title: Leukocytapheresis therapy modulates circulating t cell subsets in patients with ulcerative colitis.
abstract: The aim of this study was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms responsible for the therapeutic effects of leukocytapheresis (LCAP). We investigated the alterations in circulating T cell subsets after LCAP therapy in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. Eighteen patients with UC were enrolled. Fourteen patients were responders, and four patients were non-responders. Peripheral venous blood was obtained within 5 min before and 5 min after LCAP therapy. Flow cytometric analysis for T cell markers and intracellular interferon (IFN)-gamma (Th1) and interleukin (IL)-4 (Th2) was then performed. The average numbers of lymphocytes, T and B cells were significantly decreased after LCAP therapy, respectively (P < 0.01). The numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were also significantly decreased, respectively (P < 0.01), but the CD4+/CD8+ ratio was not changed. The number of CD45RO+ CD4+ memory T cells was significantly decreased. The number of CD25+ CD4+ T cells tended to decrease after LCAP therapy (not significant). However, the ratio of CD25+ CD4+-cells/CD25- CD4+-cells was significantly increased (P < 0.05). The number of IFN-gamma-positive (Th1) cells was significantly decreased after LCAP therapy, but there was no significant change in the number of IL-4-positive (Th2) cells. The Th1/Th2 ratio was significantly decreased after LCAP therapy. Some of the immuno-suppressive effects of LCAP therapy may be associated with a modulation of circulating T cell subsets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan. andoh@belle.shiga-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andoh
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsujikawa
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Inatomi
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Deguchi
authors.forename: Masaya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Hirozumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Obata
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mitsuyama
authors.forename: Yoshihide
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujiyama
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D007937:Leukapheresis; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000473:pathology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000473:pathology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens