Chimeric antigen receptor-induced antigen loss protects CD5.CART cells from fratricide without compromising on-target cytotoxicity.

ABSTRACT: Chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CART) targeting lymphocyte antigens can induce T cell fratricide and require additional engineering to mitigate self-damage. We demonstrate that the expression of a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeting CD5, a prominent pan-T cell antigen, induces rapid internalization and complete loss of the CD5 protein on T cells, protecting them from self-targeting. Notably, exposure of healthy and malignant T cells to CD5.CART cells induces similar internalization of CD5 on target cells, transiently shielding them from cytotoxicity. However, this protection is short-lived, as sustained activity of CD5.CART cells in patients with T cell malignancies results in full ablation of CD5⁺ T cells while sparing healthy T cells naturally lacking CD5. These resul

SUBMITTER: Ma R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11293353 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature