Granulocyte and monocyte adsorption apheresis therapy modulates monocyte-derived dendritic cell function in patients with ulcerative colitis.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms responsible for the therapeutic effects of granulocyte and monocyte adsorption apheresis (GMA). We investigated the alterations in circulating monocyte subsets and monocyte-derived dendritic cell (moDC) function after GMA therapy in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. Eighteen patients with UC were enrolled: 14 patients were responders, and 4 patients were non-responders.

Exclusive increase of CX3CR1+CD28-CD4+ T cells in inflammatory bowel disease and their recruitment as intraepithelial lymphocytes.

Background: CX3CL1/Fractalkine (FKN) has been reported to play important roles in various inflammatory diseases. We examined the role of FKN and its receptor CX3CR1 in T-cell migration in the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: CX3CR1 expression on peripheral CD4(+) cells from normal controls (NL n = 24) and IBD patients (UC n = 28, CD n = 26) was examined using flow cytometry.