Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 26, 2026

Development of an Antigen-driven Colitis Model to Study Presentation of Antigens by Antigen Presenting Cells to T Cells
Published on: September 18, 2016
Depletion and decreased function of antigen-presenting dendritic cells caused by lymphocytapheresis in ulcerative
Yoshio Ikeda1, Sk Md Fazle Akbar, Hidetaka Matsui
1Third Department of Internal Medicine, Ehime University School of Medicine, Shigenobu-Cho, Ehime 791-0295, Japan.
Purpose:
The therapeutic efficacy of lymphocytapheresis in autoimmune diseases is presumed to be caused by depletion of activated lymphocytes. However, nothing is known about the inducer of activated lymphocytes, the antigen-presenting dendritic cells, during lymphocytapheresis.
Basic Procedures:
Six sessions of lymphocytapheresis were done in five patients with ulcerative colitis. Dendritic cells were enriched from the buffy coat of depleted lymphocytes and also from the peripheral blood. The phenotype and function of dendritic cells were studied by dual-color flow cytometry and in allogenic mixed leukocyte reaction, respectively. The serum levels of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1alpha 6, 8, 10, and 12 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha and beta) were measured before and after lymphocytapheresis in all cases.
Main Findings:
Lymphocytapheresis was safe and caused clinical, endoscopic or histologic improvements in all patients with ulcerative colitis. Many CD83-positive mature dendritic cells were found in the buffy coats after each session of lymphocytapheresis. The function of dendritic cells, the frequencies of CD83-positive dendritic cells and the levels of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 were down regulated in all patients with ulcerative colitis after lymphocytapheresis compared with their levels before lymphocytapheresis.
Conclusions:
Depletion and down regulation of the function of dendritic cells and diminished levels of inflammatory cytokines caused by lymphocytapheresis may contribute to the therapeutic efficacy of lymphocytapheresis.
Related Concept Videos
Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations
Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
Drugs for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis in IBD
Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...

