Repeated lipoprotein apheresis and immune response: Effects on different immune cell populations

Abstract

Background Atherosclerosis is considered a chronic inflammation of arterial vessels with the involvement of several immune cells causing severe cardiovascular diseases. Lipoprotein apheresis (LA) improves cardiovascular conditions of patients with severely disturbed lipid metabolism. In this context, little is known about the impact of LA on various immune cell populations, especially over time. Methods Immune cells of 18 LA‐naïve patients starting weekly LA treatment were analyzed before and after four apheresis cycles over the course of 24 weeks by flow cytometry. Results and Conclusions An acute lowering effect of LA on T cell and natural killer (NK) cell subpopulations expressing CD69 was observed. The non‐classical and intermediate monocyte subsets as well as HLA‐DR+ 6‐sulfo LacNAc+ monocytes were significantly reduced during the apheresis procedure. We conclude that LA has the capacity to alter various immune cell subsets. However, LA has mainly short‐term effects than long‐term consequences on proportions of immune cells.