A group of scientists has used this gene-editing technique to boost the immune cells in our body, called as B-cells. The team developed an evolutionary way for B cells to create large quantities of highly potent antibodies specific for any pathogen, including HIV or cancer – a breakthrough that may eliminate the need development and administration of an HIV vaccine in infected patients.
Background: B cells and their function in a Humoral response
The humoral response is based largely on proteins called antibodies that are created by b-cells. They serve as both the security guards and antibody factories in our bodies, hibernating in bone marrow, lymph nodes and even the spleen where they have been quietly plotting how to fend off infections.
The Study: The Genesis of a Gene-Editing Technique
In a study published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, researchers explain how they employ CRISPR gene editing to enter specific directions straight into B cells’ genetic material which allow them to make antibodies that are tailored according to need. This technique turns B cells into mini antibody factories programmed to recognize specific diseases. This new strategy targets B cells, rather than the T cell modification used in Car-T cell therapy. Because these cells also function in the immune system, they are better for chronic conditions.
HIV always mutates, making it difficult for our natural antibodies to prevent. The idea is to trick-or reprogram-B cells into making broadly neutralizing antibodies as a catch-all defense against the virus that will keep it from mutating around the immune response.
Application to Cancer Therapy
This approach could also be used for the treatment against cancer, with B cells altered so that they produce antibodies targeting and killing only those cell. This individualized strategy may help make immunotherapy more effective.
More Coming
The gene-editing method could have implications far beyond HIV and cancer, promising a future in which doctors defeat all disease. This may allow researchers to attack a very broad range of conditions more powerfully by tuning the antibodies.
Tests on tissues resembling the immune system
The researchers then tested engineered antibodies in a tonsil tissue recreating an innate human response. The technology is now in development for commercialization by the researchers along with USC Stevens Center for Innovation, leading to a potential shift in how certain diseases are dealt with.
Expert Comments
“In some diseases, natural antibodies made by B cells aren’t strong enough;”
“We were able to protect humanized mice from a lethal viral infection after they received the synthetic viruses via their lungs,” said senior study author Paula Cannon. HIV, for instance, is constantly mutating to evade human antibodies. We had considered if we could coax B cells to make an antibody that was extremely broad, HIV would not be able to escape it by mutation. We can just tell a B cell what to do: It is among the very few cells that we have it in our power to reprogram, almost at will,” said lead Ragon Institute co-director Bruce Walker of HMS and MGH. We think we will be able to even tailor the antibodies perfectly.
USC Stevens Center Executive Director Erin Overstreet said, “This has potential to change the way we treat a number of diseases itself. We are thrilled to help enable this in the biotech industry.”
Future Aspects
The course of genome research will change with the bio-technology, provide great help in many fields such industries and medicine. As researchers hone this technique, it could become a game changer for numerous illnesses. Generation of specialized antibodies paves the way for individualized medicine and long-term therapeutic control.
Summary
This work represents a huge advance in the battle against diseases such as HIV, cancer. The conversion of B cells into elite antibody factories provides a framework for better, personalized therapies. With all these amazing advances in the pipeline, medicine is indeed looking brilliant.
FAQs
Q: What are B cells? Q: What are B cells and what do they do? They are the security guards and factories of Abs in our immune system.
Q: How this the gene-editing method work? Q: How do scientists deploy CRISPR to encode instructions in B cell DNA that cause the production of tailor-made antibodies with disease-specificity?
Q: What illnesses can it be used to treat? The system could provide a powerful tool for fighting HIV, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, and potentially other diseases by tailoring antibodies to any desired specificity.
Q: What separates B cells from Car-T cells? Car-T cells are T cell (which attack cancer) that have been altered or B-cell which is produce antibodies if need two types of treatment for long-term solution to medical condition as they involve different pathway.
Q: How close are we to this technology being in use? How are these researchers planning to commercialize this technology, are they working with USC Stevens Center for Innovation? We likely have some ways to go before then, but progress is being made.