These chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) include cytoplasmic domains that allow for targeting of specific cells, including autoimmune and cancer cells. Chimeric antigen receptors have the ability to graft onto immune effector cells such as T-cells or natural killer cells for treatment of diseases such as thyroid cancer, osteosarcoma, retinoblastoma, multiple myeloma, autoimmune diseases and various infections. These chimeric antigen receptor T-cells are able to recognize and kill specific cells through targeted antigens on the cell surface. Researchers at the University of Florida have determined how to target specific autoimmune and cancer cells by including certain cytoplasmic domains in the chimeric antigen receptor construct, increasing safety, the signal specificity and the killing efficacy.
Incorporating specific immune effector cytoplasmic domains into the chimeric antigen receptor constructs to allow for greater expansion potential, signal specificity, and killing efficacy
Chimeric antigen receptors have specific proteins on the surface that allow them to graft onto T-cells or Natural Killer cells. T-cells taken from a patient and introduced to the chimeric antigen receptors produce chimeric antigen receptor T-cells. By including specific cytoplasmic domains into the chimeric antigen receptor T-cell construct, it is possible to modify specific types of immune cells and increase their signal specificity. University of Florida researchers have determined the appropriate domains to target certain autoimmune diseases and cancers, such as thyroid cancer. These chimeric antigen receptor T-cells have demonstrated their ability to maintain killing efficacy even in repetitive addition of an excess of target cells.