018-‘Killer’ cells show promise for autoimmune disease

These sources discuss recent breakthroughs and ongoing research in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, which are conditions where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues. Several approaches are highlighted, including therapies that aim to restore immune tolerance by re-educating or eliminating rogue immune cells, with some promising clinical trial results for conditions like lupus and type 1 diabetes. One article specifically explores Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy, originally used for cancer, showing its potential to induce remission in autoimmune disorders. Another source investigates a newer, potentially more accessible alternative using CAR Natural Killer (NK) cells, which are easier to produce. Finally, one article provides a potential explanation for why autoimmune diseases are more prevalent in women, pointing to a molecular coating on the X chromosome.

References:

• https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-02096-7
• https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03968-6
• https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00169-7
• https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00267-6
• Wang X, Zhang Y, Jin Y, et al. An iPSC-derived CD19/BCMA CAR-NK therapy in a patient with systemic sclerosis[J]. Cell, 2025.