CAR-T Cell Therapy Enters Autoimmune Arena With Promising Results
Cell therapies, once reserved for cancer, are now breaking new ground in autoimmune disease (AD) treatment. A recent review in Seminars in Cancer Biology examines how chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technologies are being adapted to target immune cells that contribute to chronic inflammation and autoimmunity.
One of the most promising developments involves CD19-directed CAR-T therapy, which targets and eliminates B cells that drive diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus.
In early trials, patients with severe, treatment-resistant SLE have achieved lasting drug-free remission after just one infusion.
Researchers are also exploring newer approaches, such as CAR-Tregs and BAR-Tregs—engineered regulatory T cells that could selectively shut down overactive immune responses without weakening the entire immune system.
Preclinical studies show success across a range of diseases, including multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, pemphigus vulgaris, type 1 diabetes, and IBD (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis).
The review also discusses the growing number of clinical trials testing “universal” off-the-shelf CAR therapies for autoimmune disorders.
What Is “Universal” CAR Therapy?
Traditional CAR-T cell Therapy:
- T cells are taken from the patient (autologous),
- Engineered in a lab to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR),
- Then infused back into the same patient.
This custom process is time-consuming, expensive, and not always feasible for severely ill or immunocompromised patients.
“Universal” or “Off-the-Shelf” CAR Therapies:
- Use pre-made CAR-T or CAR-Treg cells derived from healthy donors (allogeneic),
- Engineered in advance and stored for rapid use,
- Often gene-edited to reduce the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) or immune rejection.
For people with autoimmune diseases, many of whom have impaired T or B cells or need urgent treatment during disease flares, universal CAR therapies offer significant promise. They have the potential to significantly increase access, reduce costs, and enable quicker intervention, particularly in emergency or early-stage treatment settings.
While these therapies are still in early stages, they could mark a turning point for patients who currently face lifelong immunosuppression or disease flares. As the authors emphasize, understanding which AD patients are most likely to benefit and when to intervene will be key to maximizing success while minimizing risk.
Visit our LEAD Day page to explore highlights from our inaugural research event. We honored Dr. Georg Schett, a pioneer in the CAR T field, with the Walter and Jean Boek Leadership in Research Award for his groundbreaking contributions to autoimmune disease treatment.
Citation
Wen, R., et al. (2025). Chimeric antigen receptor cell therapy: A revolutionary approach transforming cancer treatment to autoimmune disease therapy. Autoimmunity reviews, 24(9), 103859. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autrev.2025.103859