How are CAR-T Cells’ DNA Engineered?
Introduction
CAR-T cells are a type of immunotherapy that has shown great promise in treating cancer. These cells are engineered to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), which allows them to recognize and kill cancer cells. The CAR is a synthetic protein that consists of an extracellular antigen-binding domain, a transmembrane domain, and an intracellular signaling domain. The antigen-binding domain is designed to bind to a specific antigen on the surface of cancer cells. The transmembrane domain anchors the CAR to the cell membrane, and the intracellular signaling domain triggers the activation of the CAR-T cell.
Engineering the DNA of CAR-T Cells
The DNA of CAR-T cells is engineered using a variety of techniques, including gene transfer, gene editing, and genome editing.
Gene transfer
Gene transfer is a technique that is used to introduce new genes into cells. In the case of CAR-T cells, the gene that encodes the CAR is transferred into the cells using a viral vector. The viral vector is a modified virus that has been engineered to carry the gene of interest. The viral vector is then introduced into the cells, where it delivers the gene to the cell’s nucleus. The cell then transcribes the gene into RNA, which is then translated into protein.
Gene editing
Gene editing is a technique that is used to make changes to existing genes. In the case of CAR-T cells, gene editing is used to make changes to the gene that encodes the CAR. These changes can be used to improve the binding affinity of the CAR for the cancer cell antigen, or to change the signaling domain of the CAR to make it more effective.
Genome editing
Genome editing is a technique that is used to make changes to the entire genome of a cell. In the case of CAR-T cells, genome editing is used to make changes to the genes that regulate the expression of the CAR. These changes can be used to improve the expression of the CAR, or to make the CAR-T cells more resistant to the immunosuppressive effects of the tumor microenvironment.
Conclusion
The engineering of CAR-T cells’ DNA is a complex and challenging process. However, the advances that have been made in this field have led to the development of a new and promising cancer immunotherapy.
