Probiotic Bacteria Induce Split Anergy in NK Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current therapies for cancer, particularly those involving natural killer (NK) cells, face challenges in effectively activating and regulating NK cell function to combat cancer, as NK cell cytotoxicity is often diminished in cancer patients, and existing methods fail to adequately address the underlying mechanisms of NK cell immunomodulation.
Innovation Solution
Specific combinations of probiotic bacteria are discovered to induce significant split anergy in activated NK cells, leading to increased production of IFN-γ and TNF-α, and expand NK cells, thereby enhancing their cytotoxic activity and cytokine secretion, particularly during inflammation or malignancies, while regulating their function to prevent unwanted inflammation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If NK cell activation is enhanced to increase cytotoxicity against cancer cells, then anti-tumor immunity is improved, but unwanted inflammation and cytokine overproduction occur
Solution Approach 1:
Probiotic bacteria serve as an intermediary substance that modulates NK cell function. The bacteria interact with NK cells to induce split anergy state, which acts as a mediator between complete activation and complete suppression, enabling controlled cytokine production and cytotoxicity without excessive inflammation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the functional state parameter of NK cells from fully activated to split anergic state through probiotic bacteria treatment. This parameter change allows NK cells to maintain cytotoxic capability while reducing inflammatory cytokine overproduction, achieving balanced immune response
2Quantity of substance
If probiotic bacteria are used to induce split anergy in NK cells, then cytokine production (IFN-γ and TNF-α) is enhanced, but NK cell cytotoxicity may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The probiotic bacteria induce a partial activation state (split anergy) in NK cells rather than full activation. This partial action allows sufficient cytokine production for immune regulation while maintaining adequate cytotoxicity for cancer cell killing, avoiding the extremes of complete activation or complete suppression
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to probiotic compositions, e.g., comprising at least one bacterial strain selected from: Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus paracasei, KE99, and Lactobacillus bulgaricus, optionally wherein the at least one bacterial strain is either alive or sonicated.