Activation and growth enhancement of T-cell using oxygen plasma

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H01892
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 14030:Applied plasma science-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Hayashi Nobuya 九州大学, 総合理工学研究院, 教授 (40295019)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 山下 佳雄 佐賀大学, 医学部, 教授 (50322300) ; 柳生 義人 佐世保工業高等専門学校, 電気電子工学科, 准教授 (40435483)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 酸素プラズマ / 免疫治療 / T細胞 / 細胞増殖 / 細胞分化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

By irradiating CD4+ naive T cells (EL4) with atmospheric pressure oxygen plasma under specific conditions, we achieved enhancement of growth and differentiation of T cells. Gene expression analysis suggests that the cell growth is mediated by activation of ERK and NFkB pathways in cells induced by active oxygen species. From the measurement of cytokines released by T cells, oxygen plasma-irradiated T cells did not produce IFN-γ and the amount of IL-4 released was significantly increased, indicating that T cells differentiated into helper Th2 cells. At this time, there is possibility that the autocrine phenomenon, in which Th2 cells are further activated by IL-4 produced by Th2 cells, occurred. It is concluded that the oxygen plasma is effective in activating T cells.

Free Research Field

プラズマ理工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年注目されているがんの免疫治療は，免疫細胞の培養に長い時間（３週間程度）を要する点が課題である．酸素プラズマを免疫細胞（ナイーブT細胞）に照射することにより細胞数が1.5倍程度に増加し，かつヘルパーT細胞への分化も同時に誘導可能であることから，免疫細胞の培養時間の短縮が可能となる．本方法により，重篤ながん患者に対して長い時間を必要とせずより早い時期に治療を開始することが可能になる．また，免疫細胞分化の制御により，免疫疾患等の治療にも応用可能であると考えられる．