Targeting autoreactive B cells using ADAMTS13-based chimeric auto-antigen receptors (CAARs) T cells for the treatment of immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP)

Vijay Bhoj, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA, U.S.

iTTP is a life-threatening thrombotic microangiopathy resulting from an autoantibody response directed against a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombosponsin motifs, a plasma protease that regulates platelet activations via cleavage of platelet-activating von Willebrand Factor (VWF) multimers. Vijay Bhoj, M.D., Ph.D., and team present the aim of developing CAAR T cells targeting ADAMTS 13-specific autoimmune B cells as a targeted and potentially curative therapeutic strategy for iTTP. The team concludes their successful creation of ADAMTS 12-based CAAR T cells that effectively and specifically target B cells expressing anti-ADAMTS 13 autoantibodies, which has the potential to target autoimmune B cells in iTTP patients with the promise of a curative treatment.