title: The first aptamer-apheresis column specifically for clearing blood of β1-receptor autoantibodies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Application of immunoapheresis to eliminate pathogenic autoantibodies targeting the second extracellular loop of the β1-receptor (β1-AABs) is currently investigated in patients with cardiomyopathy. Aptamers (single short DNA or RNA strands) are a new class of molecules that bind to a specific target molecule. This property qualifies aptamers for potential use in the apheresis technique. We recently identified an aptamer that specifically binds to β1-AABs, so in the present study we tested whether this aptamer could be used as a binder to prepare an apheresis column suitable for clearing β1-AABs from rat's blood.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An apheresis column was designed containing the β1-AAB-targeting-aptamer coupled to sepharose. As tested in vitro, this column (1) binds β1-AABs highly specifically without marked interference with common IgGs, (2) has a capacity for clearing of approximately 1L of β1-AAB-positive serum and (3) can be completely regenerated for subsequent use. Using the column for extracorporeal apheresis of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) positive for both β1-AABs and muscarinic 2-receptor autoantibodies (M2-AABs), only β1-AABs were removed. In a follow-up of 9 weeks, recurrence of β1-AABs in the blood of SHR could not be detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For the first time, a newly designed apheresis column with a β1-AAB specific aptamer as a binder was successfully used to eliminate β1-AABs from SHR blood.
authors: Max-Delbrück Centrum für Molekulare Medizin, Berlin-Buch, Berlin.
authors: Gerd
authors: G
authors: Wallukat
authors: Annekathrin
authors: A
authors: Haberland
authors: Sabine
authors: S
authors: Berg
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Schulz
authors: Ernst-Joachim
authors: EJ
authors: Freyse
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Dahmen
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Kage
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Dandel
authors: Roland
authors: R
authors: Vetter
authors: Eckhard
authors: E
authors: Salzsieder
authors: Reinhold
authors: R
authors: Kreutz
authors: Ingolf
authors: I
authors: Schimke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001781:Blood Component Removal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D007164:Immunosorbents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D011817:Rabbits; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D043585:Receptor, Muscarinic M2 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D018342:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-1
chemical_list: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007164:Immunosorbents; D043585:Receptor, Muscarinic M2; D018342:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-1