Frontiers in Oncology (Jul 2022)

Umbilical cord blood: A promising source for allogeneic CAR-T cells

  • Dian-Dian Liu,
  • Dian-Dian Liu,
  • Wei-Cong Hong,
  • Wei-Cong Hong,
  • Kun-Yin Qiu,
  • Kun-Yin Qiu,
  • Xin-Yu Li,
  • Xin-Yu Li,
  • Yong Liu,
  • Yong Liu,
  • Li-Wen Zhu,
  • Li-Wen Zhu,
  • Wei-Xin Lai,
  • Wei-Xin Lai,
  • Han- Chen,
  • Han- Chen,
  • Hua-Qing Yang,
  • Hua-Qing Yang,
  • Lu-Hong Xu,
  • Lu-Hong Xu,
  • Jian-Pei Fang,
  • Jian-Pei Fang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.944248
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy is an effective treatment for relapsed and refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (R/R ALL). However, autologous CAR-T cells derived from patients with B-ALL often show poor amplification ability, exhaustion, and anergy. To overcome these limitations, allogeneic CAR-T cells may be used as effective substitutes; however, which source would be the best substitute is unclear. In this study, we compared the immunophenotype and antitumor efficacy of anti-CD19 CAR-T cells derived from healthy donor cord blood (CB), healthy donor peripheral blood (PB), and PB of B-ALL patients [PB (patient)] in vitro and NOD-Prkdcem26cd52Il2rgem26Cd22/Nju (NCG)-immunodeficient mice, respectively. The results revealed that CAR-T cells derived from healthy donor CB and PB showed a higher proportion of naive T cells and longer tumor suppression in tumor-bearing mice than those of PB (patient). PB (patient) CAR-T cells had a higher proportion of regulatory T cells (Treg cells) and released high levels of interluekin-10 (IL-10), which also suggest a poor prognosis. Thus, CAR-T cells derived from healthy donors have better antitumor efficacy than CAR-T cells derived from PB (patient), and CB may be a good source of allogeneic CAR-T cells.

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