Effect of extracorporeal granulocytapheresis (G-1) on antigen-induced arthritis in rabbits

To investigate the role of granulocytes in arthritis, extracorporporeal granulocytapherersis (G-1) was performed using the column containing cellulose acetate beads in rabbits with immune arthritis.After injection of ovalbumin into the knee joints of ovalbumin-sensitized animals to induce joint swelling, markedly increased number of granulocytes in peripheral blood and granulocytes accumulation into the arthritic joint were shown. Approximately 18% of granulocytes in whole blood were removed by G-1. Effect of G-1 on granulocytes was investigated by flow cytometry. G-1 treated granulocytes showed a significant decrease in active oxygen production (p