Modulation of inflammatory leukocytes by an extracorporeal granulotrap column, G-1

Suppression of IL-1β production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

To investigate the mechanism of improvements in the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) induced by an extracorporeal granulotrap column (G-1), an ex vivo study was undertaken on peripheral blood from RA patients while being treated with the G-1. Our focus was on the modulations of granulocytes and monocytes, but also on T cell function as well during or after completion of G-1 therapy. The G-1 column selectively trapped granulocytes and monocytes from peripheral blood with a trapping efficiency of about 40%.
This resulted in a decrease in inflammatory leukocytes in the systemic blood during apheresis (p<0.05, n=14) . The production of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 was also significantly decreased in blood stimulated by LPS at post column by compared with pre perfusion (p<0.02, n=9) . IFN-γproduction by T cells stimulated with anti CD3 MoAb showed a modest but significant decrease during apheresis (p<0.05, n=8) . Additionally, IL-1β production capacity of mononuclear cells stimulated with LPS was strikingly suppressed in studies of 6 patients (p<0.05) after the initiation of G-1; the effect was sustained for up to 2 weeks after completion of G-1 therapy.
The results suggest that the G-1 column, in addition to trapping fraction of granulocytes and monocytes, also produces extracorporeal immunomodulation.