Beta-alethine use in cell culture and therapy

Abstract

β-alethine is employed in the differentiation, phenotypic expression, and vitalization of cells, for both in vivo and in vitro applications. Particular applications include the use of β-alethine in the treatment of immune disorders and diseases, and in the promotion of cell cultures.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for inducing phenotypic expression in cells or differentiating cells of an organism comprising exposing the cells to an amount of β-alethine or physiologically compatible salts thereof, sufficient to induce differentiation thereof.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cells are mammalian, including human cells.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cells are in vivo.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cells are in vitro.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cells are immunocytes.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cells are mammalian cells.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the cells are human cells.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the cells are leukocytes.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the cells are splenocytes.  
     
     
         10 . A method for delaying cell senescence comprising exposing presenescent cells to β-alethine in an amount sufficient to delay senescence thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the cells are exposed to β-alethine in vitro.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the cells are mammalian, including human cells.  
     
     
         13 . A method for adapting culture-resistant cells of an organism to culture comprising exposing the resistant cells to β-alethine in an amount sufficient to adapt them to culture.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cells are mammalian, including human cells.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cells are highly-differentiated cells.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cells are lymphoid including thymus and spleen, hepatic, epithelial, renal, pancreatic, neural, endocrine such as thyroid, interstitial, chondric, or osteoid.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the cells are hepatic cells.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the cells are exposed to at least about 10 pg β-alethine/ml cell culture, based on a cell density of about 1,000,000 cells/ml.  
     
     
         19 . A method for inducing phenotypic expression in cells or differentiating cells of an organism, comprising administering to the organism from about 10 pg/kg to about 200 μg/kg by weight of the organism of β-alethine.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the organism is mammalian, including human.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein from about 10 pg/kg to about 100 μg/kg by weight of the organism of β-alethine is administered, in vivo.  
     
     
         22 . A method for treating an immunological disease or disorder in mammals, including humans, comprising administering from about 10 pg/kg to about 200 μg/kg by weight of the organism of β-alethine to the mammal.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the immunological disease or disorder is an immunodeficiency disease or disorder.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the immunological disease or disorder is an autoimmune deficiency or disorder.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the immunological disease or disorder is AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome).  
     
     
         26 . The method of  Claim 22 , wherein the β-alethine is administered on an alternate-daily basis.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the β-alethine is administered parenterally in a carrier.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the β-alethine is administered orally, optionally with a suitable entero-coat, or rectally.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the amount of 8-alethine administered is from about 10 pg/kg to about 200 μg/kg by weight of the mammal.  
     
     
         30 . A method for optimizing production of cells of an organism comprising exposing the cells to an amount of β-alethine sufficient to enhance bioproduction thereof when production of cell products is deficient, or suppress bioproduction thereof when production of cell products is excessive.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the cells are exposed to β-alethine in vitro.  
     
     
         32 . A method for optimizing function of cells of an organism comprising exposing the cells to an amount of β-alethine sufficient to induce function thereof when function is deficient or suppressed function thereof when function is excessive.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the cells are exposed to β-alethine in vitro.  
     
     
         34 . A method for optimizing immunological surveillance of intractable cells of an organism comprising exposing the cells to an amount of β-alethine sufficient to induce expression of immunological determinants through which the intractable cells are eliminated.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the cells are exposed to β-alethine in vitro.  
     
     
         36 . A method for optimizing immunological surveillance of intractable cells of an organism comprising exposing immunocytes to an amount of β-alethine sufficient to stimulate elimination of intractable cells.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the immunocytes are exposed to β-alethine in vitro.  
     
     
         38 . A method for optimizing production cells of an organism comprising exposing the cells to an amount of β-alethine sufficient to induce stabilization of the cells.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the cells are exposed to β-alethine in vitro.  
     
     
         40 . The method of claims  1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  10 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  19 ,  20 ,  22 ,  30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36 ,  37 ,  38 , or  39 , wherein the cells of the organism are further additionally exposed to other factors promoting either the maintenance or growth of cells, or both the maintenance and growth of cells.