Future prospects for CAR-Tregs in autoimmune diseases

Marta Palhas — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 14:08:24 +0000

Matteo Doglio, MD, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy, discusses the use of CAR T-cell therapy, in particular CAR-Tregs, for autoimmune diseases. Current treatments involve non-specific inflammatory suppression, which is associated with a higher number of side effects and risk of infections. CAR T-cell therapy opens the possibility to generate a more specific treatment. Current studies are investigating the use of CAR-Tregs in systemic lupus erythematous, but its use in other autoimmune diseases will be explored in the future. This interview took place during the 3rd European CAR T-cell Meeting.

CAR-Treg therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus

Marta Palhas — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 14:08:22 +0000

Regulatory T-cells (Tregs) are a subgroup of T-cells that function to maintain homeostasis and prevent autoimmunity. Matteo Doglio, MD, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy, discusses CAR-Treg therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder characterized by the production of autoantibodies B-cell derived plasma cells. The use of CARs combined with regulatory T-cells allows to boost the normal suppressive activities of lymphocytes and block the inflammatory response in autoimmune diseases. Results show that the CAR-Treg product was able to suppress the activity of normal lymphocytes in vitro. More importantly, in an in vivo model, the cells were able to slow down the disease’s progression. Dr Doglio highlights that the product needs to be improved, but the preliminary results are very encouraging. This interview took place during the 3rd European CAR T-cell Meeting.

Matteo Doglio – VJRegenMed

Future prospects for CAR-Tregs in autoimmune diseases

CAR-Treg therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus