Immune Killer Cell Culture Using ConA Mitogens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current immune therapies for cancer treatment, such as cytokine injections and immune cell therapies, face challenges including significant side effects and the risk of zoonotic diseases due to the use of animal-derived antibody proteins in cell culture, which limits the effectiveness and safety of immune cell proliferation and specific release.
Innovation Solution
A method for culturing immune killer cells using a culture medium containing concanavalin A (ConA), interleukin-2, and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) without antibody proteins, allowing for the proliferation and specific release of NK, NKT, γδT, and Tc cells, thereby avoiding zoonotic disease risks and enhancing anti-tumor effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If animal-derived antibody proteins (e.g., anti-CD3 mAb) are used as stimulants in cell culture, then the proliferation capability of immune cells is enhanced, but the risk of zoonotic disease infection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes animal-derived antibody proteins from the cell culture system and replaces them with plant-derived mitogens (ConA and PHA). This extraction of the harmful component (animal proteins) eliminates the zoonotic disease risk while maintaining the proliferative stimulus through alternative plant-based lectins that bind to human cell surface receptors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs plant-derived mitogens (ConA, PHA) that are readily available, cost-effective, and do not carry zoonotic risks. These substitutes serve as temporary stimulants for cell proliferation without the long-term safety concerns associated with animal-derived antibodies, particularly anti-CD3 mAbs from mouse sources.
2Reliability
If cytokine injections (e.g., interleukin-2) are used to enhance anti-cancer effects, then the immune response is stimulated, but significant side effects occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses plant-derived mitogens (ConA, PHA) as intermediary substances to stimulate immune cell proliferation in vitro. These mitogens act as mediators that trigger cell division and activation without directly introducing cytokines into the patient's body, thereby achieving immune enhancement while avoiding the systemic side effects associated with cytokine injections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the direct cytokine injection approach (chemical/biological stimulus) with an in vitro cell culture approach using plant lectins. This substitution shifts the mechanism from direct pharmacological stimulation to controlled cellular proliferation outside the body, eliminating the harmful side effects while preserving the therapeutic anti-cancer effect.
3Quantity of substance
If a large quantity of immune killer cells is cultured in vitro, then the anti-cancer effect is improved, but the specific release capability may be suppressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a multi-stage culture protocol with periodic changes in stimulation conditions. Cells are initially stimulated with mitogens (ConA/PHA) for proliferation, then the stimulation is adjusted or removed to allow differentiation and maintenance of specific release capability. This periodic adjustment of culture conditions enables both high cell quantity and preserved functional activity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dynamic culture conditions where the composition and concentration of stimulants (ConA, PHA, cytokines) are adjusted over time. This dynamic approach allows the cell population to first expand rapidly under strong mitogenic stimulation, then transition to a state where specific release capability is maintained or enhanced, optimizing both quantity and quality of immune killer cells.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of immune killer cells characterized in that an immune killer cell is induced in a culture medium containing concanavalin A (ConA), and the immune killer cell is maintained or expanded in a culture procedure. Antibody proteins are not used as a stimulant in the culture process to avoid the risk of being infected by zoonotic diseases and effectively increase the number and specific release of the immune killer cells.