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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
In Vitro Assay to Study Tumor-macrophage Interaction
Published on: August 1, 2019
Exploring CAR-macrophages in non-tumor diseases: Therapeutic potential beyond cancer
Yizhao Chen1, Qianling Xin2, Mengjuan Zhu3
1Department of Pharmacy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei First People's Hospital, Hefei, China; Key Laboratory of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
Background:
After significant advancements in tumor treatment, personalized cell therapy based on chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) holds promise for transforming the management of various diseases. CAR-T therapy, the first approved CAR cell therapy product, has demonstrated therapeutic potential in treating infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, and fibrosis. CAR-macrophages (CAR-Ms) are emerging as a promising approach in CAR immune cell therapy, particularly for solid tumor treatment, highlighting the feasibility of using macrophages to eliminate pathogens and abnormal cells.
Aim Of Review:
This review summarizes the progress of CAR-M therapy in non-tumor diseases and discusses various CAR intracellular activation domain designs and their potential to optimize therapeutic effects by modulating interactions between cellular components in the tissue microenvironment and CAR-M. Additionally, we discuss the characteristics and advantages of CAR-M therapy compared to traditional medicine and CAR-T/NK therapy, as well as the challenges and prospects for the clinical translation of CAR-M.
Key Scientific Concepts Of Review:
This review provides a comprehensive understanding of CAR-M for the treatment of non-tumor diseases, analyzes the advantages and characteristics of CAR-M therapy, and highlights the important impact of CAR intracellular domain design on therapeutic efficacy. In addition, the challenges and clinical translation prospects of developing CAR-M as a new cell therapy are discussed.
Insights
Chimeric antigen receptor-macrophages (CAR-M) show promise for treating non-tumor diseases. Optimizing CAR intracellular domains is key to enhancing CAR-M therapy effectiveness and clinical translation.
Area of Science:
- Cellular immunotherapy
- Immunology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) cell therapy, including CAR-T, has advanced disease management.
- CAR-macrophages (CAR-Ms) are an emerging cell therapy for solid tumors, demonstrating potential in eliminating pathogens and abnormal cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review CAR-M therapy progress in non-tumor diseases.
- To discuss CAR intracellular activation domain designs for optimizing therapeutic effects.
- To compare CAR-M therapy with traditional and other CAR therapies, and explore clinical translation challenges.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of CAR-M therapy research.
- Analysis of CAR intracellular domain designs and their impact on CAR-M function.
- Comparative analysis of CAR-M therapy against existing treatments.
Main Results:
- CAR-M therapy shows potential beyond solid tumors, applicable to various non-tumor diseases.
- CAR intracellular domain design significantly influences CAR-M efficacy by modulating microenvironment interactions.
- CAR-M therapy offers distinct advantages over traditional treatments and other CAR therapies.
Conclusions:
- CAR-M therapy is a promising cell therapy for non-tumor diseases.
- Strategic design of CAR intracellular domains is crucial for maximizing therapeutic outcomes.
- Further research is needed to address challenges and advance the clinical translation of CAR-M therapy.
