CD19-targeting CAR T cells protect from ANCA-induced acute kidney injury

Autor/innen

  • D. Lodka
  • M. Zschummel
  • M. Bunse
  • A. Rousselle
  • J. Sonnemann
  • R. Kettritz
  • U.E. Höpken
  • A. Schreiber

Journal

  • Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases

Quellenangabe

  • Ann Rheum Dis 83 (4): 499-507

Zusammenfassung

  • OBJECTIVES: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV) are life-threatening systemic autoimmune diseases manifesting in the kidneys as necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis (NCGN). ANCA antigens are myeloperoxidase (MPO) or proteinase 3. Current treatments include steroids, cytotoxic drugs and B cell-depleting antibodies. The use of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in autoimmune diseases is a promising new therapeutic approach. We tested the hypothesis that CAR T cells targeting CD19 deplete B cells, including MPO-ANCA-producing B cells, thereby protecting from ANCA-induced NCGN. METHODS: We tested this hypothesis in a preclinical MPO-AAV mouse model. NCGN was established by immunisation of MPO(-/-) mice with murine MPO, followed by irradiation and transplantation with haematopoietic cells from wild-type mice alone or together with either CD19-targeting CAR T cells or control CAR T cells. RESULTS: CD19 CAR T cells efficiently migrated to and persisted in bone marrow, spleen, peripheral blood and kidneys for up to 8 weeks. CD19 CAR T cells, but not control CAR T cells, depleted B cells and plasmablasts, enhanced the MPO-ANCA decline, and most importantly protected from NCGN. CONCLUSION: Our proof-of-principle study may encourage further exploration of CAR T cells as a treatment for ANCA-vasculitis patients with the goal of drug-free remission.


DOI

doi:10.1136/ard-2023-224875