Drug and method for proliferating natural killer cells

Abstract

NK cells are obtained by administering a Toll-like receptor ligand such as polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid into the peritoneal cavity of an animal to which lactoferrin has been administered to proliferate NK cells in the peritoneal cavity and collecting NK cells from the peritoneal cavity.

1 . A drug for proliferating animal natural killer cells, which comprises a first agent comprising lactoferrin and a second agent comprising a Toll-like receptor ligand, wherein the first agent and the second agent are separately packaged in the drug.  
     
     
         2 . The drug for proliferating natural killer cells according to  claim 1 , wherein the first agent is administered every day for 5 to 10 days in an amount of 10 to 2000 mg/day/kg body weight in terms of the amount of lactoferrin, and the second agent is administered 5 to 2 days before the completion of the administration of the first agent in an amount of 10 to 1000 μg/day/kg body weight in terms of the amount of the Toll-like receptor ligand.  
     
     
         3 . The drug for proliferating natural killer cells according to  claim 1 , wherein the first agent containing lactoferrin is orally administered, and the second agent containing a Toll-like receptor ligand is intraperitoneally administered.  
     
     
         4 . The drug for proliferating natural killer cells according to  claim 1 , wherein the Toll-like receptor ligand is polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid.  
     
     
         5 . A method for proliferating natural killer cells in an animal, which comprises administering lactoferrin and a Toll-like receptor ligand to the animal.  
     
     
         6 . The method for proliferating natural killer cells according to  claim 5 , wherein lactoferrin is administered every day for 5 to 10 days in an amount of 10 to 2000 mg/day/kg body weight, and the Toll-like receptor ligand is administered 5 to 2 days before the completion of administration of lactoferrin in an amount of 10 to 1000 μg/day/kg body weight.  
     
     
         7 . The method for proliferating natural killer cells according to  claim 5 , wherein lactoferrin is orally administered, and the Toll-like receptor ligand is intraperitoneally administered.  
     
     
         8 . The method for proliferating natural killer cells according to  claim 5 , wherein the Toll-like receptor ligand is polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid.  
     
     
         9 . A method for producing natural killer cells, which comprises administering lactoferrin and a Toll-like receptor ligand to an animal, and collecting natural killer cells from the animal.  
     
     
         10 . The method for producing natural killer cells according to  claim 9 , wherein lactoferrin is administered every day for 5 to 10 days to the animal in an amount of 10 to 2000 mg/day/kg body weight, the Toll-like receptor ligand is administered 5 to 2 days before the completion of administration of lactoferrin in an amount of 10 to 1000 μg/day/kg body weight, and natural killer cells are collected from the animal.  
     
     
         11 . The method for producing natural killer cells according to  claim 9 , wherein lactoferrin is orally administered, the Toll-like receptor ligand is intraperitoneally administered, and natural killer cells are collected from the peritoneal cavity.  
     
     
         12 . The method for producing natural killer cells according to  claim 9 , wherein the Toll-like receptor ligand is polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid.  
     
     
         13 . A method for screening for a substance having an action of proliferating natural killer cells in a living body of an animal, which comprises administering a test substance and a Toll-like receptor ligand to the animal and detecting induction of NK cells in the animal.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the test substance is administered every day for 5 to 10 days to the animal, and the Toll-like receptor ligand is administered 5 to 2 days before the completion of administration of the test substance.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the test substance is orally administered, and the Toll-like receptor ligand is intraperitoneally administered.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the Toll-like receptor ligand is polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the test substance is food, drink or a component thereof.  
     
     
         18 . A method of producing a drug for proliferating animal natural killer cells, which comprises packaging a first agent containing lactoferrin and a second agent containing a Toll-like receptor ligand, wherein the first agent and the second agent are separately packaged.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the amount of lactoferrin is 10 to 2000 mg/day/kg body weight in and the amount of the Toll-like receptor ligand is 10 to 1000 μg/day/kg body weight.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the first agent containing lactoferrin is packaged for oral administration, and the second agent containing a Toll-like receptor ligand is packaged for intraperitoneal administration.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the Toll-like receptor ligand is polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid.