A method for treating sepsis and/or respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) comprises applying peripheral blood from a patient or subject to an apheresis column loaded with a solid support comprising one or more binding reagents capable of specifically binding to a chemokine receptor, optionally the chemokine receptor CCR5, CXCR1, CXCR2, and/or CCR2 immobilized directly or indirectly on the support thus removing one or more chemokine receptor, optionally CCR5, CXCR1, CXCR2, and/or CCR2 expressing cells from the peripheral blood of the patient or subject. Various companion therapeutic methods and useful binding reagents are also described.