干细胞新技术可望降低细胞疗法成本

Core Viewpoint - Researchers at the University of British Columbia have developed a new technology to mass-produce important immune cells, specifically helper T cells, using stem cells, which is expected to significantly reduce the cost and simplify the process of cell therapy for diseases like cancer [1][2]. Group 1: Technology Development - The new technology allows for the efficient production of helper T cells, which are crucial for enhancing the function of other immune cells [2]. - The research focuses on the differentiation process of human pluripotent stem cells into T cells, identifying the Notch signaling pathway as essential for early T cell development [1]. - By precisely regulating the strength and duration of the Notch signaling pathway, researchers successfully produced mature helper T cells that closely resemble those found in the human body [1]. Group 2: Implications for Cell Therapy - The ability to economically and efficiently produce both helper T cells and cytotoxic T cells could greatly enhance the effectiveness and flexibility of cell therapies [2]. - This advancement addresses the challenges of current cell therapies, which are often complex, time-consuming, and costly due to the need for extracting and culturing a patient's own T cells [1].