[ad_1]
A new study has found that a new genetically engineered T cell by researchers at the University of Arizona Health Sciences is capable of targeting and attacking the pathogenic T cells that cause type 1 diabetes, which could lead to new immunotherapy treatments. The immune system fights bacteria, viruses and other pathogens using different types of T cells, all of which have specific receptors for particular antigens.
On killer T cells, the receptor works together with three signaling modules and a coreceptor to destroy the infected cell. Michael Kuhns, PhD, associate professor at the Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson Department of Immunobiology, copied the evolutionary blueprint to design a five-module chimeric antigen receptor, or 5MCAR, T cell. “5MCAR was a attempt to figure out if we could build something by biomimicry, using some of the natural pieces of evolution, and redirect T cells to do what we wanted them to do. We designed a 5MCAR that would direct killer T cells to target autoimmune T cells. that mediate type 1 diabetes, ”said Dr. Kuhns, who is a member of the Arizona Cancer Center, BIO5 Institute and Arizona Center on Aging.
“So now, a killer T cell will actually recognize another T cell. We overturned the T cell mediated immunity on its head,” added Dr. Kuhns. Dr. Kuhns worked with Thomas Serwold, PhD, of the Harvard Medical School-affiliated Joslin Diabetes Center, to test 5MCAR T cells in a non-obese diabetic mouse model with promising results. The findings were recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
“When we saw that the 5MCAR T cells completely cleared the harmful T cells that invaded the pancreas, we were blown away,” said Dr. Serwold. “It was like they kicked them out. This ability is why we think 5MCAR T cells have enormous potential for treating diseases like type 1 diabetes,” added Dr. Serwold.
In 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved two chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies for specific cancers: one for the treatment of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and the other for adults with advanced lymphomas. . Those CAR T cells focused solely on the receptor, not the signaling modules or surrounding coreceptors.
Dr. Kuhns believes that by mimicking the shape and function of a natural T cell, including its complex five-module structure, researchers will be able to more specifically target antigens with greater sensitivity in the future. This type of personalized immunotherapy is a key initiative of UArizona Health Sciences, as well as a goal of Dr. Kuhns.
“I am generally convinced that evolution converges on related principles to perform related tasks,” said Dr. Kuhns. “Basic research from laboratories around the world, including ours, has helped us understand the complex structure and function of the five-module molecular machines that evolved to drive T-cell responses. We believe these results show that a biomimetic approach is promising for Automotive Engineering, “added Dr. Kuhns. Dr Kuhns and Serwold recently received a bridging grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to continue their research on the use of 5MCAR T cells to prevent autoimmune diseases.
“There are a lot of things we don’t know about this technology yet,” said Dr. Kuhns. “What we do know is that it works and can be very effective in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes, so that’s great. We now have a lot more work to do.”
.
[ad_2]
Source link
