Preclinical scenario of targeting myocardial fibrosis with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) immunotherapy.

Abstract

Fibrosis is present in an important proportion of myocardial disorders. Injury activates cardiac fibroblasts, which deposit excess extracellular matrix, increasing tissue stiffness, impairing cardiac function, and leading to heart failure. Clinical therapies that directly target excessive fibrosis are limited, and more effective treatments are needed. Immunotherapy based on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells is a novel technique that redirects T lymphocytes toward specific antigens to eliminate the target cells. It is currently used in haematological cancers but has demonstrated efficacy in mouse models of hypertensive cardiac fibrosis, with activated fibroblasts as the target cells. CAR T cell therapy is associated with significant toxicities, but CAR natural killer cells can overcome efficacy and safety limitations. The use of CAR immunotherapy offers a potential alternative to current therapies for fibrosis reduction and restoration of cardiac function in patients with myocardial fibrosis.

• Authors: Gemma Ferrer-Curriu, Carolina Soler-Botija, Sandra Charvatova, Benjamin Motais, Santiago Roura, Carolina Galvez-Monton, Marta Monguió-Tortajada, Oriol Iborra-Egea, Michele Emdin, Josep Lupón, Alberto Aimo, Juli R Bagó, Antoni Bayés-Genís
• Journal: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie (Biomed Pharmacother) Vol. 158 Pg. 114061 (02 2023) ISSN: 1950-6007 [Electronic] France
• PMID: 36495661 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Receptors, Chimeric Antigen

Topics

• Animals
• Mice
• Receptors, Chimeric Antigen
• Immunotherapy (methods)
• T-Lymphocytes
• Immunotherapy, Adoptive (adverse effects, methods)
• Cardiomyopathies (drug therapy)
• Fibrosis
• Neoplasms (drug therapy)