Meteorin-β Activity Detection Through Cytokine Response

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods lack effective ways to detect the activity of meteorin-β and identify cells expressing its receptor, which are crucial for research and therapeutic applications.

Innovation Solution

Developed methods involve contacting cells with meteorin-β polypeptides and stimulants/co-stimulants to measure cytokine production and receptor binding, using kits comprising cytokine/chemokine measurement components and instructions for activity detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If no specific detection method is used, then the complexity of the system remains low, but the ability to detect meteorin-β activity and receptor expression is absent

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection of meteorin-β activityVSAvoiddetection system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs co-stimulants as intermediary substances that mediate between meteorin-β and the detection system. These co-stimulants enhance the interaction between meteorin-β and its receptor, creating a measurable effect that allows detection without requiring direct observation of the receptor-ligand binding event itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces direct mechanical or physical detection methods with biochemical measurement approaches. Instead of attempting to directly detect receptor binding through physical means, the system uses measurement of cytokine production as a biochemical proxy indicator of meteorin-β activity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If conventional cytokine measurement methods are used, then the measurement process is simple, but the precision and accuracy of meteorin-β activity assessment is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeteorin-β activity measurement precisionVSAvoidmeasurement system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary stimulation with co-stimulants before measuring cytokine production. This preliminary action enhances the specific activity of meteorin-β, creating a more pronounced and measurable effect that improves detection precision while allowing the use of relatively simple cytokine measurement techniques.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the functional parameters of the system by introducing co-stimulants that modify the biological response to meteorin-β. This parameter change amplifies the measurable output (cytokine production) without requiring changes to the fundamental measurement methodology.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If receptor binding detection is attempted without co-stimulants, then the assay remains simple, but the ability to identify cells expressing meteorin-β receptor is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereceptor expression detectionVSAvoidassay complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Co-stimulants serve as intermediary agents that facilitate the detection of receptor expression. By enhancing the interaction between meteorin-β and its receptor, co-stimulants make the binding event detectable through downstream cytokine production, effectively acting as a bridge between the receptor and the measurement system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses cytokine production as a feedback signal that indicates successful receptor binding. The presence and amount of cytokines produced provide feedback information about whether meteorin-β bound to its receptor on the cell surface, enabling indirect detection of receptor expression.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables accurate assessment of meteorin-β activity and receptor expression, facilitating research and potential immunotherapy applications.

Implementation Method 1

contacting the cell under binding conditions with a second composition comprising a meteorin-β polypeptide; detecting the presence, absence, and/or amount of meteorin-β polypeptide bound to the cell

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReceptor-ligand binding: