Saving Us from Ourselves: Harnessing the Power of CAR-T to Combat Autoimmunity

What is autoimmune disease? Autoimmune disease a condition in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the body itself.

Thus far, more than 80 different autoimmune diseases have been identified, with some of the most prevalent including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, type 1 diabetes, and multiple sclerosis [1]. Autoimmune disease is one of the top ten causes of death in women under the age of 65 and is the second highest cause of chronic illness in America [2]. These diseases are often life-limiting, debilitating, and if left untreated can become life threatening. Current estimates indicate that roughly 50 million people in the United States are afflicted with an autoimmune disease and this represents a substantial economic burden in this country costing more than $100 billion dollars in annual healthcare costs [3]. And unlike other conditions such as cancer, there is currently no cure for autoimmune disease and treatment options are very limited.