Encouraging evidence for CAR T cell therapy in autoimmune diseases

CAR T cell therapies are approved to treat conditions other than autoimmune diseases. Experts are studying whether CAR T cell therapy can help people with autoimmune diseases. Recently, an early study looked at CAR T cell therapy in patients with certain autoimmune diseases. The results show promise that invites further study for people with systemic lupus erythematosus, idiopathic inflammatory myositis, or systemic sclerosis. Read more about this study here.

CAR T cell therapy is being studied in a range of autoimmune diseases, including lupus, myositis, scleroderma, multiple sclerosis, and myasthenia gravis.

CAR T cell therapy in autoimmune diseases

What is lupus?

Systemic lupus erythematosus, or lupus, is an autoimmune disease. In people with lupus, an overactive immune system attacks healthy tissues. Lupus can damage many parts of the body, including the skin, joints, kidneys, lungs, heart, and brain. Common symptoms include feeling tired all the time and joint pain or swelling. Many people with lupus also may develop a rash on their face or body.

Lupus that affects the kidneys is called lupus nephritis. Lupus nephritis can damage the kidneys and make it harder for them to clean waste from the blood. Over time, severe kidney damage may result in the need for dialysis or kidney transplant.

For many people with lupus, available medicines do not provide long-term disease control. Symptoms can come back even when people with lupus are being treated. The disease is unpredictable—when lupus comes back it can affect the same parts of the body, or different ones. The disease and damage to the body may get worse over time.

What is the role of B cells in lupus?

B cells are a type of immune cell. They play a vital role in the development of lupus and its symptoms. B cells usually help protect the body from foreign invaders, such as viruses and bacteria. But in people with lupus, overactive B cells can cause damage to parts of the body, including the skin, joints, kidneys, lungs, heart, and brain.

The potential of CAR T cell therapy in lupus

CAR T cell therapy is designed to find and destroy B cells throughout the body, even in areas other treatments may not reach. Removing B cells could eliminate a key contributor to lupus symptoms. This may prevent further damage to the skin, joints, and organs. When CAR T cell therapy removes B cells, the body replaces them. The theory is that these healthy new B cells may "reset" the immune system, giving it the potential for a fresh start.

Learn about a BMS CAR T cell therapy study in lupus

What are idiopathic inflammatory myopathies?

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies are rare autoimmune diseases. Forms of autoimmune myositis include antisynthetase syndrome, polymyositis, immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy, and dermatomyositis. In people with autoimmune myositis, an overactive immune system attacks healthy muscle. Common symptoms include muscle weakness, tiredness, and sometimes skin rashes. Autoimmune myositis can make daily activities more difficult. It can get harder to climb stairs, lift things, or stand up from a chair.

For many people with myositis, available medicines do not provide long-term disease control.

What is the role of B cells in myositis?

B cells are a type of immune cell. They play a vital role in the development of myositis and its symptoms. B cells usually help protect the body from foreign invaders, such as viruses and bacteria. But in people with myositis, overactive B cells can cause damage to muscle tissue, instead of protecting it. This can damage muscles and impair the way they work.

The potential of CAR T cell therapy in myositis

CAR T cell therapy is designed to find and destroy B cells throughout the body. Removing B cells could eliminate a key contributor to autoimmune myositis symptoms and may prevent further muscle damage. When CAR T cell therapy removes B cells, the body replaces them. The theory is that these healthy new B cells may "reset" the immune system, giving it the potential for a fresh start.

Learn about a BMS CAR T cell therapy study in myositis

What is systemic sclerosis?

Systemic sclerosis, or scleroderma, is a rare autoimmune condition. In people with scleroderma, an overactive immune system attacks healthy tissues, including the skin, digestive system, kidneys, lungs, and blood vessels. This causes skin and connective tissue to become thick and stiff. Common symptoms include tight, hard skin, joint pain, and problems with the digestive system. Other symptoms may be related to affected organs, such as shortness of breath caused by damage to the lungs.

Even when people with scleroderma are being treated, they may have uncontrolled symptoms that get worse over time.

What is the role of B cells in scleroderma?

B cells are a type of immune cell. They play a vital role in the development of scleroderma and its symptoms. B cells usually help protect the body from foreign invaders, such as viruses and bacteria. But in people with scleroderma, overactive B cells can cause damage to the skin, heart, lungs, and other organs. This signals the body to produce too much collagen, a protein that acts like glue to give structure and strength to the body. Too much collagen can cause the skin and connective tissue to become thick and stiff. This can make it hard for important organs, such as the lungs and heart, to work properly.

The potential of CAR T cell therapy in scleroderma

CAR T cell therapy is designed to find and destroy B cells throughout the body. Removing B cells could eliminate a key contributor to scleroderma symptoms and may shut down the signal to produce too much collagen. When CAR T cell therapy removes B cells, the body replaces them. The theory is that these healthy new B cells may "reset" the immune system, giving it the potential for a fresh start.

Learn about a BMS CAR T cell therapy study in scleroderma

What is multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease. In people with MS, an overactive immune system attacks nerves in the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms can include muscle weakness, problems with coordination and balance, tiredness, and vision issues. MS can also cause changes in thinking, like forgetfulness or trouble focusing. MS symptoms can be different from person to person, because different nerves are affected.

Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) is the most common type of MS. People with RRMS experience relapses, or attacks of MS symptoms, followed by periods of recovery. Even though people may feel better for a time, RRMS can cause long-term damage.

Progressive forms of MS (PMS) are less common. People with PMS usually have symptoms that don't go away and slowly get worse over time. This can affect daily activities like walking, balance, and overall movement.

Although there has been progress in the treatment of MS, the disease remains incurable. For some people living with active MS, available medicines do not provide long-term disease control.

What is the role of B cells in MS?

B cells are a type of immune cell. They play a vital role in autoimmune diseases, including MS. B cells usually help protect the body from foreign invaders, such as viruses and bacteria. But in people with MS, overactive B cells can cause damage to myelin, the protective covering of the nerves. This damages the links between nerves and makes it hard for them send signals to and from the brain.

The potential of CAR T cell therapy in MS

CAR T cell therapy is designed to find and destroy B cells throughout the body. This includes areas of the body other treatments may not reach, such as the brain and spinal cord. Removing B cells could eliminate a key contributor to MS symptoms and may prevent further damage to myelin. When CAR T cell therapy removes B cells, the body replaces them. The theory is that these healthy new B cells may "reset" the immune system, giving it the potential for a fresh start.

Learn about a BMS CAR T cell therapy study in MS

What is myasthenia gravis?

Myasthenia gravis, including generalized MG, is a lifelong autoimmune disease. In people with MG, an overactive immune system attacks important proteins on muscle cells. This causes general muscle tiredness. Other common symptoms include weakness in the arms, legs, and muscles that control facial and eye movements. This can result in trouble chewing, swallowing, and breathing. MG can make it very hard to do daily activities like walking, lifting things, eating, speaking, and drinking.

Despite available medicines, MG is still an incurable condition. Even when people with MG are being treated, the disease can get worse over time.

What is the role of B cells in MG?

B cells are a type of immune cell. They play a vital role in the development of MG and its symptoms. B cells usually help protect the body from foreign invaders, such as viruses and bacteria. But in people with MG, overactive B cells disrupt communication between nerves and muscles. The nerves send signals to the muscles to move, but the muscles do not get the message clearly. This can lead to the muscle weakness that is common in people with MG.

The potential of CAR T cell therapy in MG

CAR T cell therapy is designed to find and destroy B cells throughout the body. Removing B cells could eliminate a key contributor to MG symptoms and potentially restore communication between muscles and nerves. When CAR T cell therapy removes B cells, the body replaces them. The theory is that these healthy new B cells may "reset" the immune system, giving it the potential for a fresh start.