Plant Stanol Esters Modulate Th1/Th2 Balance for Asthma Treatment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for asthma do not effectively address Th2 overactivation or impaired Th1 responses, leading to unmanaged asthma symptoms due to poor absorption and limited immune modulation of plant stanols.

Innovation Solution

Oral administration of plant stanol and/or plant stanol esters, which alter the Th1/Th2 balance by increasing Th1-specific cytokines and inhibiting Th2 cell activity, thereby mitigating asthma symptoms by modulating the immune response.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If plant stanol and plant stanol ester are administered orally, then immune modulation and Th1/Th2 balance alteration are achieved, but absorption efficiency remains poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimmune modulation effectVSAvoidabsorption amount

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs parameter changes by utilizing different forms of plant stanols (free stanols vs. esterified stanols) and varying their chemical structure parameters to optimize absorption while maintaining immune modulation effects. The esterification process changes the physical and chemical parameters of plant stanols to improve their bioavailability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses composite material principles by combining plant stanols with specific fatty acids to create plant stanol esters. This composite structure leverages the properties of both components - the immune-modulating effects of plant stanols and the absorption-enhancing properties of fatty acid esters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If current asthma treatments are used, then asthma symptoms are managed, but Th2 overactivation and impaired Th1 responses are not effectively addressed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveasthma symptomsVSAvoidimmune response modulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful Th2-dominant immune response into a beneficial Th1-dominant response by administering plant stanols that selectively modulate immune cell activity. The treatment transforms the pathological immune balance into a protective immune state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the immune response parameters by shifting the Th1/Th2 balance through targeted modulation of cytokine production and T-cell differentiation, moving the immune system from a pathological state to a protective state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9603858B2Compositions for preventing and treating an immune system disorder

Publication Date: 2017.03.28 RAISIO NUTRITION LTD

AI summary

The present invention relates to methods of treating, preventing, or decreasing the occurrence of a condition characterized by Th2 overactivation or impaired Th1, or mitigating symptoms associated with a condition characterized by Th2 overactivation or impaired Th1, comprising orally administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a composition comprising a plant stanol and/or plant stanol ester. The present invention also relates to methods of improving the health status of a subject suffering from asthma and increasing the levels of IL-10 in a subject in need thereof.