Autoimmune & ArthritisCAR T Cell Therapy Could Reset the Immune System in Autoimmune Disease
Autoimmune diseases affect millions and often resist current treatments. This review in Nature Medicine examines how chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies — already proven in certain cancers — are being adapted to target and eliminate the faulty B cells that drive many autoimmune conditions. By depleting these pathogenic B cells through key targets like CD19 and BCMA, CAR T therapies may effectively 'reset' the immune system, potentially offering long-lasting remission rather than just symptom control. The review covers both autologous (patient-derived) and allogeneic (donor-derived) CAR T approaches, weighing their efficacy, safety profiles, and risks. While the field is rapidly advancing, important questions around durability, accessibility, and long-term safety remain open. Early clinical results are encouraging, signaling a potential paradigm shift in how autoimmune disease is treated.
