Hemadsorption extracorporeal therapy removes cytokines ex vivo in horses.

The research explores the effectiveness of an extracorporeal therapy device in reducing cytokine concentration in stimulated horse plasma, potentially evidencing a new treatment method for horse sepsis.

Objective of the Research

• The study sought to investigate whether a cytokine adsorption device would effectively lower the levels of inflammatory markers, known as cytokines, in the plasma of horses. Cytokines are released into the bloodstream as part of the body’s immune response, especially during sepsis.

Methodology

• Whole blood was collected from 8 healthy adult horses, stimulated with a specific dose of lipopolysaccharide—a compound known to prompt an immune reaction—and analyzed for cytokine concentrations.
• The stimulated blood plasma was then filtered through this novel cytokine adsorption device.
• At 11 different time points, samples were collected for a multiplex cytokine analysis.
• For examining whether the device would also adsorb common sepsis medications, equine plasma containing certain drugs was filtered through the same device.
• The drug concentrations were measured pre-and post-filtration.

Results

• The filtration of the stimulated equine plasma experienced significant mean reductions in several types of cytokines, including IL-10, IL-5, IL-8, TNF-α, and IL-1β.
• Similarly, the concentrations of medications—including potassium penicillin, gentamicin, and flunixin meglumine—used in the treatment of horse sepsis, were also significantly decreased after filtration.

Conclusions

• This study serves as an initial substantiation for the application of the extracorporeal cytokine adsorption method as a supportive treatment for horse sepsis.
• The cytokine adsorption device might help manage sepsis by lowering the inflammation-causing cytokines in the plasma of horses. However, the reduction in medication concentration indicates that further research is necessary to understand this effect and its implications.