Photopheresis up-regulates CD36 on monocytes and reduces CD25+ and CD28+ T cell numbers

CD36 is an important receptor for the uptake of apoptotic material and its up-regulation would be beneficial in the antigen-processing mechanism proposed for ECP. No enhancement in markers of T cell activation would indicate that ECP-treated lymphocytes play no direct role in the proposed cytotoxic response. However, reduction in CD25 and CD28 may represent a mechanism beneficial in disease states with excess T cell activation.