title: Increased plasma lactoferrin levels in leucocytapheresis therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to clarify the mechanism of leucocytapheresis (LCAP) in patients with RA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Protein profiles of blood samples from two patients with RA obtained via LCAP column inlet and outlet lines were analysed by two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. The lactoferrin (LTF) levels of peripheral and circulating blood samples from seven patients obtained via the LCAP column blood circuit were then determined by ELISA. Peripheral blood samples from 14 patients with RA were exposed to unwoven polyester fibre filters and the LTF level was determined. In addition, morphological changes in neutrophils after exposure to the filter were examined by optical microscopy, electronic microscopy and LTF immunostaining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LTF levels were increased in both samples from the LCAP column outlet and peripheral blood at the end of LCAP treatment. Furthermore, peripheral blood samples exposed to the filter revealed a decreased number of neutrophils and an increased level of LTF. Morphological analysis of the exposed neutrophils showed vacuolization of the cytoplasm and degranulation of LTF-positive granules. These data suggest that LTF stored in the granules of neutrophils is released from the neutrophils caught in the LCAP column.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because LTF has been reported to have multiple anti-inflammatory properties, increased levels of LTF may contribute to the clinical effect of LCAP in patients with RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Infectious Diseases, and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Institute of Rheumatology, Zenjinkai Shimin-No-Mori Hospital, Department of Anatomy, Ultrastructural Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki and Miyazaki University HTLV-1/ATL Research Facility, Miyazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Shunichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyauchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Infectious Diseases, and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Institute of Rheumatology, Zenjinkai Shimin-No-Mori Hospital, Department of Anatomy, Ultrastructural Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki and Miyazaki University HTLV-1/ATL Research Facility, Miyazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Kunihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Umekita
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Infectious Diseases, and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Institute of Rheumatology, Zenjinkai Shimin-No-Mori Hospital, Department of Anatomy, Ultrastructural Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki and Miyazaki University HTLV-1/ATL Research Facility, Miyazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hidaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Infectious Diseases, and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Institute of Rheumatology, Zenjinkai Shimin-No-Mori Hospital, Department of Anatomy, Ultrastructural Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki and Miyazaki University HTLV-1/ATL Research Facility, Miyazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Umeki
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Infectious Diseases, and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Institute of Rheumatology, Zenjinkai Shimin-No-Mori Hospital, Department of Anatomy, Ultrastructural Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki and Miyazaki University HTLV-1/ATL Research Facility, Miyazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Yatsuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aratake
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Infectious Diseases, and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Institute of Rheumatology, Zenjinkai Shimin-No-Mori Hospital, Department of Anatomy, Ultrastructural Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki and Miyazaki University HTLV-1/ATL Research Facility, Miyazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuyasu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Infectious Diseases, and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Institute of Rheumatology, Zenjinkai Shimin-No-Mori Hospital, Department of Anatomy, Ultrastructural Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki and Miyazaki University HTLV-1/ATL Research Facility, Miyazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sawaguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Infectious Diseases, and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Institute of Rheumatology, Zenjinkai Shimin-No-Mori Hospital, Department of Anatomy, Ultrastructural Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki and Miyazaki University HTLV-1/ATL Research Facility, Miyazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakatake
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Infectious Diseases, and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Institute of Rheumatology, Zenjinkai Shimin-No-Mori Hospital, Department of Anatomy, Ultrastructural Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki and Miyazaki University HTLV-1/ATL Research Facility, Miyazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Itsuki
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Morinaga
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Infectious Diseases, and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Institute of Rheumatology, Zenjinkai Shimin-No-Mori Hospital, Department of Anatomy, Ultrastructural Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki and Miyazaki University HTLV-1/ATL Research Facility, Miyazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morishita
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Infectious Diseases, and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Institute of Rheumatology, Zenjinkai Shimin-No-Mori Hospital, Department of Anatomy, Ultrastructural Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki and Miyazaki University HTLV-1/ATL Research Facility, Miyazaki, Japan. okayama@med.miyazaki-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Okayama
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000097:blood*; D007937:Leukapheresis / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011379:Prognosis; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007781:Lactoferrin
keywords: cytokines and inflammatory mediators; inflammation; neutrophils; proteomics; rheumatoid arthritis