Advances in Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapies for Autoimmune Disorders, Allotransplantation, and Organ Transplantation

Application of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has rapidly evolved and extended beyond cancer since the unprecedented success in hematological malignancies followed by FDA approval. There is growing interest to utilize CAR T cell therapy into new frontiers– particularly in the field of autoimmunity and organ transplantation. Recent wave of clinical studies has cemented CD19-specific CAR T cells as promising therapy across multiple autoimmune disorders including Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), severe myositis and systemic sclerosis. Additional innovation including Chimeric Autoantigen Receptors (CAARs) are being considered as potential candidates for treatment of autoimmune diseases like Pemphigus vulgaris and Myasthenia gravis (MG). Simultaneously, proof-of-principles including peptide-MHC-based CARs and CAR-Tregs have accelerated the advancement in circumventing challenges in organ transplantation. These two fields have potential to greatly benefit from CAR T cell therapy which warrants this dedicated Research Topics series focused on providing comprehensive update on current and future advancements.This research topic aims to address all encompassing aspects: utility, feasibility and safety of CAR T cells in non-cancer contexts. There is still a need to fully elucidate why deep B cell depletion is effective and underlying mechanisms of remission despite B cell re-emergence. Nascent areas such as neurological autoimmune disorders– where CAR T therapy is being expanding into Multiple Sclerosis requires addressing challenges of blood-brain barrier (BBB) and risk of Immune Effector Cell Associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome (ICANS). BCMA-targeted therapies have remained underexplored in transplant setting though demonstration of clinical efficacy in Autoimmune hemolytic anemia, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and various other autoimmune diseases. There is a growing need of concerted effort by the scientific community to bridge the gaps and enhance the existing CAR T cell platforms to achieve innovative solution across multiple fields. Therefore, we welcome submissions that address the gaps in CAR T cell Therapy for autoimmunity and organ transplantation.This Research Topic accepts Original Research, Review and Mini-Review, Hypothesis & Theory, Clinical Trial, Perspective, Case Report, Brief Research Report, General Commentary, Opinion. We welcome manuscripts focusing on, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:• B-cell targeting therapies including bi-specific T-cell engagers and CAR T cells, • Implications of restarting B cell repertoire and reemergence of B cell populations• B-cell targeting for autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and others• Immunotherapies for rheumatological disease including but not limited to: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Sjogren’s syndrome, scleroderma, vasculitis and more.• CAR Tregs for Graft vs. Host Disease (GVHD) and transplant rejection• CAR T cell mediated B cell depletion in solid organ transplantation• Chimeric Autoantigen Receptors (CAAR) for autoimmune disorders• BCMA-CAR T therapy and plasma cell-targeting therapies• Peptide-MHC based CAR T cells • MHC Class I vs. Class II targeting CAR technology• Perspective on adverse events such as ICANS and CRS from CAR T cells usage in non-cancer context• Durability, longevity and relapse incidence after CAR T cells for autoimmunityTopic Editor Miriam Sánchez Escamilla received financial support from Janssen and Gilead-Kite. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject. Topic editors: Roman H Khadka, Miriam Sanchez Escamilla, Hans-Jochem Kolb Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/75802/advances-in-chimeric-antigen-receptor-car-t-cell-therapies-for-autoimmune-disorders-allotransplantation-and-organ-transplantation