Nagoya University · Medicine
Professor Seitaro Terakura's research lab focuses on advancing adoptive T cell therapy for hematological malignancies, with a central emphasis on improving the safety and efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. The lab investigates critical aspects such as antigen density thresholds for CAR-T cell activation, inducible CAR systems to control toxicity, and the role of minor histocompatibility antigens—particularly UGT2B17—in graft-versus-host disease and immune responses after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. By combining molecular engineering of CARs with clinical-grade T cell manufacturing and immunogenetic analysis, the lab aims to develop precision T cell therapies that minimize off-tumor effects and enhance long-term persistence.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
The effectiveness of chimeric Ag receptor (CAR)-transduced T (CAR-T) cells has been attributed to supraphysiological signaling through CARs. Second- and later-generation CARs simultaneously transmit costimulatory signals with CD3ζ signals upon ligation, but may lead to severe adverse effects owing to the recognition of minimal Ag expression outside the target tumor. Currently, the threshold target Ag density for CAR-T cell lysis and further activation, including cytokine production, has not yet
The adoptive transfer of donor T cells that have been genetically modified to recognize leukemia could prevent or treat leukemia relapse after allogeneic HSCT (allo-HSCT). However, adoptive therapy after allo-HSCT should be performed with T cells that have a defined endogenous TCR specificity to avoid GVHD. Ideally, T cells selected for genetic modification would also have the capacity to persist in vivo to ensure leukemia eradication. Here, we provide a strategy for deriving virus-specific T ce
T cells genetically modified with a CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CD19CAR) are remarkably effective against B-cell malignancies in clinical trials. However, major concerns remain regarding toxicities, such as hypogammaglobulinemia, due to B-cell aplasia or severe cytokine release syndrome after overactivation of CAR T cells. To resolve these adverse events, we aimed to develop an inducible CAR system by using a tetracycline regulation system that would be activated only in the presence of doxy
We recently identified a human minor histocompatibility (H) antigen, encoded by UDP glycosyltransferase 2 family, polypeptide B17 (UGT2B17), whose immunogenicity results from differential expression in donor and recipient cells as a consequence of a homozygous deletion of the UGT2B17 gene. UGT2B17 is highly expressed in the liver and colon, which are major targets for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). To assess the significance of homozygous UGT2B17 gene deletion in allogeneic haematopoietic ste
A single peptide encoded by UGT2B17 can be presented by HLA-A*2902, B*4402 and B*4403, and may serve as an immunodominant minor histocompatibility antigen in individuals with these HLA alleles that undergo transplantation of stem cells or organ grafts from UGT2B17 disparate donors.
The clinical efficacy of T-cell therapies based on T cells transduced with genes encoding tumor-specific T-cell receptors (TCR-T) is related to the <i>in vivo</i> persistence of the T cells. To improve persistence without modifying TCR affinity, we instead modified intracellular signaling, using artificial T cell-activating adapter molecules (ATAM), generated by inserting the intracellular domain (ICD) of activating T-cell signaling moieties into CD3ζ. ATAMs with the ICD of either CD28 or 4-1BB
Abstract Background: Single-chain fragment variable region (scFv) in a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) is a key component that directly binds the target antigen and transmits an activating signal into the CAR-T cells, subsequently triggering its effector function against the target cell. Thus, the affinity of scFv is considered to be critically important for CAR-T-cell function. However, optimal scFv affinity to induce maximal CAR function remains unclear. Methods: In this study, we constructed
Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells targeting multiple antigens (Ag), may reduce the risk of immune escape following the loss of the target Ag and further increase the efficacy of treatment. We developed dual-targeting CAR-T cells that target CD19 and CD37 Ags and evaluated their antitumor effects. CD19/CD37 dual CAR-T cells were generated using cotransduction and simultaneous gene transfer of two types of lentiviral vectors transferring CD19CAR or CD37CAR genes, including the intracellula
Open papers in the app to read, cite, and organize with AI.
