Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, initially developed for oncological applications, have demonstrated substantial therapeutic potential in modulating aberrant immune responses underlying autoimmune pathologies, including ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
In a recent investigation, Bing Du, an immunologist affiliated with East China Normal University in Shanghai, alongside collaborators, reported outcomes from a preliminary trial employing donor-sourced immune cells engineered to express CAR constructs for managing refractory systemic lupus erythematosus4. This allogeneic approach emulates an off-the-shelf modality, facilitating scalable production that circumvents the protracted timelines and elevated expenses associated with autologous cell manufacturing5. The preceding year, Du contributed to a pioneering effort involving CRISPR-edited donor-derived immune effectors targeting two uncommon, life-threatening autoimmune entities6. Within the current protocol, four female participants exhibiting multisystemic lupus manifestations underwent lymphodepleting chemotherapy to attenuate endogenous leukocyte populations, succeeded by administration of allogeneic CAR T cells. By the three-month assessment, resolution of hallmark manifestations—encompassing arthritic flares, vasculitic inflammation, and effluvium—was evident across the cohort; moreover, one subject attained complete serological and clinical quiescence, obviating the necessity for ongoing pharmacotherapy.
Parallel advancements underscore the versatility of CAR T-cell strategies in gastrointestinal autoimmunity. Ulcerative colitis, characterized by colonic mucosal ulceration, abdominal distress, erosive lesions, and hematochezia, represents an emerging indication for this paradigm. A September publication by Markus Neurath, a gastroenterologist at University Hospital Erlangen in Germany, and associates detailed the application of CAR T cells in a 21-year-old female patient with intractable disease3. Post-intervention, she exhibited enduring remission over 14 weeks, discontinued all immunomodulatory agents, and resumed occupational activities, signifying a profound recalibration of dysregulated B-cell compartments.
These findings collectively intimate a transformative shift in autoimmune management, wherein targeted B-lymphocyte ablation via engineered effectors fosters protracted, medication-independent disease control. Nonetheless, longitudinal surveillance remains imperative to delineate durability and mitigate latent risks, including infectious sequelae from protracted B-cell aplasia. Ongoing multicenter trials will be pivotal in validating these observations and refining protocols for broader clinical deployment.
Original article
Title: ‘They don’t have symptoms’: CAR-T therapies send autoimmune diseases into remission
Author: Smriti Mallapaty
Published: 25 November 2025
Journal: Nature (News Feature)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-03885-w
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03885-w
Key primary studies cited in the article and retained in the rewritten version
3. Neurath, M. F. et al. Anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy for refractory ulcerative colitis. Nature Medicine (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-03215-7
4. Du, B. et al. Allogeneic anti-CD19 CAR T cells in patients with refractory systemic lupus erythematosus. The Lancet (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(25)02345-6
5. Mackensen, A. et al. Treating autoimmune disease with CAR-T cells. Science 379, 656–657 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adg3326
6. Ren, J. et al. CRISPR–Cas9-edited allogeneic anti-CD19 CAR T cells for severe autoimmune diseases. New England Journal of Medicine (2024). https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2400234
