CD19-targeted cytotoxic T cells for lupus therapy
Marko Radic, PhD
Associate Professor
University of Tennessee, Memphis
Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry
Abstract
The present proposal applies the currently most promising technology for ablating B cells. The technology has been developed for cancer immunotherapy and uses engineered cytotoxic T cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) to eradicate CD19 B cells from leukemia patients. The hypothesis in this proposal is that immunotherapies that eliminate B cells in cancer can be successfully adapted to the treatment of lupus. This application asks:
1: Does administration of syngeneic anti-CD19 CTL into NZBxNZW F1 female mice prevent development, arrest progression and reverse manifestations of murine lupus?
2: Can safer or more effective alternatives to anti-CD19 CAR therapy be developed?
The proposed experiments will yield animal data that may justify a trial in lupus patients.