Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Central nervous system (CNS) immune remodelling in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with anti-CD19 CAR-T therapy
Authors' conclusion
These findings suggest an association between CAR-T therapy and CNS immune remodelling in SLE, and provide cellular and molecular observations that may inform future studies of CNS immunity.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with refractory SLE treated with autologous anti-CD19 CAR-T therapy; plus independent baseline single-cell RNA sequencing and Olink samples47,222 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cells profiled · Olink samples 3
- Participants
- 2 / 4 / 5
- Comparison
- Baseline vs D9 vs D60
- Baselinen = 2reference
- D9n = 4
- D60n = 5
- Outcome
- CNS (CSF) immune remodelling after CAR-T therapy
Methodological detailslongitudinal, integrated single-cell RNA/TCR sequencing and Olink proteomics of CSF
- Longitudinal
- Integrated single-cell RNA/TCR sequencing and Olink proteomics of CSF
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Dynamic CNS immune composition following CAR-T therapy, with notable changes in T cells
- CAR-T cells detected in the CNS; predominantly proliferative and cytotoxic states at D9, memory- and exhaustion-associated states at D60
- Endogenous CD8⁺ T cells: diverse effector subsets at day 9 (granzyme B (GZMB)⁺, NK-like, type I interferon (IFN)-responsive, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)⁺ granzyme H (GZMH)⁺), then predominance of memory and proliferating subsets at day 60
- CD4⁺ T cells at day 9 enriched for type I IFN signalling
- Extensive ligand-receptor interactions between myeloid populations and lymphocytes
- Changes in TCR clonal diversity and dynamics following treatment
Original publication
CNS immune remodelling in SLE associated with anti-CD19 CAR-T therapy. Ann Rheum Dis. Published 23 July 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →