Machine learning-assisted assessment of extracellular vesicles can monitor cellular rejection after heart transplant.

Journal: Communications medicine
Published Date: Jul 11, 2025

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Heart transplant rejection, particularly acute cellular rejection (ACR), remains a critical post-operative concern, despite declining incidence rates. Current diagnostic standards rely on invasive endomyocardial biopsy, which presents limitations in sensitivity and reproducibility. There is an unmet need for noninvasive, accurate biomarkers that can detect and monitor rejection. This study aims to evaluate whether extracellular vesicle (EV) surface antigens, analyzed through flow cytometry and interpreted with artificial intelligence (AI), can serve as reliable biomarkers for ACR detection and monitoring in heart transplant recipients.

Authors

  • Jacopo Burrello
    Division of Internal Medicine and Hypertension, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
  • Stefano Panella
    Cardiovascular Theranostics, Istituto Cardiocentro Ticino, Laboratories for Translational Research, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland.
  • Ilaria Barison
    Cardiovascular Theranostics, Istituto Cardiocentro Ticino, Laboratories for Translational Research, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland.
  • Chiara Castellani
    Cardiovascular Pathology and Pathological Anatomy, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
  • Alessio Burrello
  • Lorenzo Airale
    Division of Internal Medicine and Hypertension Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
  • Jessica Goi
    Division of Internal Medicine and Hypertension Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
  • Veronica Dusi
    Division of Cardiology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
  • Roberto Frigerio
    National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Chemical Science and Technologies (SCITEC-CNR), Milan, Italy.
  • Gino Gerosa
    Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
  • Chiara Tessari
    Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
  • Nicola Pradegan
    Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
  • Giuseppe Toscano
    Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
  • Giovanni Pedrazzini
    Division of Cardiology, Istituto Cardiocentro Ticino, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale Lugano Switzerland, Lugano, Switzerland.
  • Mattia Corianò
    Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, Padova, Italy.
  • Francesco Tona
    Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, Padova, Italy.
  • Sara Bolis
    Cardiovascular Theranostics, Istituto Cardiocentro Ticino, Laboratories for Translational Research, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland.
  • Alessandro Gori
    National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Chemical Science and Technologies (SCITEC-CNR), Milan, Italy.
  • Marina Cretich
    National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Chemical Science and Technologies (SCITEC-CNR), Milan, Italy.
  • Marny Fedrigo
    Cardiovascular Pathology and Pathological Anatomy, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
  • Annalisa Angelini
    Cardiovascular Pathology and Pathological Anatomy, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. annalisa.angelini@unipd.it.
  • Lucio Barile
    Cardiovascular Theranostics, Istituto Cardiocentro Ticino, Laboratories for Translational Research, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland. lucio.barile@eoc.ch.

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