Lixelle adsorbent to remove inflammatory cytokines.

A beta2-microglobulin (beta2M) selective adsorbent (Lixelle) for direct hemoperfusion has been used for the treatment of hemodialysis patients with the long-term complication of dialysis related amyloidosis (DRA), but there is no significant correlation between the serum level of beta2M and the occurrence of DRA. Inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) are related to the development of DRA. We studied the adsorptive rates of cytokines in vitro using the Lixelle adsorbent. The adsorptive rates were 98.5% for IL-1beta 98.0% for interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), 82.9% for IL-6, 99.9% for IL-8, 31.2% for TNFalpha, and 46.1% for soluble TNF receptor (sTNFr), respectively. As the molecular weights of cytokines increase, the adsorptive rates decrease. The Lixelle column adsorbed beta2M and various inflammatory cytokines as well. Therefore, the removal of both beta2M and inflammatory cytokines may play an important role in the treatment of DRA.