Engineered immune cells as therapeutics for autoimmune diseases

Trends Biotechnol. 2024 Feb 16:S0167-7799(24)00022-2. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.01.006. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTCurrent treatment options for autoimmune disease (AID) are essentially immunosuppressive, inhibiting the inflammatory cascade, without curing the disease. Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that target B cells showed efficacy, emphasizing the importance of B lymphocytes in autoimmune pathogenesis. Treatments that eliminate more potently B cells would open a new therapeutic era for AID. Immune cells can now be bioengineered to express constructs that enable them to specifically eradicate pathogenic B lymphocytes. Engineered immune cells (EICs) have shown therapeutic promise in both experimental models and in clinical trials in AID. Next-generation platforms are under development to optimize their specificity and improve safety. The profound and durable B cell depletion achieved reinforces the view that this biotherapeutic option holds promise for treating AID.PMID:38368169 | DOI:10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.01.006
Source: Trends in Biotechnology - Category: Biotechnology Authors: Source Type: research