CELLULAR THERAPIES FOR AUTOIMMUNE RHEUMATIC DISEASES

Abstract

Autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) arise from aberrant immune responses that lead to chronic inflammation and tissue damage. Conventional treatments, including biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs), often provide limited effectiveness, failing to achieve lasting remission and sometimes causing significant adverse effects. This review aims to explore the transformative potential of innovative cellular therapies, particularly Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, which was initially developed for cancer treatment but may be repurposed to target and eliminate autoreactive immune cells in ARDs, thereby restoring immune balance. We synthesize current research on various cellular therapies such as stem cell therapy (SCT), tolerogenic dendritic cells (tolDCs), and regulatory T cell (Treg) therapy, focusing on their unique mechanisms of action and therapeutic effects in the context of RA. Emerging evidence from preclinical and clinical studies will be highlighted, along with the implications of epigenetic modifications that enhance the immunoregulatory potential of these therapies. While preliminary findings show promising efficacy in the management of RA, further research is crucial to establish safety profiles, clarify mechanisms of action, and evaluate long-term outcomes associated with these advanced treatments. Ultimately, this review emphasizes the critical role of cellular therapies in addressing the unmet needs of rheumatoid arthritis patients and outlines future research directions in this rapidly evolving field.