CAR T Cells Beyond Cancer: Hope for Immunomodulatory Therapy of Infectious Diseases

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Michelle Seif1, Hermann Einsele1, Jürgen Löffler1

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany.

Frontiers in Immunology
|December 12, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, successful in cancer treatment, is being explored for infectious diseases. This approach offers new hope for patients with viral infections like HIV and opportunistic fungal infections.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Cell Therapy

Background:

  • Infectious diseases remain a major global health burden, causing significant morbidity and mortality.
  • Microbial resistance to existing drugs necessitates alternative therapeutic strategies for non-responding patients.
  • Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has shown remarkable success in cancer immunotherapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the progress and potential of CAR T cell therapy in treating viral infections.
  • To explore the application of CAR T cells against opportunistic fungal infections.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on CAR T cell therapy for infectious diseases.
  • Analysis of achievements in targeting specific viral pathogens and fungal infections.
  • Discussion of approved CAR T cell therapies in oncology as a precedent.

Main Results:

  • CAR T cell therapy has demonstrated potential in preclinical models for various viral infections.
  • Early research indicates promise for targeting opportunistic infections like invasive aspergillosis.
  • The success of CAR T cells in cancer provides a strong foundation for infectious disease applications.

Conclusions:

  • CAR T cell therapy represents a promising frontier for treating challenging infectious diseases.
  • Further research and clinical trials are warranted to establish CAR T cells as a viable treatment option for infections.
  • This innovative approach could offer new hope for patients with limited therapeutic alternatives.
Keywords:
CAR T cellsCMVHBVHCVHIVinfectious diseasesinvasive aspergillosismAb engineering

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