Cellulose acetate beads induce release of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, but not tumour necrosis factor-α or interleukin-1β in human peripheral blood

Abstract:

Objective: Dramatic improvements in clinical symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis were observed after patients received granulocyte and monocyte adsorptive apheresis with a column containing cellulose acetate (CA) beads as adsorptive carriers. This study was to investigate the effect of CA beads on the generation of anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cytokines in human blood. Materials and Methods: We incubated human whole blood with CA beads at 37°C for up to 2 h and measured tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) produced by leucocytes. IL-1ra was also measured at the inflow and outflow of a column containing CA beads as leucocyte adsorptive carriers for the treatment of patients with ulcerative colitis. Results: CA beads induced significant release of IL-1ra from leucocytes, but not TNF-α or IL-1β. In contrast, all three cytokines were released when leucocytes were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. IL-1ra was also markedly elevated in the outflow of the leucocyte apheresis column. Conclusions: These results indicate that CA beads selectively induce IL-1ra release from leucocytes which should contribute to the anti-inflammatory effect of granulocyte and monocyte adsorptive apheresis with CA beads as apheresis carriers.