Enhanced therapeutic efficacy of granulocyte/monocyte adsorption in rats with drug-induced colitis: Insights from a downsized bead column and newly formed B cells

Yujin Nishioka ¹, Goh Murayama ¹, Makio Kusaoi ¹, Daichi Takemasa ², Kenta Kaneda ², Taiga Kuga ¹, Yukitomo Hagiwara ¹, Takumi Saito ¹, Yu Yamaji ¹, Yoshifumi Suzuki ³, Tetsutaro Nagaoka ³, Ken Yamaji ¹, Naoto Tamura ¹

Ther Apher Dial. 2024 Nov 20. doi: 10.1111/1744-9987.14234. Online ahead of print.

Introduction: Granulocyte/monocyte adsorption therapy can manage mild-to-moderate inflammatory bowel disease by removing activated granulocytes and monocytes. We evaluated granulocyte/monocyte adsorption using new columns with reduced bead size and theoretically enhanced adsorption.

Methods: We assessed granulocyte/monocyte adsorption in rats with colitis by analyzing cell changes and cytokine production.

Results: Granulocyte/monocyte adsorption with the new columns improved histology in rats with colitis. Contrary to expectations, the adsorption rate of granulocytes/monocytes into the blood did not show a significant improvement. However, flow cytometry showed increased B cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and newly formed B cells in the bone marrow, which produced more interleukin-10 than peripheral blood B cells. Newly formed B cells adoptively transferred into colitis rats accumulated at the inflammation site and tended to inhibit intestinal shortening.

Conclusions: Newly formed B cells with strong interleukin-10 production may alleviate inflammation. The new columns suggest potential for controlling colitis.