Impact of 3D cell culture hydrogels derived from basement membrane extracts or nanofibrillar cellulose on CAR-T cell activation.

ABSTRACT: Hydrogel-based 3D culture systems are increasingly used for preclinical evaluation of cell-based immunotherapies, including chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells. However, hydrogel properties can influence T cell behavior, potentially affecting interpretation of immunotherapy studies. We assessed CD4+ T and CAR-T cell responses in two chemically undefined matrices-Matrigel and basement membrane extract (BME)- and in a synthetic nanofibrillar cellulose (NFC) hydrogel. Although NFC was mechanically stiffer, T cell activation and proliferation were higher in NFC than in Matrigel or BME. Murine CD4+ T cells acquired a regulatory phenotype in Matrigel and BME but not in NFC. Similarly, CAR-T cell function was reduced in Matrigel and BME but maintained in NFC. These findings underscore how m

SUBMITTER: Revilla SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12362413 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature