Autoimmune diseases (AIDs) are caused by harmful B cells and are difficult to treat. CD19-CAR T-cell (CAR) therapy removes these B cells from the lymph nodes, key tissues of the immune system, and can lead to remission without ongoing medication. CAR therapy also disrupts lymph node follicles by depleting follicular dendritic cells (FDCs), important stromal cells that support B cell survival. In contrast, other B-cell therapies like rituximab do not remove FDCs and rarely achieve full remission. This suggests that changes in stromal cells may be linked to lasting recovery. This project aims to explore the role of FDCs and other stromal cells in AIDs from active disease to remission.
Principal Investigators
Dr. med. Maria Gabriella Raimondo