Multi-omics Approach in Kidney Transplant: Lessons Learned from COVID-19 Pandemic

Curr Transplant Rep. 2023 Dec;10(4):173-187. doi: 10.1007/s40472-023-00410-8. Epub 2023 Aug 23.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Multi-omics approach has advanced our knowledge on transplantation-associated clinical outcomes, such as acute rejection and infection, and emerging omics data are becoming available in kidney transplant and COVID-19. Herein, we discuss updated findings of multi-omics data on kidney transplant outcomes, as well as COVID-19 and kidney transplant.

Recent findings: Transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics revealed various inflammation pathways associated with kidney transplantation-related outcomes and COVID-19. Although multi-omics data on kidney transplant and COVID-19 is limited, activation of innate immune pathways and suppression of adaptive immune pathways were observed in the active phase of COVID-19 in kidney transplant recipients.

Summary: Multi-omics analysis has led us to a deeper exploration and a more comprehensive understanding of key biological pathways in complex clinical settings, such as kidney transplantation and COVID-19. Future multi-omics analysis leveraging multi-center biobank collaborative will further advance our knowledge on the precise immunological responses to allograft and emerging pathogens.

Keywords: COVID-19; Gene expression; Immunology; Kidney transplant; Multi-omics; Vaccination.