Inactivating hepatitis C virus in donor lungs using light therapies during normothermic ex vivo lung perfusion

Nat Commun. 2019 Jan 29;10(1):481. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-08261-z.

Abstract

Availability of organs is a limiting factor for lung transplantation, leading to substantial mortality rates on the wait list. Use of organs from donors with transmissible viral infections, such as hepatitis C virus (HCV), would increase organ donation, but these organs are generally not offered for transplantation due to a high risk of transmission. Here, we develop a method for treatment of HCV-infected human donor lungs that prevents HCV transmission. Physical viral clearance in combination with germicidal light-based therapies during normothermic ex-vivo Lung Perfusion (EVLP), a method for assessment and treatment of injured donor lungs, inactivates HCV virus in a short period of time. Such treatment is shown to be safe using a large animal EVLP-to-lung transplantation model. This strategy of treating viral infection in a donor organ during preservation could significantly increase the availability of organs for transplantation and encourages further clinical development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Lung Injury / surgery*
  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Hepacivirus / physiology
  • Hepacivirus / radiation effects*
  • Hepatitis C / prevention & control*
  • Hepatitis C / virology
  • Humans
  • Lung / virology*
  • Lung Transplantation*
  • Male
  • Phototherapy
  • Postoperative Complications / prevention & control*
  • Postoperative Complications / virology
  • Swine
  • Tissue Donors
  • Virus Inactivation / radiation effects*