Anaphylatoxin generation and distribution during in vitro LDL apheresis

The extent of anti-apo-B IgG-Sepharose-induced complement activation in serum and plasma (heparin 2 U/ml and ACD-B 1:20) was investigated using an in vitro model of LDL apheresis. The total volume of serum or plasma loaded to the chromatography column was collected in defined aliquots. The washing, desorption and regeneration fluids were processed in the same way. From the obtained values of generated complement split products C3a (desarg), C4a (desarg), C5a (desarg) and complement proteins C3, C4, C5, the conversion rates of the precursor were calculated. In the experiments with serum, 19% of C3, 8% of C4 and 2.3% of C5 were converted by the immunoadsorbent, whereas with plasma 7, 6, and 0.6%, respectively, were found. Furthermore, only 60-74% of total anaphylatoxins were found in the effluent during the loading process. The residual 26-40% was removed from the column with the subsequent washing fluids. Therefore, in the clinical routine, only a reduced part of generated anaphylatoxins will be retransfused to the patient. The fact that C5 is converted to the most limited extent to its biologically active fragment additionally contributes to the understanding of the good clinical tolerability of the LDL apheresis.