Could chimeric antigen receptor-T cell treatment of atherosclerosis in mice translate to a human therapy?
TL;DR
The genetic engineering of chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells provides a means of generating large numbers of T cells specific for a single antigen, and these cells have attracted increasing interest as a treatment in diseases associated with inflammation.
Abstract
the oxLDL surface (7,8). As there is no down-regulation of the scavenger receptors, lipid material from the oxLDL accumulates, and lipid droplets within the cytoplasm accumulate, giving the cells a foamy appearance. The resulting combination of oxidised lipids, immune cells and necrotic cell debris appears to drive inflammation within the plaque. The genetic engineering of chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells provides a means of generating large numbers of T cells specific for a single antigen. Classical CAR-T therapies target cancer-associated surface antigens and trigger cytotoxicity (9). However, it is also possible to generate CAR-Treg cells. These cells have an immunosuppressive rather than effector function and have attracted increasing interest as a treatment in diseases associated with inflammation. In the context of atherosclerosis, Tregs are present at relatively low