Re-Engineered Immune Cells Could Offer a Potential Treatment for People with Lupus Nephritis & Other Autoimmune Diseases
In a new study, researchers discovered a way to reengineer defective cells that cause lupus nephritis (LN). Researchers hope this new method can lead to a targeted therapy for people living with LN as well as other autoimmune diseases.
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for maintaining immune system balance. In people with lupus and other autoimmune diseases, these cells are diminished. Using blood samples from study participants, researchers identified specific protective molecules from people without lupus or autoimmune disease, then reprogrammed the Tregs from people with lupus to specifically target the ‘Smith protein’ which is strongly associated with LN. While people with lupus typically have antibodies that mistakenly target their own body, these reengineered Tregs were able to restore the ability to suppress their overactive immune system. This approach was effective in preventing the development of LN without the use of immunosuppressant drugs.
A Phase I Clinical Trial for people with LN is expected to start in 2026, but this promising research has the potential to provide a new treatment option that does not involve the use of immunosuppressant drugs for many people living with autoimmune diseases.
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