The effect of experimental haemocarbofiltration upon activity of mononuclear cells from normal and autoimmune patients.

We examined the functional activity of peripheral blood mononuclears (PBM) of 18 healthy subjects, 18 patients with pemphigus vulgaris, 12 with bullous pemphigoid and nine with discoid lupus erythematosus, after haemofiltration on carbon haemo-adsorbents of 'SKN' type. Proliferation in the response to PHA and Con A, for IL-1 and IL-2 production, and exogenous IL-2 absorption were assayed. The presence of IL-1 and IL-2 inhibitors in haemocarbo-adsorbent eluants was shown. We also investigated the natural killer (NK) and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxic (ADCC) activities. We found significant increases of both lectin-dependent proliferation and of interleukin production by PBM of autoimmune patients after two to four perfusions. The ability of PBM to absorb IL-2 displayed a steady growth after each perfusion, whereas increase of NK and ADCC activities was observed after not less than six passes. The enhancement of PBM functional activity in autoimmune patients was accompanied by accumulation of IL-1 and IL-2 inhibitors in the sorbent. It was concluded that therapeutic effects of haemofiltration in autoimmune diseases involve improvement of immunocompetent cell function due to their deligandization by activated charcoal.