First Donor Cell Therapy Puts Autoimmune Disorders into Remission

Breakthrough Alert! Three patients from the Chinese mainland have achieved remission from severe autoimmune diseases thanks to a groundbreaking therapy using donor-derived immune cells.

After undergoing treatment with bioengineered and CRISPR-modified chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells, Mr. Gong, a 57-year-old from Shanghai, experienced remarkable improvements. Suffering from systemic sclerosis, he noticed enhanced mobility and skin relaxation just three days post-therapy, returning to work within two weeks. More than a year later, Mr. Gong reports feeling \"very good.\"

This pioneering experiment, led by rheumatologist Xu Huji at Shanghai's Naval Medical University, marks the first use of donor cells for autoimmune disorders. Published in Cell last month, the study showcased that the patients remained in remission for nearly six months. Xu mentions that an additional two dozen individuals have received this donor-derived treatment with favorable outcomes.

CAR-T cell therapies have already revolutionized blood cancer treatments in the U.S., with several products approved for use. Their potential is now expanding to combat autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and lupus, where rogue immune cells attack the body's own tissues. Traditionally, these therapies use a patient's own cells, making them expensive and time-consuming. However, using donor cells could pave the way for mass production, making treatments more accessible and affordable in the future.

Lin Xin, an immunologist at Tsinghua University leading a separate trial, praises the clinical outcomes as \"phenomenal.\" As research progresses, the medical community remains optimistic about the broader applications of donor-derived CAR-T cells, though ongoing studies will determine the long-term safety and efficacy of this innovative approach.

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First therapy using donor cells puts autoimmune disorders in remission

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