Sugar Cane Polysaccharide Activates Peyer's Patch Immunity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current options for modulating Peyer's patch immune function are limited, and there is a lack of known components with enhancing effects on cytokine production, particularly for bone marrow cell growth promotion in Peyer's patches.

Innovation Solution

A Peyer's patch activator containing a polysaccharide fraction from sugar cane, specifically an α-glucan and heteroglycan fraction, which enhances cytokine production, particularly IL-6, by modulating immune function in Peyer's patches.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If polysaccharides from Atractylodes lancea or Astragalus mongholics are used, then Peyer's patch immune function modulating activity is achieved, but the repertory is not enough to meet various consumer needs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevariety of Peyer's patch activatorsVSAvoidnumber of available substances

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent identifies sugar cane polysaccharides as a new substance that can perform Peyer's patch activating function, similar to existing substances from Atractylodes lancea and Astragalus mongholics. This expands the repertoire of available substances while maintaining the desired immune modulating effect, thereby resolving the contradiction between limited variety and sufficient quantity of effective substances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If components from gramineous plants are used, then some immune function is achieved, but components with enhancing effect on cytokine production in Peyer's patches have not been known

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenhancing effect on cytokine productionVSAvoidlack of known components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes sugar cane, a gramineous plant, to produce polysaccharides that activate Peyer's patches and enhance cytokine production. By using a readily available plant resource to generate the desired immunological effect, the patent fills the knowledge gap about which gramineous plant components can reliably enhance cytokine production in Peyer's patches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If novel Peyer's patch activators are developed, then enhancing effect on cytokine production is achieved, but safety concerns may arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenhancing effect on cytokine productionVSAvoidsafety of new substance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses sugar cane polysaccharides, which are derived from a common food crop, as the active ingredient. Sugar cane is widely consumed as food and has a long history of safe use, making it a safe alternative to synthesized or less familiar substances. This approach provides reliable cytokine enhancement while minimizing safety concerns associated with novel substances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentEP2905026B1Peyer's patch activator

Publication Date: 2019.07.31 MITSUI SUGAR CO LTD

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AI summary

The present invention provides a Peyer's patch activator containing a polysaccharide obtained from sugar cane as an active ingredient, wherein the polysaccharide contains α-glucan as a main component and has a peak molecular weight within a range of 720,000 to 1,080,000, with a proportion of glucose in all component sugars being 80% or more, and proportions of nonreducing terminal glucose and α-1,6-linked glucose being 20 to 30% and 15 to 25%, respectively.