and Transplant Immunology Laboratory at Cedars-Sinai. "We think this approach to preventing organ rejection has the potential to offer significant benefits to those in need of heart, lung, liver and bone marrow transplants." Nearly 128,000 people in the U.S. are waiting for organ transplants, according to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, with more than 105,000 needing new kidneys. Many of them wait years for an organ to become available, only to have their bodies' immune systems attack it. "We need larger studies to confirm the promising results of this unique approach to removing patient antibodies that threaten newly transplanted organs," Jordan said. "And we want to investigate any long-term impact IdeS therapy may have on overall antibody production in patients." Research reported in this study was supported by Hansa Medical of Sweden. Disclosure: Jordan reports receiving fees from Hansa for medical and scientific consultation. Share this release Drug Therapy Using Enzyme from Lethal Bacteria Could Significantly Reduce Organ Rejection in Kidney Transplants Share on: Twitter Share on: Facebook Share on: LinkedIn Search Our Newsroom Social media Visit our Facebook page (opens in new window) Follow us on Twitter (opens in new window) Visit our Youtube profile (opens in new window) (opens in new window) Latest news 07 Oct 2022 - HealthDay: Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries 07 Oct 2022 - Faculty Publications: Sept. 29-Oct. 6 07 Oct 2022 - Fine-Tuning Organ-Chip Technology 06 Oct 2022 - KCRW: Want New Omicron Booster? Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot 05 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Schedules Free Flu Vaccine Clinics 04 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Showcases Hispanic and Latinx Art Newsroom Home