Removal of apolipoprotein B from dog whole blood by ex vivo hemoadsorption on antibody-agarose beads.

Abstract

Antibody columns for hemoperfusion were prepared by filling 300-ml polycarbonate canisters with 2% agarose gel beads having attached goat antibodies directed toward apolipoprotein B (apo B), the major apoprotein of low and very low density lipoproteins. Blood was withdrawn from the left external jugular vein of dogs, regionally treated with anticoagulant citrate dextrose solution A, pumped through the antibody column, and returned to the right external jugular vein. Immunoreactive apo B decreased by 81% during passage of blood over the column. Adverse effects were not observed during four weekly hour-long perfusions with blank columns (agarose beads without antibody attached) followed by four weekly perfusions with antibody columns. The columns were disinfected and stored in 1 M acetic acid and reused weekly in each animal. Recovery of platelets and white blood cells over the columns was 90 and 102%, respectively, with no significant differences between blank columns and antibody-containing columns. Complement was not consumed during the hemoadsorption procedure. Hemoadsorption on antibody-agarose columns is a promising potential method for removing toxic molecules and cells from whole blood.