Chie Kurihara, Toshihide Ohmori, Kenichi Inaba, Shunsuke Komoto, Kengo Tomita, Ryota Hokari Gastroenterology 2020 158 (6) Suppl.S-1046

Background: Granulocyte and monocyte adsorptive apheresis (GMA) is non-pharmacological therapy which selective depletion of activated granulocytes and monocytes/macrophages from peripheral blood, and it is used as induction therapy for IBD. However, its therapeutic mechanism has not been well characterized. Recently, it has been reported that Th17 releases chemokines which attract neutrophils, and some neutrophils produce IL17. We investigated that changes in mRNA expression levels of inflammation associated molecules such as cytokines, chemokines in colonic mucosa of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients before and after GMA treatment in order to obtain further understanding of GMA therapeutic mechanisms. Methods: Thirty-two active UC patients (Mayo score ≥ 5 and Mayo endoscopic score ≥ 2) and 10 non-IBD control subjects were enrolled in this study. All UC patients received 10 times of GMA, and colonoscopies were applied before the first GMA and after the last GMA. Control subjects underwent colonoscopies for screening of colon cancer. Assessment of GMA therapeutic efficacy was determined based on Mayo score. Inflammation-related molecules mRNA expressions were determined by quantitative RT-PCR using biopsy specimen of colonic mucosa. Results: GMA treatment efficacy is 11 patients (34.4%) achieved clinical remission, 17 patients (53.1%) were response and 4 patients (12.5%) were non-response. Baseline characteristics such as sex, location of disease, CRP, WBC and Mayo score were not significantly different according to GMA efficacy. In the remission group, mRNA levels in mucosal tissue of IL1β, IL6, IL17, IL23 and GM-CSF which are Th17-asociated cytokines significantly decreased after the last GMA compared to the baseline levels(P<0,05) in contrast, expression of these mRNA tended to increase following GMA treatment in the non-response group. On the other hand, IL12 and IFN- γ which are associated with Th1 did not significantly decrease in the remission group. mRNA levels of leukocyte trafficking associated molecules such as MAdCAM-1, ICAM-1, integrinβ7, IL8 and MIP-1β significantly decreased following GMA treatment in the remission group(P <0.05), whereas only IL8 mRNA expression in the non-response group tended to increase. IL1 β, IL6, GM-CSF which are Th17-asociated cytokines and IL8 mRNA expressions in post-GMA treatment were significantly higher in the non-response group compared to the remission group or control group(P <0.05). Conclusion: In UC patients who achieved clinical remission by GMA, Th17- associated cytokines and leukocyte trafficking associated molecules but not Th1-asociated cytokines decreased significantly. Furthermore, Th17-asociated cytokines increased in the non-responders. These results reaffirm the involvement of neutrophil in the pathophysiology of UC and could be helpful for characterizing of GMA therapeutic mechanism.

https://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(20)33300-X/pdf

poster at ISFA 2019 pag 155

We retrospectively investigated the efficacy and safety of Granulocyte and Monocyte Adsorptive Apheresis (GMA) therapy between 15 elderly patients vs. 19 non-elderly patients with ulcerative colitis. While the remission rates and response rates in non-elderly patients were 33.3% and 94.4%, these rates were 40.0% and 93.3% in elderly patients. There were no significant differences in the 1-year relapse-free rates between elderly and non-elderly patients (71.4% and 50.0%, respectively, P=0.453). These results suggest that GMA therapy is an efficient and safe treatment in elderly patients with ulcerative colitis.

http://www.atalacia.com/isfa/data/abstract.pdf

Yuko Higashi, Munekazu Yamakuchi, Takuro Kanekura

poster at ISFA 2019 pag 126

Neutrophilic skin diseases are a group of disorders characterized by intense dermal infiltration of neutrophils without infection. They include a variety of diseases, such as pyoderma gangrenosum, pustular psoriasis, and palmoplantar pustulosis. We demonstrated that granulocyte and monocyte adsorption apheresis (GMA) is a useful treatment modality for such refractory skin diseases. Microarray analysis of microRNAs (miRNAs) was performed using sera of patients with neutrophilic skin diseases before and after GMA. Several miRNAs significantly increased in patients compared to control subjects. The expression of three
miRNAs decreased after apheresis, suggesting that these miRNAs might be involved in the pathogenesis of neutrophilic skin decreases. To prove the function of these miRNAs, HL-60, a human acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line, was differentiated by the treatment of alltrans retinoic acid (ATRA). When HL-60 was differentiated to neutrophilic cells, the HEstaining shows an increased cytoplasm to nucleus ratio, condensated chromatin, and nuclear segmentation. The expression of three miRNAs increased during the neutrophilic differentiation. Stimulation of ATRA-treated HL-60 by some cytokines altered miRNA expressions. Moreover, manipulation of these miRNAs changed proliferation of cultured keratinocytes. These data
suggest that miRNAs play an important role in regulating neutrophilic differentiation and proliferation of keratinocytes in case of neutrophilic disorders such as psoriasis. These miRNAs could be markers of disease severity and response of GMA.

Miho Hatanaka, Yuko Higashi, Takuro Kanekura

poster at ISFA 2019 pag 104

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare disease characterized by recurrent fever and
systemic flushing accompanied by extensive sterile pustules. Treatments of GPP are usually
topical corticosteroids, activated vitamin D3 ointment, ultraviolet light (UV) therapy, and
oral administration of etretinate, cyclosporine, or methotrexate. Recently, biologics such as
TNF- α; inhibitors, anti-IL-17- and anti-IL-23 antibodies are used. Pustulosis palmoplantaris
(PPP) is a chronic recurrent disorder of the palms and soles characterized by sterile intradermal
pustules. PPP often accompanies joint symptoms. In some instances, PPP is associated with
a focus of infection somewhere in the body; elimination of the infection sometimes improve
symptom. Some treatments of GPP are used for PPP. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a disease
characterized by skin and nail psoriasis together with widespread musculoskeletal inflammation
such as peripheral joint disease, axial joint disease, enthesitis, and dactylitis. Treatment of
PsA is oral administration of NSAID’s, cyclosporine, methotrexate and phosphodiesterase 4
inhibitors for mild to moderate cases. Biologics; TNF- αinhibitors, anti-IL-17- and anti-IL-23
antibodies; have been approved for severe or advanced cases. Granulocyte/monocyte adsorption
apheresis (GMA) is an extracorporeal therapy designed to remove and suppress the functions
of neutrophils, macrophages and monocytes that accumulate in the inflamed tissue and are
involved in the pahogenesis. GMA may be considered as a safe treatment modality with few
side-effects for GPP, PPP and PsA. The effect and safety of GMA have been reported mostly in
case reports. Although the effect and safety of GMA were demonstrated in a multicenter study.
GMA’s utility is expected based on the mechanism of action.

http://www.atalacia.com/isfa/data/abstract.pdf

Kengo Furuichi, Takashi Wada Contrib Nephrol  2018;196:188-193. doi: 10.1159/000485721. Epub 2018 Jul 24

Plasma exchange or double filtration plasmapheresis for rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis or leukocytapheresis for nephritic syndrome are two major apheresis therapies for kidney diseases. In addition to these apheresis therapies, plasma exchange for lupus nephritis or LDL apheresis for refractory focal segmental glomerulonephritis is clinically valuable and established. Although several possibilities of apheresis for kidney diseases were speculated in animal experiments or human studies, clinical applications have thus far been limited. In addition to clinical benefits of apheresis, reports revealed suggestive mechanisms of apheresis for the diseases. Moreover, these therapies would have a great potential for kidney diseases. Further studies are needed to establish the effectiveness of apheresis in kidney diseases in more depth.

Apheresis for Kidney Disease – PubMed (nih.gov)

Takuro Kanekura ¹, Mariko Seishima ², Masaru Honma ³, Takafumi Etou ⁴, Hikaru Eto ⁵, Keiko Okuma ⁶, Yukari Okubo ⁷, Yukie Yamaguchi ⁸, Takeshi Kambara ⁹, Tomotaka Mabuchi ¹⁰, Yasushi Suga ¹¹, Akimichi Morita ¹², Kiyofumi Yamanishi ¹³, Daisuke Tsuruta ¹⁴, Kei Itoh ¹⁵, Ken Yamaji ¹⁶, Shigaku Ikeda ⁶

J Dermatol 2017 Dec;44(12):1353-1359. doi: 10.1111/1346-8138.13975. Epub 2017 Aug 3.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA), a chronic inflammatory arthropathy associated with psoriasis, is an intractable immune disorder and refractory to pharmacological intervention. We assessed efficacy of selective depletion of myeloid lineage leukocytes in patients with PsA in a multicenter setting. A total of 20 patients with moderate to severe PsA refractory to conventional and biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs were included. Eligible patients had 3 points or more in the classification criteria for PsA. Each patient received five sessions, once a week, of adsorptive granulocyte and monocyte apheresis (GMA) with the Adacolumn^® . The primary efficacy outcome was 20% or more decrease in the American College of Rheumatology score 20 (ACR20). Partial responders could receive an additional five GMA sessions. Of 20 patients, two did not complete the study, nine responded to five GMA sessions and nine received 10 sessions. At the first evaluation 2 weeks after the last GMA session, 13 of the 20 (65.0%) patients achieved ACR20. ACR20 was maintained in seven of 10 (70%) and five of 10 (50%) patients at the follow-up evaluation points 8 and 20 weeks after the last GMA session, respectively. GMA was well tolerated without any safety concern. This study demonstrates that GMA with the Adacolumn was effective with good safety profile in patients with PsA refractory to pharmacologicals. The results indicate a major role for myeloid leukocytes in the immunopathogenesis of PsA. A large controlled study is warranted to fully evaluate the efficacy of Adacolumn GMA in patients with PsA.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28771892/

Ziwei Huang ¹, Vikram Singh Raghuwanshi ¹, Gil Garnier ¹Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2017 Jul 17:5:41. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2017.00041

The functionality and aging mechanism of antibodies physisorbed onto cellulosic films was investigated. Blood grouping antibodies immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) were adsorbed onto smooth cellulose acetate (CAF) and regenerated cellulose (RCF) films. Cellulose films and adsorbed IgG layers were characterized at the air and liquid interface by X-ray and neutron reflectivity (NR), respectively. Cellulose film 208 Å thick (in air) swell to 386 Å once equilibrated in water. IgG adsorbs from solution onto cellulose as a partial layer 62 Å thick. IgG and IgM antibodies were adsorbed onto cellulose and cellulose acetate films, air dried, and aged at room temperature for periods up to 20 days. Antibody functionality and surface hydrophobicity were measured everyday with the size of red blood cell (RBC) agglutinates (using RBC specific to IgG/IgM) and the water droplet contact angle, respectively. The functionality of the aged IgG/IgM decreases faster if physisorbed on cellulose than on cellulose acetate and correlates to surface hydrophobicity. IgG physisorbed on RCF or CAF age better and remain functional longer than physisorbed IgM. We found a correlation between antibody stability and hydrogen bond formation ability of the system, evaluated from antibody carbonyl concentration and cellulosic surface hydroxyl concentration. Antibody physisorbs on cellulose by weak dipole forces and hydrogen bonds. Strong hydrogen bonding contributes to the physisorption of antibody on cellulose into a non-functional configuration in which the molecule relaxes by rotation of hydophobic groups toward the air interface.

Functionality of Immunoglobulin G and Immunoglobulin M Antibody Physisorbed on Cellulosic Films – PubMed (nih.gov)

Functionality of Immunoglobulin G and Immunoglobulin M Antibody Physisorbed on Cellulosic Films – PMC (nih.gov)

Chie Kurihara Toshihide Ohmori Shingo Kato Koji Yakabi Satoshi Mochida Soichiro Miura Gastroenterology 2017 152 (5) Suppl. S764

Background: The number of the elderly patients of ulcerative colitis (UC) is growing as the population ages. Because elderly patients with UC sometimes become refractory to treatment, it is important to select an appropriate induction therapy for elderly patients at the early phase of UC disease. To predict which therapy is effective before treatment will be useful for the decision of later therapeutic strategy. Granulocyte and monocyte adsorptive apheresis (GMA) that was developed for selective depletion of activated granulocytes and monocytes/
macrophages from peripheral blood is non-pharmacological therapy for inflammatory bowel disease. It is beneficial than the other therapy in the point that it has fewer side effects. GMA is effective and safe as induction therapy in UC, and commonly used in Asia and north Europe. GMA is one of hopeful candidate of elderly therapy. We investigated the relationship between therapeutic efficacy of GMA and age, and examined whether mRNA expressions of cytokines and chemokines in colonic mucosa showed presence of age-related change. Methods: Thirty-two active UC patients, mean age 36.7 years, range 14-70 years, were enrolled in this study. All patients received 10 or 11 times of GMA, and colonoscopies were applied before the first GMA and after the last GMA. Assessment of disease activity and colonic mucosal healing were determined based on Mayo score. In this study, elderly patients were defined as those >55 years of age. mRNA expressions of cytokines and chemokines were determined by quantitative RT-PCR using biopsy specimen of colonic mucosa. Results: There were no significant differences in sex, duration of disease, location of disease, CRP, WBC and Mayo score before the first GMA treatment between elderly group and non-elderly group. After the last GMA session, the ratios of mucosal healing in elderly group and non-elderly group were 2 of 6 (33.3%) and 16 of 26 (61.5%), respectively. In all patients, before treatment of GMA, mucosal healing group showed significantly higher mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines such as MIP-1β, TNFα, IL1β and IL8 in colonic mucosal tissue than that of non-mucosal healing group (P <0.05). In particular, in elderly group, the degree of mRNA expression of MIP-1β and IL23 in colonic mucosa before GMA treatment was higher in mucosal healing group than in non-mucosal healing group (P <0.05). High expressions of MIP-1β and IL23 showed sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 100% as a marker of mucosal healing after GMA in elderly group. Conclusion: Mucosal IL23 and MIP-1β mRNA expression before treatment in elderly were significantly higher in responder than non-responder to GMA treatment. We propose that measuring of expression of these molecules is useful to expect therapeutic efficacy of GMA in elderly patients with UC.

https://www.gastrojournal.org/action/doSearch?text1=mo1730&field1=AllField

S Ihara ¹, Y Yamaji ², H Kinoshita ¹, A Yamada ¹, Y Hirata ¹, K Hasegawa ³, Y Sugawara ³, N Kokudo ³, K Koike ¹

Transplant Proc 2014 Sep;46(7):2414-7. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2014.02.016.

Background: Immunosuppressants such as tacrolimus and cyclosporine are prescribed long-term after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) to prevent allograft rejection. Although these immunosuppressants are known to effectively control ulcerative colitis (UC), some post-OLT patients develop exacerbation of preexisting UC or de novo UC. Although aminosalicylates and corticosteroid courses are usually effective to treat such UC, several patients have developed uncontrollable disease and required colectomies. Case report: We have reported a patient who developed de novo UC after OLT to treat liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Existence of the HBV infection made us avoid to increase the corticosteroid dose or to use other immunosuppressants such as azathioprine or infliximab. Conclusions: In this patient, granulocyte and monocyte apheresis was highly effective in terms of inducing remission of de novo UC. No adverse event was noted.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25015850/

Valeria D’Ovidio ¹, Donatella Meo, Maria Gozer, Marco E Bazuro, Piero Vernia, J Clin Apher. 2015 Feb;30(1):55-7.

To minimize symptoms and the risk of severe clinical relapse, a maintenance GMA treatment was performed throughout pregnancy. The course of pregnancy was uneventful with no side effects; the mother and the baby were all healthy and well at the delivery.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25181523/