Science Highlights
Published on March 03, 2026
Human GAD65-CAR-Tregs and type 1 diabetes
by Diabetes Technology & Therapuetics
Imam S, Dar P, Rafiqi SI, et al. Antigen-Specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T Regulatory Cells Home to Human Islets, Suppress Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes and Reverse Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics. 2025; (doi: 10.1177/15209156251403551).
Designing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T regulatory cells (Tregs) to detect glutamic acid decarboxylase, 65 kD isoform (GAD65) has the potential to reverse type 1 diabetes (T1D) in adults, researchers report. Live-cell imaging assisted in ex vivo study, which showed that GAD65-CAR-Tregs home to human pancreatic islets and proliferate when finding GAD65 antigen there. Upon activation, the GAD65-CAR-Tregs also suppressed human T1D cytotoxic T lymphocytes in co-cultures. In-vivo observations based on a spontaneous humanized murine model added to the ex vivo evidence, also demonstrating that mouse GAD65-CAR-Tregs homes to mouse pancreatic islets and inhibited diabetogenic T responsive cells. A 30-day preclinical trial revealed that T1D mice treated with GAD65-CAR-Tregs achieved fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, and glucose tolerance test results in the range of normal, or nondiabetic, levels.
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Diabetes Technology & Therapuetics