CAR-T cells are more affected than T lymphocytes by mechanical constraints: A microfluidic-based approach
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: AIMS: CAR-T cell therapy has attracted considerable attention in recent years owing to its well-known efficacy against haematopoietic malignancies. Nevertheless, this immunotherapy fails against solid tumours due to hostile conditions found in the tumour microenvironment. In this context, many relevant biochemical factors have been thoroughly studied, but crucial mechanical cues have been underestimated. MAIN METHODS: We developed an innovative approach using microfluidic devices, which recreate the biomechanical aspects of solid tumours. Using these platforms, we quantified immune cell migration (T and CAR-T cells) under different confinement conditions. KEY FINDINGS: We found that both CAR-T cell and T cell velocities are affected by the biomechanical and chemical cues studied, which are closely related to those found in solid tumours. Under biochemical stimulus-free conditions, the velocity of T cells is independent of the width of the microchannel, whereas the velocity of CAR-T cells is greatly reduced in the highest confinement channels. When chemoattractants or tumour cells are added, immune cells display increased confined migration velocity. However, in the presence of immunosuppressive chemokines, T cells become slower, whereas CAR-T cells significantly increase their velocity via a chimeric cytokine receptor. SIGNIFICANCE: Our approach contributes to a better understanding of immune cell migration and the influence of mechanical constraints, which will allow the testing of new ways to improve CAR-T cell trafficking into solid tumours. Therefore, our study revealed that the migratory behaviour of CAR-T cells differs from that of T cells under confined conditions and that biomechanical cues, such as cell deformability caused by confinement, can influence the correct infiltration of immune cells into solid tumours during the immune response.
Source: Life Sciences
Authors: Jack Zhang-Zhou, Nieves Movilla Meno, Carmen Oñate Salafranca, Maria Jose Gomez-Benito, Pedro Enrique Guerrero, Julian Pardo Jimeno, Jose Manuel García-Aznar
Language: English
Subfield: Cell Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,430
Funders: Centro de Investigación Biotecnológica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas, European Commission, Fundación Científica Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer, Federación Española de Enfermedades Raras, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Gobierno de Aragón, Ministerio de Educación y Formación Profesional, European Research Council, Horizon 2020, European Regional Development Fund, Agencia Estatal de Investigación, HORIZON EUROPE European Research Council
Awards: G1855990336, G1857309850, G2262748287, G2619224518, G3020948319, G3405182411, G3480869486, G3681454997, G3845300180, G4029686191, G4042783231, G425668148, G434337789, G4392902042, G451917667, G5195706596, G5421974903, Inmunoterapia, Citotoxicidad, Inflamación y Cáncer (IC)2, G5805502524, G5967599077, G8765037427
OpenAlex ID: W4405819804